Claudia Collins
By Daniel Rios
The most stressful job interview is now over. 329 college athletes were invited to Indianapolis to participate in the 2025 NFL combine. It is a stressful time for each of them, as it may be the most complex job interview an individual has to go through. Regardless, it’s done, and each can return to preparing for the draft in late April.
Not everyone lives up to the moment; some perform better than others. As always, the combine doesn’t define how a player will perform in the NFL or necessarily their draft stock. Teams just want to see how they perform on a big stage. The live game is different, but looking at it like that wouldn’t be as fun. Time to go over, or overreact, to who boosted their draft stock in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Day 1 Winners
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Stewart is in consideration for the best performance out of everyone in the event. The raw prospect showcased his athleticism on the first day and completely stole the show. He measured at 6-foot-5, 259 pounds with 34-inch arms. His production at Texas A&M is concerning, as he only got 4.5 sacks in three years, but he posted a 4.59 40, a 40-inch vertical and a 10 ’11 ” broad jump. His film showcases speed and strength, making him an intriguing prospect. His combine performance locked him into being selected in the top half of the first round.
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
The edge from Tennessee had an interesting 2024 season. Many regarded him as a sure top pick in this draft, but with up and down film this past season, questions started to arise. At 245 pounds, he ran a 4.47 40, which was the best for any defensive lineman. He quickly proved to teams that he’s an athletic specimen rushing from the edge; he just needs to put it all together, something the NFL can help with.
Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
4.83 40 at 288 pounds, the best time for any defensive tackle. That should explain the type of day that Robinson showcased on Thursday night. In an already crowded defensive line class, Robinson reminded front offices around the league that he’s worth the look. He possesses a good versatility that can fit in any front, making it a pain for any offensive linemen to block him with his mix of speed and power.
Day 2 Winners
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Before his workout, it depended on who you asked if Emmanwori was a first-round pick. Following a 4.38 40, 43 inch vertical and 11’06” broad jump, it’s pretty much solidified that he’ll be a first-rounder. He did all this at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, making it more impressive. He is a versatile safety who can play in the deep half but also come screaming down to fill the run. The only knock is that he doesn’t consistently showcase the ability to stop the run.
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Porter showcased his agility and speed during his workout. He ran a 4.30 40, a 4.04 short shuttle and a 6.71 three-cone drill. All those times ranked him in the top-three of his position group. He measured at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, and as a sixth-year senior, he didn’t see as much production as a Cyclone. The athleticism does back up his elite awareness in zone coverage, and he has only gotten better in college.
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Wishing a tight end got into this list for day two. Sadly, none performed well enough to get put over any of these defensive backs. It’s also hard to leave out the player who ran the fastest 40 in Indy. Hairston got all the cheers in Lucas Oil Stadium with a 4.28 40, which put him in the conversation for a first-round draft choice. Coming in at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, but he doesn’t play like it. Hairston is a great cover corner and can force pass breakups when he closes in on a receiver; he made some money during his job interview.
Day 3 Winners
Marcus Golden, WR, Texas
It’s the day everyone came out for. The offensive skill positions – Goldens’ group was special, and coming up with three guys who stood out was challenging, but I had to start with Golden. A 4.29 40 puts him into the conversation as the best receiver in this class (Arizona’s Tetatoria McMillan is regarded as the best). Golden may not have the size or big catch radius that McMillan has, but his route-running and elite ball-tracking skills definitely are on par. His 40
proved that he is definitely faster than McMillan.
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The running back class is elite. Even with Boise State’s Ahston Jeanty, there are reports that Hampton is still the best back on some teams’ boards. He had to prove to teams that he’s just an athletic freak on Saturday – which is exactly what Hampton did. He had 38-inch vert and a 10’10 “second-best (tied) broad jump. He weighed in at 221, but that didn’t stop him from running a 4.46 40. He’s an insane mix of speed, power and size; a for sure three-down back for whichever team decides to take him.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
Either of the Ohio State backs could be here, but Tuten deserves this, as the hype is already around them. I’d be lying if I fully watched Tuten before the combine, but after he put up a blazing 4.32 40 with a Saturday-best 1.49 10-yard split (tie for first), I was put on notice. He mixed that run with an athletic 40.5-inch vert and 10’10” broad jump, showcasing his all-around athleticism. I watched his game against Miami this year, and he has elite speed and good contact balance to check out with his performance at the combine.
Day 4 Winners
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Now we get into arguably the best day of the NFL Combine. The big boys were at center stage, and Membou stole the show. He recorded a 4.91 40, weighing 332 pounds, which was the best for any offensive tackle for the day. Membou has elite power as a blocker and even more impressive footwork. It was a question of whether he’d be a top 20 pick in this draft, but now the question is whether he will make it past the top 10.
Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
Gotta respect offensive linemen who have wheels, and Wilson showcased that. He ran a 4.84 40, the best out of anyone on Sunday, at 310 pounds, which had Lucas Oil going crazy for the Georgia Bulldog. He wasn’t just fast; in the drills, he produced sound footwork and maintained a good wide base in the drills. Most considered him the best center in this class, but that may not be a question anymore.
Eli Cox, C, Kentucky
At 6-foot-4, 306 pounds, Cox is one of the more under-the-radar prospects in this draft. After watching him run a 5.02 40, he was a quick but sturdy center who showcased strong footwork all day. He only has 31-inch arms, which puts him at a disadvantage at times, but overall, his performance in Indy was strong, and he only raised himself on draft boards.
Experience at first combine
The opportunity to go out and cover the NFL Combine as a reporter was an extraordinary experience. As a fan of the draft for a long time, it was an absolute privilege to go out and see these college athletes in person. The ability to see these guys run, jump and compete in person is just a different level than watching their tape. Most definitely a dream come true. In terms of the actual week, seeing so many NFL media personalities was a surreal experience. Just casually walking and seeing Ian Rapoport or Daniel Jeremiah was crazy, to say the least. Having the opportunity to have great conversations all week with so many different guys in the media space, was great being able to learn from professionals is something that isn’t taken for granted.
One interesting thing was seeing all the conversations going around. It wasn’t hard to seek out information if you wanted it about a specific scenario about a team or a storyline within the NFL. Team personnel walk about, making them easily accessible, which leads to interesting conversations about the draft or how teams think. It’s a factory of information going around. The trip solidified my ambitions to work in this space someday.
