Which offensive players stood out at the NFL Scouting Combine?
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> 5 DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS1. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
Despite a minor shoulder injury, Winston threw and he threw well. He was the most accurate quarterback in the group and looked very comfortable dropping back from under center. His measurables weren't great; he finished 10th of 13 in the 40-yard dash, 12th of 13 in the vertical jump and 12th of 13 in the broad jump.
2. OL Ali Marpet, Hobart
Although he played his college football for a Division 3 school, Marpet had one of the most impressive performances of any lineman at the combine. He led the group with a 4.98-second 40-yard dash and finished second in the cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. Even more impressive, he finished 30 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, proving he was both quick and strong. Marpet is 6-4, 307 pounds and is expected to be a mid-round draft pick.
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- RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska**
Abdullah was expected to be one of the most explosive running backs in this year's draft class and his numbers at the combine supported that. He led all running backs in four of the eight combine drills: the vertical jump, broad jump, cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. Despite being a smaller back, he put up 24 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, tied for fifth-most among the group. He had issues with ball security in college, but is still expected to a first or second-round pick.
4. WR Kevin White, West Virginia
Kevin White made a case for himself to be the first wide receiver selected in this year's draft. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, led the group on the bench press and caught the ball well in passing drills. He and Alabama's Amari Cooper are the consensus top two wide receivers in this year's draft class, but scouts are concerned with White's total body of work. He is a junior college transfer and, by his own admission, performed poorly in 2013.
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- OL Josue Matias, Florida State**
The broad and vertical jumps are meant to measure a player's explosiveness. So by that standard, Matias was the most explosive offensive lineman at the combine. His 17.5-inch vertical jump was six inches more than any other lineman and his broad jump of 84 inches was also a half-foot above his competition. He is projected as a third-round pick.