ILB/OLB Zak DeOssie (Brown)6-4 250...One of the pleasant surprises of the combine, Deossie ran a great forty time (4.64) for a 250 pound backer and recorded 26 reps at 225 pounds on the bench...he also did a good job in the workouts displaying a good change of direction...Deossie is a prospect that Scouts consider a "player on the come" becauase Brown U. doesn't have spring practice thus Deossie has untapped potential...Deossie played both Inside and Outside backer at Brown and has some Tampa 2 experience as well since Brown played the Tampa 2 on third down situations...I feel Deossie would be a great fit for a 3-4 scheme team and has elevated his stock into the first day of the Draft.
OLB Antwan Barnes (Florida International) 6-0.5 240...An unknown to most of the general public, Barnes put on a show at the combine and has Scouts and NFL teams scrambling for tape on this man...He displayed a great combination of speed and strength as Barnes ran a super fast 4.46 forty at 240 pounds and recorded 31 reps at 225 pouinds on the bench...he then topped it off with a solid workout displaying quick feet, balance and explosiveness....His 10 yd time was an outstanding 1.50 and a 35" vertical and 10-2" broad jump was also impressive...He played both the OLB and DE positions at FIU but his transition to a LB'er position at the next level will likely take time...Some NFL team will likely take a chance on Barnes possibly as early as the 3rd round of the upcoming Draft.
WR Mike Walker (Central Florida) 6-1.6 209...One of the surprises of the Combine...Walker was well known around the scouting community because of his althletic ability and production at UCF but was thought of as a solid posession type receiver who ran good routes and would time in the mid 4.5 range ...however Walker surprised everyong in attendance when he posted a 4.35 forty time...Walker also recorded a 36.5 vertical jump...did 18 reps at 225 on the bench and had a solid overall workout at Indy...Walker's performance at the Combine coupled with his production at UCF has his stock on the rise...Walker carried a 4th to 6th round grade going into the Combine and has elevated his stock to the point where he could hear his name being called as early as the later part of the third round of the upcoming Draft.
ILB/OLB Justin Durant (Hampton) 6-1 230...Durant is a three time MEAC Defensive Player of the year and ranks second in Hampton history in tackles with 353...He was one of five Hampton prospects invited to the Combine...Durant made the most of his invite as he blew away the Scouts and NFL personnel in attendance with his overall performance...Durant ran a 4.51 forty...benched 225 lbs 25 times...recorded a 36" vertical jump and a 10-1" broad jump...he then ran an eye-popping 4.09 short shuttle and a 6.77 three cone...Durant is rough around the edges and needs work on technique but has the speed and athletic ability to make the grade at the next level...Durant started 39 games at ILb for Hampton and could be a fit on the Inside for a team that plays a cover-2 scheme...but will likely be taken by a team that is looking for a Will Backer on the Outside.
TE Kevin Boss (Western Oregon) 6-6.4 252...Ever since Antonio Gates came into the league NFL scouts have been on the look out for basketball players who they feel can make the transition to TE in the league...well they found one!...Kevis Boss was a multi-sport athlete at W. Oregon playing both TE on the football team and forward on the basketball team...he played both sports in 2004 and in 2005 but just football in 2006 because his season was cut short after 6 games due to a torn labrum in his shoulder...Kevin's stock has been rising up the charts since the Combine when NFL personnel found out just how athletically talented he is...he didn't perform on the bench (because of his shoulder) but was able to run a 4.78 forty...record a 35" vertical...a 9-8" broad jump...a 4.41 short shuttle and had the best 3 cone of ALL the TE's at 6.96 which is amazing for his size...at his pro day he ran a faster forty time of 4.71 and was able to bench 15 at 225 which was less than his personal best of 21 because his shoulder is still in recovery stage (not 100% strength-wise)...he also turned in an outstanding performance in his position drill displaying athleticism, soft hands and polished route-running ability...Boss was considered a 7th round to free-agent prospect back in December...but ...he now carries a mid second day grade with a chance that some team might call his name as early as the late stages of round four come Draft Day.
CB Usama Young (Kent State) 5-11 196....Usama didn't receive an invitation to the Combine but made the most of his chance to impress the Scouts and NFL teams at his pro day workout where he more than turned some heads...Young ran a pair of blazing fast forty times being clocked at 4.38 and 4.39 and wasn't finished there...he continued to impress the Scouts in attendance with a 43" vertical jump...a 10-11" broad jump...a 6.65 three cone and a 4.34 short shuttle...he recorded 15 reps at 225 on the bench and was timed in the long shuttle at 11.98 which was faster then any DB at the Combine ...Young was a three year starter at Kent and had 26 career starts in the MAC...he recorded 60 tackles with 2 int's in 2006 and was named to the All-MAC 2nd team as a CB in 2006...Young has gone from an undrafted priority free agent to a possible 4th round pick in the up-coming Draft with the Chiefs, Bengals, Jaguars and Buccaneers showing the most interest in his services.
DeOssie was chosen by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the Draft
Barnes was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the Draft
Walker was chosen by Jacksonville in the third round of the Draft
Durant was chosen by Jacksonville in the second round of the Draft
Boss was taken by the Giants in the fifth round of the Draft
Young was chosen by the Saints in the third round of the Draft
