Shane Donahue's 2013 Freaks of the NFL Combine Report

The NFL Draft is just a week away but instead of prognosticating, I decided to look backwards and highlight some of the standouts of the NFL Combine, as is tradition.

Like I say every year, the combine does not grade football talent, it grades the physical talent required to play football at a highest level. The freaks are the physical specimen who look good in spandex and nail the measurables.


MARGUS HUNT, DE, SMU, 6-8, 277

First, how does a 6-8, 280 guy run a 4.6 40 AND lead the combine with 38 reps on the bench press? He was also a top-10 finished among linemen in the vertical (34.5"), broad (10'1"), and 3-cone drill (7.07). The Estonian won Gold in the discus and shot put at the 2006 World Junior Championships which tells me he is a technician since the discus throw is one of the most intricate and elaborate movements in sports. He used his length to block a near NCAA record 17 kicks, earning him the nickname the "Eastern Block."And he's only been playing football for... four years.


JAMIE COLLINS, OLB, SOUTHERN MISS, 6-3, 250

He has what some call "stupid ups." He set a Combine record in the broad jump, levitating to 11'7" and    was second this year with a 41.5" vertical. By position, he was 4th in the 40 (4.64), 5th in the 3-cone (7.10), and 2nd in the 60-yard shuttle (11.55).


EZEKIEL "ZIGGY" ANSAH, DE, BYU, 6-5, 271

This walk-on from Ghana gave football a shot when basketball and track didn't pan out. Three years later, he's a potential top 10 pick. The smooth runner led linemen with a 4.26 20-yard shuttle and posted a 4.63 40, 6th best among linemen.


MARQUISE GOODWIN, WR, TEXAS, 5-9, 183

He posted the fastest 40 in this year's Combine with a 4.27, 0.03 seconds off Chris Johnson's timing-era record. I'm somewhat surprised he was only 6th overall with a ridiculous broad jump of 11' considering he nabbed 10th place in the long jump at the London Olympics. In the few seconds I saw of the gauntlet, I think he's more of a track guy than a football player.


BARKEVIOUS MINGO, DE, LSU vs. TREVARDO WILLIAMS, DE, UCONN

	HT	WT	40 YD	Vert	Broad	3-Cone
BM	6’4”	241	4.58 (2)	37" (2)	10’8” (1)	6.64 (1)
TW	6’1”	241	4.57 (1)	38" (1)	10’4” (3)	-

(Parentheses denote rank among position)

Williams also put up 30 reps on the bench while Mingo was 6th in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.29. The numbers are pretty close, what's the difference?

Besides having a slightly better name, Mingo will be at Radio City on Thursday and may be one of the first 10 to shake the commish's hand. Williams will watch from a couch and waiting for a phone call.