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The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine came to an end Sunday with the defensive backs and special teams on the field. Attention turns to NFL visits and pro days as the 2022 NFL Draft quickly approaches.
Here are some of our takeaways from Sunday’s action:
Baylor’s Kalon Barnes (4.23 seconds) and Texas-San Antonio’s Tariq Woolen (4.26 seconds) ran the two fastest times ever by a defensive back at the combine. Barnes’ time was the second fastest of any position behind John Ross’ 4.21 seconds 40-yard dash. Woolen also had a 42 inch vertical jump, which led all defensive backs.
For a closer look at Barnes’ day as well as the fastest 40 time at every combine, click here.
.@BUFootball CB Kalon Barnes was just .01 shy of John Ross’ Combine record of 4.22. 🤯 @KaayBarnes_
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/1uYxqNOPlg
With LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. opting not to perform, it offered an opportunity for others to assert their claim as the top cornerback eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft. Washington’s Trent McDuffie looked fluid during on-field drills. Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner had his 40-yard dash time adjusted to 4.41 seconds officially, which is fantastic for a prospect who measured in at 6-foot-3.
Gardner and McDuffie are often the two prospects mentioned as being in the same stratosphere as Stingley. Stingley’s absence may have opened the door for some change in the pecking order.
Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton has been regarded as the top safety in the class, but there were concerns about the talent that would be available at that position beyond him. A few prospects responded to that criticism in a big way. Georgia safety Lewis Cine tested off the charts with a 4.38 seconds 40-yard dash, 36.5 inch vertical jump and 11-foot-1-inch broad jump. Michigan’s Daxton Hill ran a 4.43 seconds 40-yard dash as well. A former 5-star recruit, Hill adds depth to the top end of this safety class.
Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker performed admirably as well. Odds are good that one of those three players will be the second safety off the board.
San Diego State punter/kicker Matt Araiza is regarded as a versatile and dynamic prospect. He certainly showed how strong his leg is at the combine.
.@AztecFB punter @matt_araiza is booming nearly 80 yard punts out here.
Look where the ball stops. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine continues at 2pm ET on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/waHPR7KDhL
Three players — Georgia punter Jake Camarda, Penn State punter Jordan Stout and Araiza — ran under a 4.70 seconds 40-yard dash. Camarda led the pack at 4.56 seconds.
Tom Izzo 🐐 pic.twitter.com/i5R7tT8g7Q
Thank you for watching our coverage of the 2022 NFL combine! We will have more analysis coming from the last 4 days in Indianapolis.
Heard from multiple teams that Georgia’s Lewis Cine blew them away in interviews. Is he first safety off the board now after running 4.37 and jumping 11-1? There were some teams that had first round grades on him before doing all that.
Cine also looking silky smooth through the drills.
We have probably a half an hour or less in this year’s NFL Combine.
In addition to a 4.26 second 40-yard dash, UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen also had a 42 inch vertical jump.
Georgia’s Lewis Cine with a 4.38u seconds 40-yard dash, 36.5 inch vertical jump and 11-foot-1-inch broad jump. Stock UP.
Daxton Hill with a 4.43u is very impressive.
Toledo’s Tycen Anderson is a lengthy safety that could be an option looking for a Kyle Hamilton-type player on Day 3. Florida A&M DB Markquese Bell’s 4.45 speed shows up on tape. He plays a lot in the box.
We are waiting for the safeties to get rolling here.
Washington’s Trent McDuffie is someone that has looked really smooth through drills today. He is often talked about as that third cornerback behind Ahmad Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. but zone-heavy teams are going to be drawn to him.
Derion Kendrick, a Clemson transfer that played against the Tigers in the first game of the season. He ends up winning a national championship with the Bulldogs.
It’s been awesome getting DeAngelo Hall’s take on these drills. He’s done a great job articulating what he is looking for in this drill.
Official 40-yard dash times:
Kalon Barnes (Baylor): 4.23 seconds
Tariq Woolen (UTSA): 4.26 seconds
Those are the fastest times ever by a defensive back but falls short of John Ross’ all-time combine record of 4.21.
Some official 40-yard dash updates for cornerbacks:
– Kalon Barnes 4.23
– Tariq Woolen 4.26
– Decobie Durant 4.38
– Jalyn Armour-Davis 4.39
– Kaiir Elam 4.39
– Ahmad Gardner 4.41
Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton broad jumped 10-feet-11-inches, which is nuts. Tied for 30th all-time among safeties.
Daniel Jeremiah making a great point that Roger McCreary plays at his top speed. It is great running the 40-yard dash fast but if that does not translate to the field, then who cares? McCreary is not a burner but he plays like it.
Really nice rep from Washington’s Kyler Gordon. He kept his hips low, opened those hips easily but tight, found the football in the air and completed the play.
Kentucky safety Yusuf Corker led all defensive backs with 23 reps on the bench press. Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker and Oklahoma State safety Kolby Harvell-Peel were the only others to top 20.
Ahmad Gardner is regarded as a possible top 10 pick but it was actually his teammate, Coby Bryant, that won college football’s Thorpe Award given to the best defensive back.
Tariq Woolen is the only guy that I thought would challenge Kalon Barnes’ time today. His second unofficial attempt was 4.30
4.55 from Auburn’s Roger McCreary. He is not a burner and no one expected him to be. Where he falls short in speed, he makes up for in confidence, competitive toughness, versatility and resilience. He may not be an All-Pro type guy but McCreary is someone that you can draft and feel confident in what you get for a decade.
Ahmad Gardner improves his time with a 4.47u. It’s not a WOW time that is going to force people to go back and re-evaluate his position amongst the top cornerbacks.
Baylor’s Kalon Barnes re-takes the crown as fastest of the day with a 4.29.
4.31 for Tariq Woolen. He was moving.
4.41 would be a fantastic time for Alontae Taylor.
4.57 for Kyler Gordon is disappointing if it holds. I expected him to be in the 4.3s, if not higher.
Strange run from Ahmad Gardner. 4.52 is a solid time but it really looked like he was grinding. Never looked comfortable.
The CBSSports DB rankings:
LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (2)
Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton (3)
Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (12)
Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (14)
Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary (16)
Michigan safety Daxton Hill (24)
Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam (26)
Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie (32)
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/
Kaiir Elam is considered a bigger corner so 4.47u is a good time for him.
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