The Combine mainly verifies what we see in game action, but sometimes a player stands out and surprises us. Sometimes, a player has a terrible performance, making us seriously doubt what we see.
My rankings are pretty well locked in until we see draft capital and landing spots. But here are a few players making me lean one way or the other now.
Movin’ Up
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
In a fairly lackluster WR draft group, the Combine gave this group a platform for a few standouts to emerge. Higgins was one of those.
After two strong seasons with Iowa State, Higgins was already one of the top ten receivers in the class. He had 1,183 yards and nine scores in 2024, and I loved the size and play-making ability on the game film.
Running a 4.47 40-yard was a pleasant surprise, and Higgins followed that with a 39″ vert and 10’8″ broad jump. It all meshed together for a 9.85 RAS score, the fourth-best score of receivers that tested.
The athletic comps aren’t flattering, with Braylon Edwards, Martavis Bryant, and fellow Cyclone Hakeem Butler amongst the quintet of comps. I don’t believe that will deter Higgins from succeeding in the NFL, and he will be a solid WR2 in the league for years. This performance, along with college production and film, should land Higgins a second-day Draft selection.
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Higgins’ college teammate also earned a likely second-day selection with his performance in Indy. Noel also had a stellar 2024, with 1,194 yards and eight TDs, and then showed out at the “Underwear Olympics.”
Noel is a bit smaller, at 5’10” and 194 pounds, but is a dynamic field stretcher. He dominated in every event he did, even destroying the Shuttle and 3-Cone, which many participants didn’t even try. Noel had a 4.39 40-yard dash with great splits highlighting the acceleration.
Noel’s game film showcases his footwork and movement ability, and his game could translate to better NFL success than Higgins. He’s versatile and would excel in the slot but shouldn’t be pigeonholed only to that role. Noel can create separation with his excellent movement skills and strong route running.
The athletic comps in RAS are ugly. There are Henry Ruggs, who was a fun player before his off-field shenanigans, and some dudes I can’t even remember at all. I love our Athletic Comps on Campus2Canton much better. Anthony Miller was a player I LOVED coming out of college, along with Sterling Shepard and some cat named Odell Beckham Jr.
I could see Noel going earlier on Day 2 now, and I love his chances to succeed on a team that uses him creatively. He’s a versatile player with athletic ability and strong film.
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Ayomanor had a bit of a step-down season for the Cardinal in 2024, but inconsistent QB play was the main culprit. He still posted solid numbers, and I didn’t see this Combine performance coming at all.
Don’t get me wrong; I was a fan of his game overall. His college film showed a good work ethic, strong skills at nuanced things like body positioning and leverage, and a physical presence at his position. But I wasn’t sure how athletic he would be; sometimes Ayomanor played at a pedestrian pace, I felt.
This likely secured Ayomanor a Day-2 pick, whereas I was worried he could fall much later. Some recent mock drafts even have him going late in the first round. I think that’s a bit of a reach and too rich.
Honorable Mentions
Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska
A perfect 10 RAS score will undoubtedly turn some heads. Especially after a six-year college career in which an 878-yard, 12-TD season was your best, and over half of your six-year production. His talent was evident when he was healthy, but it’s been a long journey. Unfortunately, Neyor looked rough in drills, but it could be attributed to rust. He’s going to need time to get up to speed and develop. Perhaps this is Neyor’s ticket to finding good draft capital and a shot at the NFL.
Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
Another guy with an interesting path to the Combine, TeSlaa destroyed while at Hillsdale College in the Great Midwest American Conference, earning a transfer to Arkansas. He then found minimal production, albeit at a college with little passing attack to speak of.
TeSlaa nearly clocked a perfect 10 RAS score and has been a favorite of mine for a few years. I knew it would be tough to translate from a school with just over 1,500 students in lower Michigan to an SEC program—and now, the NFL. TeSlaa should hear his name called on the third day and hopefully, can use this elite athleticism to carve a role out in the NFL.
Movin’ Down
Tez Johnson, Oregon
I won’t spend a ton of time berating the receivers that ‘lost’ at the Combine, I think the event was more of a chance for players to help their stock.
And Tez Johnson didn’t help his stock at all. He was already projected as a mid-Day-3 player for me, and he’s still there. We thought Johnson had speed, but his 40-yard and splits were just okay.
At his size, the movement skills are nice to see, but speed would have helped him lock his spot in. Johnson is small; I can’t see a player weighing only 154 pounds succeeding in the NFL. And with that, I am out on Tez.
Ricky White, UNLV
My former Michigan State Spartan, White, was going to find a spot in the NFL due to his college production. His game film highlighted strong route running, dangerous after-the-catch ability, and a good separator in routes.
This athletic profile is abysmal and the last thing he needed. I thought White might latch on somewhere and at least have a role. It’s hard to project him even getting drafted now.
Isaiah Bond, Texas
There’s nothing like boasting that you will beat Xavier Worthy’s all-time 40-yard record time and then seeing eight receivers post better times than yours. The latest in a line of disappointments for Bond, a receiver some were high on – he’s even been mocked recently, before the Combine, in the first round.
