The 323 invited prospects who will travel to Indianapolis for the 2016 NFL Combine represent 323 different situations and game tapes. But for one week, February 24-29, they will all be evaluated in the same environment at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The NFL Combine could be divided into four critical areas that NFL teams will focus on: agility drills, interviews, medical evaluations and verified measurements. And there are a number of prospects with a lot on the line depending on how they perform in those four categories.
Here are 12 prospects whose final grade will be heavily weighted by the results of their medical exams in Indianapolis:
–Devontae Booker, RB, Utah: Booker rushed for 1,261 yards through 10 starts in 2015, but his season was cut short due to a bone bruise and slight meniscus tear in his left knee. The injury required surgery and prematurely ended his career at Utah. Booker was unable to participate at the Senior Bowl because of the issue so teams will be eager to find out the status of his knee.
–Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas: Over the summer, Williams was considered the top senior prospect at his position, but a foot injury suffered a few weeks before the season opener put him on the shelf for all of 2015. He performed some drills at the Senior Bowl, but wasn’t a full participant.
–Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: With 78 catches, 1,315 receiving yards and 14 catches to his name through the first nine games, Doctson was in the midst of a record-breaking senior season. But a broken left wrist sidelined him for the rest of the season and forced him to pull out of the Senior Bowl.
–Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky: The most underrated senior tight end prospect in this class, Higbee is an intriguing size/speed specimen for the position with ballskills to threaten the seam. However he played in only two games with seven catches over the final seven contests due to a left knee injury. If he receives a clean bill of health in Indianapolis, Higbee will be a “riser” for many.
–Rees Odhiambo, OT, Boise State: A college left tackle likely moving inside to guard in the NFL, Odiambo suffered a broken ankle back in October, requiring surgery and ending his career at Boise State. He has the ability to be a top-75 pick, but Odhiambo missed five games in 2013 and four more in 2014 due to injuries so durability is a strong concern.
–Max Tuerk, OC, USC: A versatile and athletic lineman, Tuerk is a day two NFL prospect, but a knee surgery in October sidelined him for the rest of his senior season. He isn’t yet 100-percent healthy and won’t be participating in the agility drills at the Combine, but hopes to be ready before his Pro Day.
–Myles Jack, LB, UCLA: Not yet fully recovered from his meniscus injury in September, Jack won’t be a full participant in Indianapolis, but teams are eager to receive an updated medical evaluation on his knee. One of the best players in this class, Jack has top-five overall potential — if the team doctors sign off.
–Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame: A true wildcard in this year’s first round, Smith has top-five overall ability, but due to his January knee injury, his draft stock is a mystery. There is a good chance he is still drafted top-20 overall, but the first step for that to happen is team doctors giving the front office positive feedback on how the knee is progressing post-surgery.
–Antonio Morrison, LB, Florida: Although he is a top-60 talent on the field, the key to Morrison’s draft projection is the diagnosis on his knees. After a season-ending right knee injury in 2013, he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee in the 2014 bowl game. Morrison shouldn’t have been ready to play in the 2015, but he amazed the Florida training staff with his rehab and started all 14 games for the Gators last season.
–Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona: A player who also needs to impress in the agility drills, Wright had a dominant 2014 season, but 2015 was basically a lost year for him, playing in only three games due to knee and foot injuries. He returned and played well in the bowl game so teams are expecting a clean medical report.
–Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Fuller suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the preseason and, although he tried to tough it out and play through the injury, he eventually opted for season-ending surgery. Teams don’t expect Fuller to run in Indianapolis due to his injury, but they do expect an update on his knee.
–Karl Joseph, DS, West Virginia: A missile in the secondary, Joseph plays with tremendous closing burst and violence, annihilating ballcarriers without much care about his own body (5-11, 197). He suffered a non-contact knee injury in October that ended his season and teams will be eager to get a full report on his recovery and any other possible issues.