Football Pac-12 Conference

Pac-12 stars shine bright at 2022 NFL Combine

36 former Pac-12 stars were in Indianapolis this week for the 2022 NFL Combine.  Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the week.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

All eyes were on potential No. 1 overall selection Kayvon Thibodeaux and his explosiveness was on full display.  While leading all defensive ends in the bench press and running a sub-4.6 time in the 40, Thibodeaux also gave an honest self-assessment of his game.

USCs Drake Jackson gained 30 pounds ahead of the Combine but it didnt affect his trademark explosiveness.  Jackson was third among edge rushers in the broad jump and seventh in the vertical while he apparently had a very vocal cheering section.

Stanfords Thomas Booker showed he deserves to be in the conversation among the top defensive tackles. Booker finished in the top five among DTs in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and the 20-yard shuttle.

He may not have started playing football until he was in high school , but Arizona States D.J. Davidson wowed in the drills at Indianapolis, finishing in the top 10 in all four drills he participated in.

UCLAs Otito Ogbonnia led all defensive players with 29 reps on the bench press .

DL Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Kayvon Thibodeaux

ORE

4.58 (T-7 th )

27 (1 st )

-

-

-

-

Drake Jackson

USC

-

-

36.5 (7 th )

127 (3 rd )

-

-

Thomas Booker

STAN

4.94 (5 th )

-

-

110 (T-4 th )

7.33 (T-1 st )

4.41 (1 st )

D.J. Davidson

ASU

-

23 (2 nd )

28 (8 th )

-

7.85 (3 rd )

4.72 (4 th )

Otito Ogbonnia

UCLA

-

29 (1 st )

-

-

-

-

(Thibodeaux & Jackson ranked among DE;  Booker, Davidson, Ogbonnia among DT)

LINEBACKERS

Utahs Devin Lloyd continued to make his case as the top linebacker in the draft and fittingly did it wearing the number 22 .  Lloyd showed off not his speed at the Combine but his strength, with the second most reps on the bench press among linebackers .

Lloyds teammate Nephi Sewell also showed out, with the second best time among linebackers in the 3-cone drill.  Sewell hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brother Penei, who was the No. 7 overall pick in last years NFL Draft.

Colorados Nate Landman showed a nice recovery from his season-ending injury.  Landmans vertical jump was in the top 10 among linebackers at the Combine.

Arizona States Darien Butler showed up in Indianapolis ready to show teams his hunger thanks to the sacrifices his parents made .

LB Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Darien Butler

ASU

-

-

-

-

7.47 (7 th )

-

Nate Landman

COL

4.86 (22 nd )

-

36.5 (T-9 th )

119 (T-21 st )

-

-

Devin Lloyd

UTAH

4.66 (16 th )

25 (2 nd )

35 (16 th )

126 (10 th )

-

-

Nephi Sewell

UTAH

4.67 (17 th )

-

32 (24 th )

120 (T-19 th )

7.01 (2 nd )

4.33 (3 rd )

CORNERBACKS

Another combine and another showcase for Washington cornerbacks.  NFL Networks Daniel Jeremiah has Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon both listed among his top 20 overall prospects .  The duo combined to allow 0 passing touchdowns the last two seasons .  McDuffie was especially impressive in the on-field drills .

USCs Isaac Taylor-Stuart was the fastest of all Pac-12 corners at the combine with a 4.42 in the 40 with his teammate Chris Steele just behind him at 4.48.  Steele also finished in the top five among all corners in the vertical jump and broad jump.  Steele compared himself to a Swiss Army knife.

Arizona States Chase Lucas showcased his leaping ability, finishing as the top Pac-12 corner and third overall in both the vertical and broad jumps.   Teammate Jack Jones finished just behind Lucas in the 40-yard dash with a 4.51.  Jones looked particularly good in the on-field drills .

Washington States Jaylen Watson was the lone Pac-12 cornerback to take part in the bench press and made it worth his while.  His 18 reps were the most of any cornerback at the Combine.

CB Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Kyler Gordon

UW

4.52 (T-23 rd )

-

-

-

-

-

Jack Jones

ASU

4.51 (T-21 st )

-

-

-

-

-

Chase Lucas

ASU

4.48 (T-16 th )

-

39 (3 rd )

128 (3 rd )

-

-

Trent McDuffie

UW

4.44 (14 th )

-

-

-

-

-

Chris Steele

USC

4.48 (T-16 th )

-

37.5 (4 th )

126 (5 th )

-

-

Isaac Taylor-Stuart

USC

4.42 (13 th )

-

-

123 (7 th )

-

-

Jaylen Watson

WSU

4.51 (T-21 st )

18 (1 st )

-

-

-

-

Mykael Wright

ORE

4.57 (30 th )

-

-

-

-

-

SAFETIES

Oregons Verone McKinley III is saving his 40-yard dash for Pro Day but he showed off his ball skills that helped him lead the country in interceptions this season.  McKinley has met with the Dolphins among the many suitors and said he would love to re-team with Jevone Holland in Miami.

