With all due respect to the athletic testing including the 40-yard dash and bench press, the most important “tests” conducted each year at the Scouting Combine are of the medical variety.
That’s why fans shouldn’t be alarmed that UCLA outside linebacker Myles Jack, Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller, and Southern Cal offensive lineman Max Tuerk — each projected as top 100 picks — are unlikely to run or jump during next week’s workouts in Indianapolis.
Jack and Fuller each suffered torn knee ligaments during their junior seasons and yet still made themselves eligible early for the NFL Draft. Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith also suffered a devastating knee injury during the Irish’s bowl game loss to Ohio State, but his recovery timetable is sometime during next season.
Scouts would certainly appreciate each player working out in Indianapolis, but would likely rather the players demonstrate their improving health to the team doctors — especially given that each has proven to be a standout when healthy.
“The knee is feeling awesome right now,” Tuerk told NFLDraftScout.com. “It has been a slow process. I hurt it against Washington (Oct. 8). I was able to get surgery done quickly after it occurred. I left USC when the injury occurred and went down to Orange County and started working with ProActive. Since then I’ve been doing physical therapy, strengthening my legs and training for the Combine.
“I won’t be able to do any of the running stuff at the Combine or any of the drills but I’ll be able to do the bench press and the interviews. The goal is to have a Pro Day in late April.”
Expect Fuller and Jack to attempt to do the same.
Jack began running and cutting the last few weeks, but doctors have not cleared him to be a full participant in the athletic drills. He says that he will “check out fine” when the team doctors examine his surgically repaired knee.
“Personally, I feel great,” Jack said. “The knee, I can do whatever I can do with the knee, running, cutting. It feels great. It feels like a new knee.”
The normal recovery time for a torn meniscus is 6-8 months and Jack will be about five months removed from surgery at the Combine. He hopes to perform all the athletic testing at his pro day in March.
–Dane Brugler is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed in partnership with The Sports Xchange and CBSSports.com.