The Main Event

NFL Draft

RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): Projected 40 Time

Of the first-round RBs with combine 40 times over the past decade, the guys to whom I think Jeremiyah Love (6-0, 214 pounds) is most comparable in terms of size, skill set and likely draft position are:

• Ezekiel Elliott: Pick 4 | 6-0, 225 pounds | 4.47 seconds

• Bijan Robinson: Pick 8 | 5-11, 215 pounds | 4.46 seconds

• Omarion Hampton: Pick 22 | 6-0, 221 pounds | 4.46 seconds  

As a high school recruit, Love was listed at 185-195 pounds, and before his senior year, he ran an electronic 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

Generally, players get either bigger or faster (or both) in college. The ultimate example of this is WR Justin Jefferson.

• HS Testing: 6-2, 180 pounds | 4.88-second 40 time

• Combine: 6-1, 202 pounds | 4.43-second 40 time

Love has certainly gotten bigger in college. I think there's a good chance he has gotten faster as well.

Jeremiyah Love Projected 40 Time: 4.44 seconds 

WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State): Projected 40 Time

On the one hand, we don't have (to the best of my knowledge) any real prior 40 times for Carnell Tate (6-3, 195 pounds), and I think he's more of a smooth glider than an explosive sprinter.

On the other hand, he's an Ohio State WR who entered college with 4-5 recruitment stars and will go in Round 1. 

But back to the first hand: Tate was never the No. 1 WR in his offense. Of all the first-round pass-catching candidates to emerge from HC Ryan Day's program—Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka—Tate is the least productive.

He has good height, but he's lean, and it's less than ideal for a guy less than 200 pounds to run in the 4.50s, so …

Carnell Tate Projected 40 Time: 4.48 seconds 

WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State): Projected 40 Time

Jordyn Tyson entered college as a three-star recruit, so his athleticism is probably modest by NFL standards.

With his middle-of-the-road size (6-2, 200 pounds), I don't expect him to be a sprinter or plodder.

And his game is built more on separation than explosiveness, but he's also not slow.

Jordyn Tyson Projected 40 Time: 4.47 seconds 

WR Makai Lemon (USC): Projected 40 Time

Makai Lemon is an electric player. This past season, he was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner as the best overall receiver in college football.

But Lemon's game is built more on elusiveness than explosiveness.

I don't want to scout the helmet, but Lemon reminds me of his USC forefather, Amon-Ra St. Brown.

• St. Brown: 4-5 stars | 5-11, 197 pounds | 4.61-second 40 time

• Lemon: 4-5 stars | 5-11, 195 pounds | ???

I expect Lemon to be relatively slow whenever he runs (if he ever runs) … but I expect him to go in Round 1 anyway … unless he's really slow. Like St. Brown slow.

Makai Lemon Projected 40 Time: 4.52 seconds 

WR Denzel Boston (Washington): Projected 40 Time

I expect Denzel Boston (6-4, 210 pounds) to look good in his athletic testing.

Despite being a bigger guy, he was used on punt returns over the past three seasons, so he probably has some actual juice, and he took one of his eight returns this past year back for a TD.

On his tape, Boston's more of a build-up runner than a sprinter, but he's got athleticism. 

The summer before his senior year of HS, he ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 180 pounds. Yeah, that was five years and 30 pounds ago … but it's likely that Boston is an even better athlete now (adjusting for size) than he was in HS.

Denzel Boston Projected 40 Time: 4.50 seconds 

WR Kevin "KC" Concepcion (Texas A&M): Projected 40 Time

KC Concepcion probably doesn't have "Xavier Worthy speed" (4.21 seconds), but something like "Garrett Wilson speed" (4.38 seconds) seems reasonable based on his tape: He has above‑average long speed and real first‑step pop.

Before he transferred from NC State, he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at 5-11, 190 pounds. 

And I'd bet he's faster now with training.

KC Concepcion Projected 40 Time: 4.39 seconds

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Editors’ Picks

Today will be fun at NFL Scouting Combine, with main skill players running their 40s. Though before you settle in, we have some content for you to enjoy …

NFL Draft

Historic Combine Performances Drive Draft Capital

History has its eyes on you, Indianapolis. That’s right, while players are running and jumping all over Lucas Oil Field for this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, their performances are not just recorded by the teams looking to pick them, but the players are stacked in the pantheon of great feats that get talked about for years and years during game broadcasts and future combines.

Jonathan Fuller went into the wayback machine to highlight some of the true outlier combine performances, and how they have impacted players’ prospects in the draft. You'll see the superstar names of Saquon Barkley and Chris Johnson alongside the “what might have been” names of John Ross and Chris Conley. The jury’s still out on Xavier Worthy and Anthony Richardson, but that doesn’t minimize what they did at Indy. ⤵️

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Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from our merry band of football nerds …

💤 After today, Cole Payton and Jalon Daniels will be sleepers no more.

🙏 Cam Ward can use some playmakers. Please send WR upgrades.

🚨 Matthew heard of a new landing spot for Jeremiyah Love. BBQ is great there.

🤩 Carson Beck went 37-6 in games he started in Georgia and Miami: Winner.

🛬 From Texas to the Bayou. Garrett Nussmeier’s journey.

🧱 Ty Simpson loves him some LEGOs. His NFL comp says something, too.

💪 Fernando Mendoza is so tough … maybe try cereal next time.

🎠 Get ready for some QB trade talk. QB carousel getting warmed up.

🙌 Are we sure Travis Hunter is going to play mostly DB next season? He’s pretty good on the other side.

👀 Getting that look when you’re sitting down to watch the combine. You know that look.