Jordan Jones – Noteworthy
Jordan Jones has spent some time in the weight room. Jones, a linebacker, said he has put on 22 pounds of muscle in the two months between the end of Kentucky’s football season and the NFL Combine. He weighed in at 234 pounds, 16 pounds heavier than his was listed on UK’s roster. The additional weight has raised concerns from teams about the former three-star recruit’s speed, and that’s the top thing he intends to address during his drills on Sunday. “I think a few people are worried about if I can still run with that weight, and I’m here to prove everyone wrong and prove me right,” Jones said during a media session Saturday. “I’ve still got my speed, that’s not going nowhere.” Jones started 33 games for UK and played in 42. He started the first 12 games of his senior season – playing the last four with a broken hand – before a suspension prevented him from playing in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. – Herald Leader
Lonnie Johnson Jr. – Noteworthy
Johnson in a team meeting with the Seattle Seahawks at the NFL Combine on Sunday was asked to lock eyes with a scout. He took that test seriously. “They asked me how many times I wanted to do it over and I just kept doing it until I got a better number man,” Johnson said. He topped out at 15 seconds. Johnson couldn’t remember the scout’s name – “I’ve met with so many teams, so many people.” “I remember his face,” Johnson he added with a laugh. “I stared at him long enough.” He gave ample credit to UK and Coach Mark Stoops – a specialist when for developing his skills as a defender who has only played in the backfield for two and a half years. “I advise anybody that wants to get prepared for the next level to go to UK,” Johnson said. “You see we got eight people here (at the combine), and a lot of us are gonna be top picks and a lot of us came here and did what we needed to do. … UK prepares you the right way.” NFL teams are most interested in what Johnson will run in the 40-yard dash on Monday. UK cornerbacks Derrick Baity and Darius West also are expected to run the 40; Mike Edwards will sit out due to a broken thumb. – Herald Leader
Mike Edwards – Noteworthy
Mike Edwards was a bastion of health during his time at the University of Kentucky. The senior defensive back never missed a game, and he started 44 of the 51 he appeared in. That makes it particularly sore that during the Reese’s Senior Bowl – in which he recorded two tackles – he broke his right thumb. His hand was in a cast when he spoke with reporters Sunday and confirmed that he would not participate in any drills Monday, the last day of the NFL Combine. “It’s unfortunate but I get it off on (March 6), so I’ll be training and ready for my pro day,” Edwards said.
UK’s pro day is scheduled for Friday, March 22. Edwards won’t get to work out in front of organized NFL personnel before then, but he’s made the most of his weekend at the combine. He said he’s interviewed with “pretty much all” of the 32 NFL franchises. “Some teams five minutes, some teams an hour,” Edwards said. The Buffalo Bills – who have 10 draft picks this year and could be looking for secondary help late in the draft, where Edwards is projected to be – were one of the teams with whom he spoke the longest. “I’m not the biggest guy, not the tallest guy out here,” said Edwards, who measured in at 5-foot-10, 205-pounds this weekend. “But my film speaks for itself. I feel like I played great ball the last four years. … I can play pretty much any position on the back end. I’m a competitor, I’m physical and the game comes natural to me.” – Herald Leader