NFL Scouting Combine Notes: Mixed bag for LSU, Alabama receivers

The medical check is very important at the combine in Indianapolis for obvious reasons. It is hard for teams to obtain all previous medical records on draft prospects, so a complete physical fills in those blanks.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a hip injury in October but the former Alabama star passed the physical very well. Scouts are still concerned about his injury history.

LSU tight end Thaddues Moss did not do so well. It was discovered he had a fracture in his foot that will need surgery but a six-week rehab is not too damaging for his draft prospects.

A foot fracture was also discovered for Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson.

The LSU player that helped himself the most was wide receiver Justin Jefferson The one question on the Destrehan product regarding his speed was answered with a 4.43 timed 40-yard dash.

The fastest wide receiver time was turned in by Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III who ran a blazing 4.27.

The two top rated wide receivers – Cee Dee Lamb from Oklahoma and Jerry Jeudy from Alabama – did not excite scouts with their 40 times. Lamb ran a slower than expected 4.50 and Jeudy posted a 4.45, fast enough but not elite. It should not lower their draft ratings, however, since both are appear safe bets to excel at the next level.

A big receiver who helped himself was Chase Claypool, a 6-foot-4, 230 pounder from Notre Dame who ran a 4.42. That’s impressive for that size.

Devin Duvernay out of Texas ran an impressive 4.39 as did Antonio Gibson from Memphis.

Tight end prospect Josiah Deguara of Cincinnati had the best bench press at is position, doing 25 reps with the 225 pounds. The fastest tight end was Albert Okwuegbunam of Missouri who ran a 4.49, very impressive for a 6-5, 255-pound man.

All of the combine results will be in my Draft Day Report publication. For information on how to get my book ahead of the 2020 draft, email adupuy1@cox.net.