Vols showcase potential at NFL combine
Nobody around Tennessee was surprised when Derek Barnett shrugged off an illness to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday.
The defensive end always displayed an unrelenting work ethic throughout his three years at the University of Tennessee.
Barnett was not expected to take part in on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, but the likely first-round draft pick didn’t let a virus sideline him.
Barnett posted a time of 4.88 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 6.96 seconds in the three-cone drill, which ranked fifth among defensive lineman. The Nashville native had a vertical jump of 31 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, 9 inches.
“I wanted to come out and perform because I know this is an important job interview,” Barnett told the NFL Network’s Ike Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. “A lot of people would die to be here and I was like, ‘I’ve got to make the most of the opportunity that I’ve got.’ I just grinded it out and came out here and did my best.”
Barnett was one of six former UT players taking part in the combine. Defensive back Cameron Sutton was the last to participate in the televised drills, taking the field on Monday.
Looking to sustain the momentum he gained from the Senior Bowl, Sutton ran a 4.52 in the 40 and a 6.81 in the three-cone drill. He had a 34 inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump.
Running back Alvin Kamara was the first to take the field last Friday, and showcased his impressive athleticism and versatility.
Kamara led all running backs in the vertical jump (39.5 inches) and broad jump (10-11) and ran 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He displayed his ability to run routes and catch the ball out of the backfield during throwing drills.
Read more:
Alvin Kamara went from underused Vols RB to projected 1st-round
NFL analyst Mike Mayock says Alvin Kamara has 'first-round potential'
“He will walk out of Indy as the biggest winner in the RB class,” NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks tweeted. “He crushed the interviews. High football IQ & great personality.”
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs posted the second-fastest 40 time by a quarterback at 4.64 seconds and the top time in the three-cone drill 6.75 seconds on Saturday.
In an important piece of his combine experience, Dobbs displayed good accuracy on a variety of routes during throwing drills.
Wide receiver Josh Malone ran an impressive 4.40 seconds in the 40, which ranked third among all wide receivers. Malone’s time was the fastest by a UT receiver since Robert Meachem ran a 4.39 at the combine in 2007.
The Gallatin native had a 60-yard shuttle time of 11.77 seconds, a vertical jump of 30.5 inches and a broad jump of 10-1. He only managed 10 reps on the bench press.
Read more:
Why Josh Malone left UT for NFL
Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs included in 'Gruden's QB Camp' series
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who estimated he’s “about 90 percent” recovered from shoulder surgery in October, did not take part in any of the combine’s highlighted events, but did take part in linebacker drills.
Brooks and fellow analyst Lance Zierlein praised Barnett’s solid fundamental skills as a pass rusher by using martial arts comparisons.
“You are talking about a karate fighter a judo fighter,” Zierlein said. “When you talk about his balance, his track to the quarterback is the most efficient track to the quarterback of anybody in this draft.”
Brooks said Barnett, UT's all-time career sacks leader, “might be the best pure pass rusher in this draft.”
“He, to me, is Mr. Miyagi,” Brooks said. “You talk about ‘wax on, wax off’ - his ability to control you with his hands, it’s unparalleled.”
TENNESSEE PLAYERS AT THE NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
RB Alvin Kamara - 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds; Bench: 15; Vertical: 39.5; Broad jump: 10-11
QB Joshua Dobbs - 40-yard dash: 4.64; Vertical: 33.0; Broad jump: 10'2"; 20-yard shuttle: 4.31
WR Josh Malone - 40-yard dash: 4.40; Bench: 10; Vertical: 30.5; Broad jump: 10-1; 20-yard shuttle: 4.19; 60-yard shuttle: 11.77
DL Derek Barnett - 40-yard dash: 4.88; Vertical: 31.0; Broad jump: 9-9; 3-cone drill: 6.96; 20-yard Shuttle: 4.44.
DB Cameron Sutton – 40-yard dash: 4.52; 3-cone drill: 6.81; Vertical: 34.0; Broad jump 10.