The offensive linemen and running backs took the field Friday night to wrap up the offensive portion of the week. Some of the prospects commonly projected in the first round lived up to the hype.
Below you can find some notable takeaways from the night. We’ll be back with live coverage of the defensive linemen and linebackers on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Jaguars’ decision at No. 1 grows more complicated
N.C. State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu dominated the athletic testing and on-field drills in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.93- second 40-yard dash and showed quick feet in drills. Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash as well. With Alabama’s Evan Neal electing not to perform, Ekwonu and Cross may have closed the gap in terms of which player is the favorite to be taken No. 1 overall by the Jaguars. Of course, Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux may have something to say about that Saturday.
As a whole, the offensive linemen tested very well. According to the NFL, 12 ran the 40-yard dash in under 5.00 seconds, which was twice as many as the previous high in 2013 and is more than the last 3 combines combined (11).
Race to be the first running back taken tightens
Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III was my top running back coming into the combine. He did nothing to hurt his stock. However, Iowa State’s Breece Hall tested very well for a prospect standing 5-foot-11, 217 pounds. In addition to a 4.39=seconds 40-yard dash — which admittedly I did not expect — he posted a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10-6-inch broad jump. The combination of size and athleticism has to be tantalizing for teams. It is doubtful that one is taken in the first round, but all bets are off once Day 2 begins.
