Winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine (2024)

The Lone Star Statewas well-represented at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. A Texan (well, a California transplant living in Austin)recorded the 40-yard dash record, and the state also held the strongest wide receiver, a near-record broad jumper, the fastest safety and a wide receiver who earned family bragging rights.

Here are our picks for the winners from theweekend in Indianapolis.

Texas WR Xavier Worthy

Xavier Worthy called his shot when he said he was going for John Ross's 40-yard-dash record from 2017. Worthy ran a blazing 4.25 on his first attempt, and instead of taking his golden ticket and shutting it down decided he could runa little faster. Worthy's 4.21 official time the second go-round skyrockets his NFL Draft stock in a crowded wide receiver class from a fringe first-rounder to nearly a Day One lock,according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. While Worthy weighed in at a slight 165 pounds, he proved at Texas his game-breaking athleticism can be used in the screen game, especially important in today's NFL where short passes are becoming an extension of the run game.

Texas WR Adonai Mitchell

The Texas wide receivers made themselves some money this weekend. Despite Worthy leading the team in receiving yards, Mitchell at 6-foot-2, 205was projected as the higher pick if his testing numbers proved the athleticism he flashed on tape. A 4.34 40-yard-dash, 39.5" vertical and 11'4" broad jump bumped him from late first-round consideration to first-round front runner.

Texas DT Byron Murphy II

Allow me to amend my mid-February selection for Texas's best NFL Draft prospect from T'Vondre Sweat to Byron Murphy II. Sweat was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and had himself a solid weekend in Indianapolis, but Murphy is shooting up NFL Draft boards the more he proves his elite physical ability. His 1.69-second 10-yard split ranked fourth among defensive tackles andthe 33" vertical leap second, He even got a shout-out from New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan.

Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper

Cooper's rated as the No.1 off-ball linebacker onESPNDraft Expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board, but hadn't had the chance to certify that athleticism in the offseason after only going through the interview process at the East-West Shrine Bowl. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder made his case to be the first linebacker selected in the NFL Draft with a 4.51 40-yard dash that ranked third among all linebackers and a 1.54 10-yard split that tied for first.

Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith

The Combine's medical evaluations uncovered a stress fracture in Ainias Smith's left shin that held him out of all on-field workouts, but that didn't stop Smith from making an impact. The Texas A&M product threw up 21 reps on the bench press, the most of any wide receiver. Smith could hear his name called in Day Three.

UTEP LB Tyrice Knight

Knight earned his way to the NFL Combine by leading the FBS in solo tackles in 2023, then proved he belonged on the stage. He tied for first among all linebacker with a 1.54-second 10-yard split in the 40, and ranked third in the three-cone drill (7.25) and 20-yard shuttle (4.40).

Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens

Owens revealed Thursday he didn't believe in space or other planets and then flashed the alien-like athleticism that made him a five-star coming out of Plano East.Owens jumped 12 feet, 2 inches in the broad jump, one inch shorter than Byron Jones's record in the 2015 Combine, and bested all safeties with as 41" vertical leap. The Texas Tech product said he expected to run in the 4.2s, but pulled up with a groin injury that sidelined him for the on-field portion of the day.

Texas Tech safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

So, that's why they call him Rabbit. Taylor-Demerson clocked a 4.41 40-yard dash, the fastest among safeties at the Combine. He also posted a 38" vertical and 10'3" broad jump.Taylor-Demerson was an integral part of the Red Raiders' defense over the past two seasons, totaling 147 tackles and seven interceptions.

Rice WR Luke McCaffrey

Luke McCaffrey put on a WR clinic in 2023 for Rice. But the NFL legacy (his father, Ed, and brothers, Max and Christian, all played in the league)still had much to prove in Indianapolis. His 4.47 40-time cemented his top-end speed and family bragging rights, edging out his two-time all-pro brotherby .01 seconds. McCaffrey is a mid-to-late round draft pick who could find a role in the league as a slot wide receiver or special teamer.

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