An historical look at Hokies at the NFL Combine
I had grand plans in mind for today’s blog post.
I had come across a website that had historical performances at the NFL Combine going back to 1999. The plan was to pick out how Virginia Tech’s players did over the years and put together all the stats in a sortable table on the blog. It would have been pretty cool, right?
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A couple thoughts on that:
1) Putting sortable tables on the blog requires a level of programming knowledge well beyond my skill level. (Seriously, reading some instructions out there, it might as well be in Swahili.)
2) After compiling all the data, I noticed that the site already has a page devoted to each school with sortable columns. Had I looked at the site a little more carefully, I could saved a good hour and half or so.
3) After resigning myself to the fact that it was impossible, our talented database producer in Norfolk, Jon Davenport, put together a close approximation to the sortable columns on the other website that I could embed on this blog (with three sortable workout categories). I’ve put it at the bottom of this post.
ANYWAY, the post is still a good idea (and timely, since some workouts — like the offensive linemen doing bench press — begin as early as today). That link two paragraphs up will let you sort through past performances at the NFL Combine. Alas, it only goes back to 1999, so we don’t have the number of bench press reps Jim Druckenmiller did in 1997. Still, it’s a good historical record.
I’ll list the top 10 (with ties) in the six categories. I have some thoughts about the lists at the end:
40-yard dash:
- 4.33 seconds – QB Michael Vick, 2001*
- 4.34 seconds — CB DeAngelo Hall, 2004
- 4.36 seconds — WR David Clowney, 2007
- 4.38 seconds — RB Kevin Jones, 2004*
- 4.39 seconds — WR Eddie Royal, 2008
- 4.42 seconds — WR Andre’ Davis, 2003
- 4.45 seconds — WR Emmett Johnson, 2002
- 4.47 seconds — CB Jayron Hosley, 2012
- 4.47 seconds — QB Tyrod Taylor, 2011
- 4.47 seconds — CB Ike Charlton, 2000
- 4.47 seconds — QB Marcus Vick, 2006
* — not timed/scored officially at the NFL Combine.
Bench press (225 pounds)
- 35 reps — C Will Montgomery, 2006
- 34 reps — OT Brandon Frye, 2007
- 31 reps — C Jake Grove, 2004
- 29 reps — DT John Graves, 2011
- 29 reps — OT Ed Wang, 2010
- 28 reps — OG Matt Lehr, 2001
- 27 reps — DE Darryl Tapp, 2006
- 27 reps — DT Chad Beasley, 2002
- 26 reps — RB Darren Evans, 2011
- 25 reps — OT Jimmy Martin, 2006
- 25 reps — DE Derrius Monroe, 2002
Vertical leap
- 42 inches — FS Pierson Prioleau, 1999
- 41 inches — RB David Wilson, 2012
- 41 inches — OLB James Anderson, 2006
- 40.5 inches — WR Ernest Wilford, 2004
- 40 inches — RB Ryan Williams, 2011
- 39.5 inches — WR Andre’ Davis, 2002
- 39 inches — WR Emmett Johnson, 2002
- 38 inches — OLB Jason Worilds, 2010
- 38 inches — CB Eric Green, 2005
- 38 inches — RB Kevin Jones, 2004
- 38 inches — FS Willie Pile, 2003
- 38 inches — QB Michael Vick, 2001
Broad jump
- 134 inches — FS Pierson Prioleau, 1999
- 132 inches — RB David Wilson, 2012
- 130 inches — WR Ernest Wilford, 2004
- 126 inches — QB Tyrod Taylor, 2011
- 126 inches — CB Ike Charlton, 2000
- 125 inches — FS Willie Pile, 2003
- 124 inches — WR Eddie Royal, 2008
- 123 inches — WR Jarrett Boykin, 2012
- 123 inches — RB Ryan Williams, 2011
- 123 inches — WR David Clowney, 2007
- 123 inches — WR Andre’ Davis, 2002
Shuttle run
- 3.90 seconds — CB Eric Green, 2005
- 3.97 seconds — FS Pierson Prioleau, 1999
- 3.98 seconds — CB Victor “Macho” Harris, 2009
- 4.06 seconds — CB Rashad Carmichael, 2011
- 4.08 seconds — QB Marcus Vick, 2006
- 4.08 seconds — OLB James Anderson, 2006
- 4.09 seconds — QB Tyrod Taylor, 2011
- 4.09 seconds — QB Bryan Randall, 2005
- 4.10 seconds — WR Andre’ Davis, 2002
- 4.10 seconds — WR Emmett Johnson, 2002
Three-cone drill
- 6.56 seconds – ILB Ben Taylor, 2002
- 6.58 seconds — SS Cody Grimm, 2010
- 6.58 seconds — OLB James Anderson, 2006
- 6.68 seconds — CB Victor “Macho” Harris, 2009
- 6.69 seconds — WR Danny Coale, 2012
- 6.69 seconds — CB Rashad Carmichael, 2011
- 6.77 seconds — FS Willie Pile, 2003
- 6.77 seconds — WR Andre’ Davis, 2002
- 6.78 seconds — QB Tyrod Taylor, 2011
- 6.94 seconds — FS D.J. Parker, 2008
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A few thoughts on the top performers lists …
– Michael Vick was fast. He remains fast. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone faster who will play at Virginia Tech anytime soon. If you want to get technical, he didn’t run that 4.33 at the NFL Combine itself, but rather Virginia Tech’s pro day (where pro scouts, not Hokies personnel, still do the timing). That’s still his listed time for that year. Putting that in perspective, Robert Griffin III ran a 4.41 40-yard dash last year.
