Top Five WR Performances at the 2017 NFL Player Combine

Who Won?

The NFL Combine is truly an "Everyone Can Win" scenario.  Each entrant can increase his draft standing with a noteworthy performance.  It's simple to say John Ross broke the record so he won the 40 yard dash but what about players who performed well across the board at all the events?  And how do we compare the smaller, more nimble receivers to the larger power wide outs? Given all the factors, which wide receiver really "won" the Combine?


The Top Five

To appear in the top five, participants needed to run the 40 and hit the bench.  In addition to ranking their 40 yard dash time, their Vertical, Broad jump and Short Shuttle were all ranked as performed as well as adjusted according to body density (weight/height), along with adjusted Bench.

The list below is not necessarily reflective of my opinion of future success of any receiver; for player opinions, please see the DraftTwitter Top 100 article series.

Thanks to Marcus Armstrong of Mockdraftable.com for the web charts, data and comparable players presented.

5.  Isaiah (Zay) Jones - East Carolina: Height: 74"; Weight: 201 lbs Body Density 2.72 lbs/in DOB: 3/30/95.
Metrics:
Forty time;  4.45 seconds (12/51)
Bench Weight moved to Body Density: 1243 (9/47)
Vertical to Body Height: His 36.5 inch vertical was 49.3% of his height (11/50)
Broad Jump of 133 inches which, when his body density was factored in a performance factor of 6.6% (10/50)
Short Shuttle of 4.01 seconds (3/42).

Short shuttle adjusted for body density resulted in a performance factor of 1.48 (12/42).

Comparables: Muneer Moore 83.8%, Rashaun Woods 79.4%, Tai Streets 79.2%

4.  Jerome Lane - Akron: Height: 74"; Weight: 226 lbs Body Density 3.05 lbs/in DOB: 3/9/1996.
Metrics:
Forty time;  4.60 seconds (38/51)
Bench Weight moved to Body Density: 1179 (13/47)
Vertical to Body Height: His 35 inch vertical was 47.3% of his height (24/50)
Broad Jump of 125 inches which, when his body density was factored in a performance factor of 12.2% (3/50)
Short Shuttle of 4.12 seconds (7/42).
Short shuttle adjusted for body density resulted in a performance factor of 1.35 (1/42)

Comparables: Dez White 88.9%, Chauncey Stovall 88%, Rod Gardner 82.5%

3.  Amara Darboh - Michigan: Height: 74'  Weight: 214 Body Density 2.89 lbs/in DOB: 2/1/94.
Metrics:
Forty time;  4.45 seconds (12/51)
Bench Weight moved to Body Density: 1323 (8/47)
Vertical to Body Height: His 36 inch vertical was 48.6% of his height (14/50)
Broad Jump of 124 inches which, when his body density was factored in a performance factor of 5.5% (15/50)
Did not participate in Short Shuttle.

Comparables: DeVante Parker 89.9%, Justin Blackman 87.1%, Josh Gordon 86.4%

2.  Robert Davis Georgia State: Height: 75'  Weight: 219 Body Density 2.92 lbs/in DOB: 4/2/95.
Metrics:
Forty: 4.44 seconds (9/51)
Bench Weight moved to Body Density: 1464 (4/47)
Vertical to Body Height:  Did not participate.
Broad Jump of 136 inches which, when his body density was factored in a performance factor of 16.4% (1/50)
Short Shuttle of 4.28 seconds (24/42).
Short shuttle adjusted for body density resulted in a performance factor of 1.47 (9/42).

Comparables:  Ricardo Louis 86.3%, Andre Johnson 79.3%, Jon Baldwin 77.7%

1.  Chris Godwin - Penn State: Height: 73"; Weight: 209 lbs Body Density 2.86 lbs/in.  DOB: 2/27/96.
Metrics:
Forty time;  4.42 seconds (5/51)
Bench Weight moved to Body Density: 1493 (2/47)
Vertical to Body Height: His 36 inch vertical was 49.3% of his height (12/50)
Broad Jump of 126 inches which, when his body density was factored in a performance factor of 6.1% (11/50)
Short Shuttle of 4.00 seconds (1/42).
Short shuttle adjusted for body density resulted in a performance factor of 1.40 (3/42).

Comparables:  Arman Shields 86.4%,  Andre Caldwell 80.3% , Chad Johnson 80.3% 

 So, based on overall performance and adjustment for density, Chris Godwin is clearly the top athlete.  Also, his comparables are very encouraging (Shields, who never played due to injury after being drafted by the Raiders, notwithstanding).  Hopefully, his Combine performance will not just improve his draft position (meaning more $$ for Godwin) but also prove an indicator of future on field success which would help secure the role of analytics in football general management.



Other Combine Superlatives - Receivers 

Tallest - Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M  6'5"
Shortest - Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia 5'7"

Heaviest - Billy Brown, Shepherd 255 lbs.
Lightest - Isaiah McKenzie

Highest Density (Weight/Height) : Billy Brown 3.36
Lowest Density:  Dede Westbrook 2.47

Fastest 40 Yard Time:  John Ross: 4.22 seconds
Slowest 40 Yard Time: Darreus Rogers: 4.93 seconds (Four offensive linemen recorded faster times).

Bench Press Most Reps:  Billy Brown 23
Lifted Most Weight to Body Weight:

1. Curtis Samuel lifted 20.66x his weight.
2. Chris Godwin lifted 20.45x his weight.
3. Speedy Noil lifted 20.35x his weight.

Lifted Lowest Weight to Body Weight:

1. Darreus Rogers lifted 8.33x his body weight.
2. Quincy Adeboyejo lifted 9.14x his weight.
3. Shelton Gibson lifted 9.42x his weight.

Highest Vertical Jump:  Speedy Noil jumped 43.5".
Highest Vertical to Height Ratios:

1. Speedy Noil jumped 61.3% of his standing height.
2. Malachi Dupre jumped 41" or 55.4% of  his height.
3. Isaiah McKenzie jumped 36" or 53.7% of his height

Shortest Vertical Jump:  Darreus Rogers jumped 26.5".
Lowest Vertical to Height Ratios:

1. Darreus Rogers jumped 36.3% of his height
2. Ricky Seals-Jones jumped 28" or 36.4%  of his height
3. Billy Brown jumped 29" or 38.2% of his height. 

Longest Broad Jump:  Robert Davis jumped 136". 

Shortest Broad Jump:  Drew Morgan, Stacy Coley and Darreus Rogers tied at 112".

Fastest Short Shuttle: Ryan Switzer and Chris Godwin tied at 4.00 seconds.

Slowest Short Shuttle: Jesus "Bobo" Wilson ran 4.57 seconds.

Unsolicited Self-Promotion!
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