The on-field workouts at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine are underway. On Saturday, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends perform on the turf at Lucal Oil Stadium. Who are the players expected to stand out? Here are four names to keep an eye on.
Most people could care less about any quarterback's time in the 40-yard dash, but if strong-armed Jeff Driskel runs in the 4.5s as predicted, it will be impressive.
Expect two tight ends to shine during their workout on Saturday. Austin Hooper of Stanford is battling to be the first tight end selected and should make a statement with his workout. After weighing in at 254 pounds, Hooper is hoping to break 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His other standard-bearer mark on Saturday is 10-feet in the broad jump.
Harvard's Ben Braunecker should run in the 4.6 area, touch 38 inches in the vertical jump and time in the low 4-second range during his short-shuttle run. Those numbers will push Brauncker into the fifth round.
Marquez North played in just seven games for Tennessee last season and caught just six passes, but he's expected to work out like an Olympian on Saturday. At 6-3, 225 pounds, the receiver should run the 40 in the low 4.3s then touch close to 40 inches in the vertical jump.
The NFL Scouting Combine has just begun, and we're taking a look back at some of the top performances by Eagles players from years past...
What They Said
"I learned a lot from Greg Lewis. He taught me the fundamentals. He helped me critique my craft. The top of the route and catching points and how much depth to get on all routes. He just helped me critique my craft and my all-around game." - WR Tyler Boyd, who was coached at Pittsburgh by Eagles wide receivers coach Greg Lewis
"That it was accurate. He says that because - offseason, competing - I don't like losing. I refuse to lose." - WR Corey Coleman on Baylor head coach Art Briles saying that Coleman will take somebody's heart out of their chest and watch it stop beating
"I've talked to a lot of people about it. We had a great group of leaders that were seniors. We had a leadership council of 12 guys, and they would pick, each and every week, a different guy in that council, which I was in, to be a captain. I was selected for four games. Usually only guys get selected once throughout the season. I was able to be the captain for the Oregon game, Ohio State, the bowl game, and the Big Ten Championship Game, as well. If you ever want to ask any one of my teammates who was with me, back in 2013 when I was a sophomore, 2014 when I was a junior, and this past year, and ask them if I was a team leader, if I was a leader of that team, and they would say yes." - QB Connor Cook on why wasn't named a team captain as a senior.
"I've been told I have pretty big hands my whole life. I heard I have small hands apparently. Nah, I've never had a problem with that or expect it to be a problem at all." - QB Jared Goff
"I think it would be a great opportunity. But at the end of the day, I'm here just trying to be the best prospect I can be and impress as many football teams as I can." - QB Christian Hackenberg on a potential reunion with former Penn State and current Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien
"I don't get a lot of credit for my knowledge of the game. I don't think (Ohio State) gets a lot of credit for the things and the responsibilities they put on a quarterback. I can't wait to shock them. I think anyone who knows me and has been around me knows I'm a pretty smart young man, but the nature of the offense, everybody thinks it's a zone-read, running-quarterback (offense). It's definitely not that at all." - QB Cardale Jones
"I switched facilities in the mid-training process, just wasn't getting the work I needed to run my best time. Now, I'm just getting comfortable at the new spot and learning my techniques. I figured if I have enough time to work on it I'll get the time I want." - Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell on the decision to not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine
"First and foremost, you got to win. I think being a winner in the NFL, that will take you places for sure. I think for me coming out of North Dakota State, I think the track record speaks for itself as a winner. So when I think of a franchise quarterback not only do I think of the physical ability, but I think of being a winner, winning ball games, taking command, being a leader. All those things come to mind." - QB Carson Wentz on what it means to be a franchise quarterback