– Marcus Vick remains one of the biggest wastes of talent ever. Oh, he hasn’t served his five-day jail sentence either. It’s been in the news lately. The second to last paragraph in that story is among the best ever to appear in the Roanoke Times.
– If we want to get technical, DeAngelo Hall ran the fastest 40 time a Hokie has run at the combine. There’s a reason he’s stuck around in the NFL for so long. He’s got that elite speed.
– Pierson Prioleau was quite the athlete. Everyone marveled at how much David Wilson was going to crush the combine last year, and he did. But Prioleau’s 1999 performance still edges Wilson out in the vertical and broad jump.
– Eddie Royal and James Anderson might have had the most impressive combine performances of the players on the list. Royal ran a 4.39 40, had a 36-inch vertical leap and did 24 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds. Not many wide receivers, particularly one of his size, could do that. Anderson, an outside linebacker, ran a 4.59 40 and had a 41-inch vertical leap (the same as Wilson). Again, there’s a reason he’s stuck around in the league for so long.
Here’s the database we put together. Hopefully we can update it after this year’s crop of combine guys perform.
Va. Tech players at the NFL Combine
February 22, 2013 - 9:12 AM
AB, Nice pick on the Marcus Vick quote. That was hilarious. Ricght on the same level as – ‘I’m taking my game to the next level, baby…’ Ah, those were the good times…
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I think Davis will be the only one to put up some really impressive numbers in this year’s crop of NFL hopefuls, although Fuller may do so, too. Davis will put up freakish numbers – except for the 40, where I expect he’ll stay in the cozy hands of VT coaches & their stopwatches. A whole lot more impressive to clock a 4.45 inside Rector than the official 4.6 you’d register at Indy.
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Thanks for all the effort, Andy, even if some of it was fruitless. You do a great job in finding fresh daily topics, especially in the ‘slow times’ of the offseason.
You’re right Andy…I think Marcus was a much more pure and accurate passer than Michael. I think it went wrong when Mike started throwing money at Marcus…that killed Marcus’s drive and ambition. Yep, BIG waste of talent.
Poor Ms. Bodie. I am sure she is so proud.
I remain surprised that some of our guys didn;t have better NFL careers. Andre’ Davis for one. John Engleberger for another. Druck for a third. Druck was a workout warrior. I thought Ike Charlton would last longer, too.
For some reason we seem to “break our Backs”. You would think that one of Stith, Suggs, Jones or Williams (1 of 4) would stay healthy or be up to the task. Nope. Ken Oxendine was worn out and so was Cyrus Lawrence by the time they went up. Jury is still out on Wilson although he will get his shot this fall. Jury is also out on Evans but it does seem like he is missing some element of game as he has sat for two seasons on practice squads.
I still think Drunkenmiller was the best all around Hokie, not the fastest but the best under pressure.
Awesome job Andy, thanks.
Barry – you are a card. “Drunkenmiller”.
Poor Druck. So much wasted talent. In his day he held some team records in the weight room.
Very cool. Thank you Andy.
“Hello?”
“Hey, where are you?”
“On a plane to the money.” — Every phone conversation with my wife/son/daughter/friend/editor/stranger from here on out.
Everyone loves to hate on Druck. He put VT on the map long before we had ever heard of Michael Vick and the guy deserves some credit. Had Steve Young not been such a jealous petulant child he might have made it in the NFL.
Never understood why Macho didn’t make it, bummer. Ike Charlton was a fool to go early and everyone told him so. He walked in the front door of the NFL and right out the back.
