Scouting Combine Rewind 2010 - A Look Back

As we get ready to cover the scouting combine as much as The NFL Network will allow us I couldn't help but think about the risers and fallers from the last combine to see if we could learn something. Here's some players we in particular called out last year as being Panther worthy:

DT Brian Price - Price unfortunately ended up in Tampa but had his season cut short by injury. Price showed enough in his limited time assure Bucs fans he was a good pick

WR Jacoby Ford - I was skeptical of the speedy Clemson wideout who put up 40 yd dash times of 4.27 & 4.28. If only the Panthers had listened to Revshawn...BTW though Rev is an admitted Clemson homer he is not high on Clemson's Bowers this year. Maybe the Panthers should listen

RB CJ Spiller - I was all in on Spiller in all my fantasy drafts and from a fantasy standpoint Spiller was a bust in 2010. I don't expect that to last. The guy did run a 4.37 40yd dash but it wasn't enough on a Buffalo offense constantly playing from behind.

Pictured: Guess who this future Panther is from last year's combine?

WR Armanti Edwards - We covered him as just as much before he became a Panther. For me the surprise pick of the draft for the Panthers.

DT Clifton Geathers - Geathers has the blood line but all he has to show for it is magic carpet ride around the league. Drafted by the Browns in the 6th round, he spent time in Miami, Seattle and is now with the Cowboys. I think he has the talent to land a back-up spot for the 'Boys in 2011.

Looking around some other recap posts from that time, here's some other 2010 combine stars, this one from Day 3:

DT Linval Joseph - Given an initial 3rd or 4th round grade Joseph turned a good combine into a 2nd round slection by the Giants. So far they like what they got.

The first is defensive tackle Linval Joseph, who put together a very impressive showing at the scouting combine, showing well in the 40-yard and extremely well in the bench press. Mixing that with his bag drills, and this kid could be moving up many draft boards.

He most certainly did. Here's another DT star at the combine who didn't fare as well:

DT Jeff Owens - This former Bulldog had a nice combine but still lasted till the 7th round. He was later cut, signed to the PS, promoted then but on IR due to a left knee injury.

From Day 2 highlights:

WR Emmanuel Sanders - He had a great combine and turned it into a 2nd round pick by the Steelers

For the wide receivers, it was Emmanuel Sanders that helped out his draft stock a ton on Sunday, and he needed to as he was coming out of Southern Methodist of Conference USA. His 40-yard time was 4.41 seconds, and he also posted the best broad jump of the day at 10'6" in distance. He really seems like he could be an explosive guy off the line who could end up being a very nice deep threat in the NFL.

Sanders finished the season 4th on the depth chart with 27 rec 376yds and 2 TDs, not  a bad rookie year for a WR.

And continuing our way backwards, from Day 1:

G Bruce Campbell - Campbell had a great combine as well, and was project as a 2nd round pick but like many players slide, in his case to the 4th round to the Raiders.

RB Toby Gerhardt - Gerhardt but up 22 bench press reps and very nice 40 time though I'm having a hard time finding it exactly. i remember watching this guy run and thinking he looked like a train. He also got some mop up duty with the Vikings as a 2nd round pick. He finished the season with 81 carries for 322 yards (4.0 ypc) and a TD.

So though having a great combine can increase your paycheck it is not an exclusive predictor of immediate NFL success.