Ravens News 3/2: Combine winners and more

The 2020 Draft Looks Like a Good Place to Find a Pass Rusher - Clifton Brown

The Ravens may not wait that long this year, especially if Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is still on the board when Baltimore picks at No. 28. Gross-Metos measured 6-foot-5, 266 pounds with an 82-inch wingspan at the combine, and an impressive combine workout would help solidify his status as a potential first-round pick.

But even if Baltimore waits past Day 1 to find one, there should be edge rushers remaining on the board with potential such as Bradlee Anae of Utah, Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson of Auburn, Akeem Davis-Gaither of Appalachian State, Terrell Lewis of Alabama, James Lynch of Baylor, Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem of Notre Dame, Curtis Weaver of Boise State, Kenny Willekes of Michigan State and D.J. Wonnum of South Carolina.

NFL combine 2020 results: Tristan Wirfs, Ezra Cleveland erupt as offensive linemen work out - Chris Trapasso

Guard/center winners

Danny Pinter, Ball State. Pinter put himself on the map at the combine. Running under 5.00 was a fantastic start and hitting 110 inches in the vertical along with a solid 7.76 in the three-cone will get him some serious early Day 3 buzz.

Cesar Ruiz, Michigan. Ruiz had some OC1 hype heading into the combine, and after showing his elite explosiveness for the position with the second-highest vertical and longest broad jump, he locked himself into the second round.

John Molchon, Boise State. Most of the talk about Molchon before the combine centered around his natural strength, then he tested through the roof, which surprised a lot of people. He had the highest vertical and a solid three-cone time well under 8.00 seconds.

BIGGEST OFFENSIVE LINE WINNERS AT 2020 NFL COMBINE - Joe Marino

MATT HENNESSY, TEMPLE

Just hours before the offensive linemen took to the field Friday, I asked a current NFL offensive line coach which player they were most excited to see and the coach quickly replied, “the dude from Temple.”

Matt Hennessy, the dude from Temple, did not disappoint.

Hennessy’s mobility shines on tape and his work on the field backed it up. After running the 40-yard dash in 5.18 seconds, Hennessy leaped 30 inches in the vertical leap and 110 inches in the broad jump. His most impressive times came in the agility drills where he registered a 7.45-second 3-cone and 4.60-second short shuttle.

Hennessy showcased fluid movement skills and it’s exciting to forecast him to an NFL offensive line given his mobility to get out in space and ability to connect with moving targets. His three seasons of starting experience give him a chance to claim a role early in his career and it would be no surprise for his name to be called on Day 2.

2020 NFL Scouting Combine winners/losers: Isaiah Simmons! - Chad Reuter

Winners

Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple: Bradley, who already had “Temple Tough” on his resume, added “Temple Fast” to his scouting report with a 4.51 40 time. The future NFL starting inside linebacker tested well in other areas (10-1 broad jump) and impressed with his agility in drills. His footwork over pads and fluidity in drops were noticeable. Teams are looking for productive players with speed to operate over the middle — Bradley fits that bill.

Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU: Blacklock was an explosive interior defender for the Horned Frogs, and his combine workout showed teams he possesses the athleticism to play anywhere around the line of scrimmage. His 4.9 40 and 29-inch vertical jump portended a quality on-field workout, and he didn’t disappoint. Blacklock consistently showed quick feet in drills, getting over field pads in a hurry and moving laterally while making it look effortless. He showed his lack of experience bending on the edge in some drills, but given his athletic profile, I don’t expect that to be an issue.

Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma: Gallimore checked in at 304 pounds earlier this week, but still ran a 4.79 40. He moved like a 285-pound version of himself through the various drills on Saturday. His punch to pads was as powerful as anyone on the field, sending the upright pad to a horizontal state. His full-out effort caused him to lose his balance trying to bend around corners a couple times, but I think scouts will forgive him for that because of the flexibility he demonstrated.

Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State: Gay needed to hit this combine out of the park, and he did. He didn’t quite get to the 4.3s in his 40 (he predicted he would hit that mark earlier this week) but his speed was still impressive for a 243-pounder (4.46, 1.50 10-yard split). Gay jumped a mile high (39.5-inch vertical) and I watched him attack the broad jump with reckless abandon (11-4). The quick feet were obvious as he followed coaches’ instructions to move side to side and back and forth during drills. Gay has likely had to answer questions about some off-field issues from his Mississippi State career during interviews with teams this week, but his athleticism did plenty of talking on Saturday night.

Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State:Pegged as an inside ‘backer, Harrison actually looked athletic enough to play SAM ‘backer in some NFL schemes. There was no wasted movement in his drops or change-of-direction drills. A 4.66 40 at 247 pounds was good to see, as were his 36-inch vertical and 10-2 broad jump. Displaying this position versatility will definitely push him up boards.