Great stats though. Hard to make it in the NFL if you’re not guaranteed significant money and it will be even easier for teams to cut players with the new Collective bargaining agreement that significantly cut rookie salaries and guarantees. That’s good for Hokies though.
Any word on Danny Coale? I’m pulling for him like crazy,but the guy can’t catch a break.
I figured “on a plane to the money” meant Marcus was going to visit Michael. Druckenmiller was a good drop back college QB. Strong arm. Helped the Hokies win a lot of games, including the big Sugar Bowl win VS. Texas.
Pierson Prioleau was an all-time Hokie great. Had a decent NFL career. Super Bowl ring with the Saints.
Zman, Engleberger played in the NFL around 10 years. That’s a pretty good career to me. Especially for a college walk-on.
never let it be said AB isn’t trying to earn his money. we have had some pretty daggone good players throughout the years. Hail to BUD FOSTER !!!
oh yeah and Druck got a raw deal. Walsh wanted Plummer and punished Jim for it. He was married to a playmate though so it’s not a total loss. Really wish you could get a where are they now thing going. Who was the reciever in Drucks day? Ricky Davis or something. Here’s my list in no particular order.
1. Andre Davis
2. Donald Wayne Snell
3. Chris Kinzer
4. Jimmy Williams
5. Ed Wang
6. Jeff King
7. Brandon Semones
8. Bryan Randle
9. Brandon Ore
10. Jake Grove
Really good stuff Andy, I love stats. Clearly this shows though that stats are only a part of a players complete package. WR’s for instance. Andre Davis’ numbers are flashy and I understand Antonio Freeman’s were not yet he was far more successful. Boykin was slower than linemen Worilds and Martin yet is the leading all time receiver. I guess they haven’t come up with a test for route running and good hands. Brandon Flowers 40 time is unimpressive but man can he still play. I’d like to see his 20 yd. numbers…
Coxster, Jeff King is still playing. He did play for Az. last year and I think he is still with them.
Drunken miller kept the bowl game close in the first half against Nebraska, the Huskers wore VT down in the second half. Also, it was Drunk’s heroics that pulled off the great comeback against UVA in 1995, the UVA team that beat FSU earlier in the year. The earlier writer is correct, it was Drunk that put VT on the map. How soon we forget. But how about those Yellow Jackets and how about dem’ Cowboys?
I agree with the Druckenmiller comments . The great thing about Druck is that is was a great leader and he was at his best under pressure . If the NFL would have just let him play for a year or two he would have gotten it done .
What I remember most about Druck is when he gave his wristband after one of his games to my then 4 year old son . My son went on to have a good high school football career and came close to making the Hokies as a walk on . I still credit the kindness of Druck taking the time to give a little blonde haired boy his wristband as one of the things that inspired my son . We sent Druck a picture of my son wearing the wristband and Druck sent back a hand written note the week of the UVA game in which in he had the great heroics . He was a great Hokie .
Very nice update, Andy. At Indy combine, with all the poking, prodding, and ridicule, bet you can get weak kneed really fast. The place where a former pleasure now meets business first hand.What a stage!!
Marcus scored higher on the Wonderlic test than I would’ve imagined…
Scott I know King is still playing I would like to know what the future holds for him. He is one of my all time favorite Hokies and would love to see him on the sideline one day if thats what he chooses. My list was just people I would like to hear from. Some were busts(if they had it to do all over again), some were Hokie superstars but never made it in the pros(did being a hokie set you up for the best of your life) and some are ex nfl’ers(what the next chapter for them). I wish them all well and would love to know how their living. Did Grove go back to farming? Did Shayne Graham go to blue ridge christian camp as a child etc.etc.
#18 coxster, I can answer on one – Jake Grove. The last I heard, a couple of years ago, he did indeed go back home to Forest and started a farm. That’s where he invested his NFL money. He’s got a huge farm, I want to say well over a thousand acres, that is relatively near his homeplace. He’s living a quiet life, but a very happy one. Just the kind you could picture for him. A great Hokie.
Coxster, I heard last year that Jake Grove was looking to be a fishing guide, and I was told he had a farm, I think over near Bedford.
Since Barry brought up Druck’s UVA game in ’95, I have been struggling to remember the defensive back who pulled off the pick six that sealed the game as UVA was driving for the winning TD as time was running out. You know, the guy that the UVA trainer, Joe Gieck (I think), sorta semi tried to trip as he raced down the sideline for the score. The best college game I have ever attended! Think this old Hokie enjoyed that one, sitting on the 50 with a passel of UVA lawyers? You can bet Jake’s farm I did.
thx cr and perch !!!