Nick Becton quietly going about business before draft
Nick Becton is a soft-spoken guy, but when it came to talking about football at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month with interested scouts, coaches and general managers, it was no sweat.
“It’s not anything I’m not used to,” Becton said. “It’s all football talk with different coaches. It’s kind of like rapid fire. Once somebody’s done with you, someone else is there waiting for you.”
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The offensive lineman was one of five Hokies to participate. While the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder didn’t garner any top-five finishes in workouts, he was satisfied with his results.
Never known for his sheer athleticism, Becton ran a 5.20-second 40-yard dash (t-19th of OL), had a 29.5-inch vertical (t-8th) and a 109-inch broad jump (t-8th). He had a 7.77-second three cone drill time (t-19th) and a 4.57-second 20-yard shuttle. That last category was his best. He finished seventh among linemen.
He bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times, just short of his goal of 20. Still, he came away satisfied enough with his numbers that he doesn’t plan on doing the individual drills again at Virginia Tech’s pro day on March 20.
“I’m just doing offensive line drills,” he said. “I think I did good enough at everything I tested at, so I don’t have anything else to prove.”
Like the other Hokies draft hopefuls, Becton has been working out since the season’s conclusion, getting past a turned ankle he suffered — and played through — in the Russell Athletic Bowl win against Rutgers.
He worked out at LeCharles Bentley‘s O’Line Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz., with Hokies teammate Vinston Painter, said he’ll stay in Blacksburg to work out for the next few weeks.
Becton doesn’t have an indication who might be interested or where he might go in the draft, if he is selected (he’s generally considered, at best, a late-round pick). Nevertheless, his goal remains the same in the upcoming weeks.
“Getting bigger, stronger, faster,” Becton said.
Previously …
– While workout numbers were great, Vinston Painter more pleased with interviews at NFL combine
– Corey Fuller flashes speed at exhausting NFL combine
– Bruce Taylor not letting slow 40 time put a damper on NFL combine performance
– Despite receiving bad news from home, Marcus Davis pressed through NFL combine
March 6, 2013 - 10:44 AM
I’m surprised at his benchpress numbers. 19 reps for 225# is weak. No wonder we had problems moving DL’s. I wonder if it’s just him or if this is indicative of the whole OL. If it is they had better start hitting the weight room with higher goals for next year.
I agree with Tom let,s start work (more O-line)
Thanks Andy for the update on nick. We know him for the hard worker he is , and a man of few words. He will be a delight to coach . He will listen a lot more than talk. Who ever takes nick is in for a pleasant surprise.
Painter almost doubled (32) the bench press
I think that Grimes will do a really good job of instilling toughness & strength back into the OL, where it has been sorely needed for several years. I think Gentry needs to be replaced, to be blunt, but he is a Frank Beamer favorite, so we get into that whole ‘family bubble ‘Circle Of Trust’ issue, and we all know how that goes. A new S&C coach would do wonders at VaTech, but we’ll have to wait until Gentry retires of old age before we can ever hope to evolve in that department. It’s a shame we shackle ourselves so closely to hidebound mindsets as that, but we do.
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On the brighter side, I’m hoping Grimes has enough influence as to override that family bubble. I think he will have a very positive impact on the OL, and that in two-three years, we’ll see the first of many groups of outstanding OLinemen (in the past several seasons, at least) move into the NFL after successful Hokie careers.
Ahh, though strength is important, on the OL technique is key which is why Becton was VT’s most reliable blocker.