Winners
1.
Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
Stanley figures to be under a microscope this week with recent questions arising about his love for the game and tenacity on the field, so it was good to see him kick off the week with impressive measurables. Tipping the scales at 6-5, 312 pounds with 35 5/8-inch arms and 10 5/8-inch hands, Stanley checked all the tangible boxes for teams. The interview process will be important for him this week as well.
2.
Vadal Alexander, LSU
It’s no secret that I think Alexander’s game has a long way to go before he’s ready to start in the NFL, but dropping down to 326 pounds was a good decision for the LSU product. Alexander is definitely a guard in the NFL, but 35 1/4-inch arms and 10 1/2-inch hands will aid him greatly inside, despite his athletic deficiencies.
3. Hal Vaitai, TCU
This draft needs depth at offensive tackle, and while I’m not high on many of the potential second and third day linemen that this class offers, Vaitai could be flying under the media’s radar right now. At 6-6, 320 pounds, with 34 1/4-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Vaitai has the measurables to project to either guard or tackle in the NFL, he just needs some technical work and coaching.
4. Ryan Kelly, Alabama
On a day where a number of centers weighed-in short and light, Kelly’s measurables did not disappoint. At 6-4, 311 pounds, 33 5/8-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch hands, Kelly was the second-heaviest center at the combine, with arms shorter than only Duke’s Matt Skura. I expect Kelly to impress this week and emerge as the top center at the combine for most NFL teams, if he isn’t already
5. Max Tuerk, USC
Rumored to have played at 280 or lighter at USC (he was listed at 269 pounds on NFL.com), Tuerk checking in at 6-5, 298 was a big win for his draft stock. If he can carry that weight well during his workouts (pro day) and obtain clean medical reports during his time in Indy, his stock will skyrocket amongst zone-blocking teams.
Losers
1. Austin Blythe. Iowa
Blythe is a tough kid who found ways to win in college despite his size, but weighing in at 6-2, 291 pounds with just 30 1/4-inch arms and 9 3/8-inch hands isn’t desirable. Blythe was the second lightest offensive lineman at the combine, and had by far the shortest arms.
2.
Jack Allen, Michigan State
Measuring just a tad over 6-1 and 294 pounds, Allen actually lost weight since the Senior Bowl, despite reports he was trying to climb to at least 300. He’s a decent athlete, but at the end of the day he may not be outstanding enough in any one area for teams to roll the dice on his size during the draft’s second day. I still think he can and will start in the NFL for a long time.
3. Spencer Drango, Baylor
You should expect some nitpicking when you’re reading about weigh-in winners and losers, but Drango’s 32 3/4-inch arms are a little peculiar for a 6-6, 320-pound man. His hands were also smaller than expected at 9 1/2-inches.
4. Denver Kirkland, Arkansas
It isn’t necessarily a negative that Kirkland weighed in as the heaviest player at the combine at 6-4, 335 pounds, but the way he carries it this week in workouts will be closely monitored by NFL teams. Many think Kirkland had issues with balance and weight distribution on tape, so he’ll be under a microscope as teams watch his positional exercises in earnest.
5. Willie Beavers, Western Michigan
I don’t necessarily think it is right, but NFL teams value length a lot in their offensive tackles, and Beavers is gonna be right on the cusp of that barometer. At 6-4, 324 pounds with 33 1/2-inch arms, Beavers may be asked to kick inside to guard by some teams, where he looked less than sterling during Senior Bowl week.