UCLAs Quentin Lake had the same 40 time as the top safety prospect, Notre Dames Kyle Hamilton.  Lake is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, Carnell, who was a second-round pick in the 1989 Draft out of UCLA by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Safeties Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Quentin Lake

UCLA

4.59 (T-14 th )

-

-

-

-

-

Verone McKinley III

ORE

-

16 (T-6 th )

35 (T-9 th )

120 (16 th )

-

-

WIDE RECEIVERS

The highest rated Pac-12 wide receiver, USCs Drake London was in Indianapolis for the Combine but did not participate in the on-field drills as hes still recovering from his season-ending ankle injury.  London says hes at about 85 percent and USCs Pro Day is March 23.

Oregons Johnny Johnson III was able to work out, fully recovered from a broken foot that cut his season short.

Johnsons teammate, Devon Williams , really impressed in the broad jump with the fourth-longest among wide receivers at the Combine and explained his reasons for turning pro after the season with the loss of his mother and birth of his first child before last season started .

UCLAs Kyle Philips has gotten plenty of comparisons to former New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker and at the Combine told the media about the first time he met the Patriots' head coach .

WR Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Johnny Johnson III

ORE

4.60 (27 th )

-

32 (T-29 th )

121 (T-23 rd )

7.21 (9 th )

4.54 (12 th )

Kyle Philips

UCLA

4.58 (25 th )

-

33.5 (T-22 nd )

124 (T-16 th )

-

-

Devon Williams

ORE

4.65 (T-29 th )

-

33 (T-24 th )

133 (4 th )

-

-

TIGHT ENDS

UCLAs Greg Dulcich was a star at the Combine, not just for his phenomenal performance on the field but the performance of his hair off it .

Washingtons Cade Otton did not participate in the on-field workouts as hes still recovering from an ankle injury but is widely considered one of the top five tight ends in the draft.  The Huskies Pro Day is March 29 and Otton says its a "stretch goal" to be ready for that.

At 6-foot-8, Arizona States Curtis Hodges drew a lot of basketball comparisons with his size and vertical jump but a former All-American tight end thinks Hodges will have a long NFL career.

While also looking to show off his "world class hands" , Oregon States Teagan Quitoriano was very impressive on the bench press .  His 22 reps were the second most among tight ends at the Combine.

TE Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Greg Dulcich

UCLA

4.69 (5 th )

16 (9 th )

34 (T-5 th )

122 (2 nd )

7.05 (T-4 th )

4.37 (4 th )

Curtis Hodges

ASU

4.85 (11 th )

-

34.5 (T-3 rd )

117 (T-6 th )

7.14 (7 th )

4.28 (3 rd )

Teagan Quitoriano

OSU

-

22 (2 nd )

-

-

-

-

RUNNING BACKS

Arizona States Rachaad White showed off his athleticism in Indianapolis , finishing in the top five among running backs in both the vertical and broad jumps while running a sub-4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

USCs Keaontay Ingram was also impressive in his drills and said he almost returned to USC for another season to play for Lincoln Riley. .

Washington States Max Borghi did not run at the Combine after injuring his ankle at the Senior Bowl but says hes looking forward to being "complete back" at the NFL level. Borghi expects to be healthy for the Cougars Pro Day on March 28.

The combine also saw the return of Oregons CJ Verdell who did not run but did participate in the jumping drills.  Verdell told the media his season-ending injury at Stanford was a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle .  Oregons Pro Day is April 1.

RB Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Max Borghi

WSU

-

20 (5 th )

-

-

-

-

Keaontay Ingram

USC

4.53 (T-16 th )

-

34.5 (T-7 th )

122 (T-9 th )

-

-

CJ Verdell

ORE

-

-

29.5 (T-30 th )

118 (T-21 st )

-

-

Rachaad White

ASU

4.48 (T-13 th )

-

38 (3 rd )

125 (5 th )

-

-

OFFENSIVE LINE

Arizona States Kellen Diesch was the star of the on-field workouts among all offensive lineman, finishing in the top five in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle.  His 40 time was the best by a Pac-12 offensive lineman since at least 2000 .

Equally impressive was Washington States Abraham Lucas who tied for fifth among offensive lineman with his 4.92 time in the 40, along with having the fastest times in both the 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle.

UCLAs Sean Rhyan entered the combine known for his versatility and leaves with the best vertical jump among all offensive lineman in Indy.

Washingtons Luke Wattenberg also showed off his athleticism. Wattenberg finished in the top 10 among offensive lineman in the broad jump, 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle.

Arizona States Dohnovan West showed his explosiveness with a top 10 finish in the broad jump and is expected to be one of the top five centers in this years draft.

OL Test Results (with position rank)

Name

School

40-yd Dash

Bench

Vert Jump

Broad Jump

3 Cone

20 Shuttle

Kellen Diesch

ASU

4.89 (T-2 nd )

-

32.5 (3 rd )

110 (T-12 th )

7.77 (17 th )

4.43 (2 nd )

Abraham Lucas

WSU

4.92 (T-5 th )

24 (T-12 th )

27 (T-26 th )

107 (T-25 th )

7.25 (T-1 st )

4.40 (1 st )

Sean Rhyan

UCLA

5.25 (T-37 th )

-

33.5 (1 st )

110 (T-12 th )

7.55 (11 th )

4.81 (27 th )

Luke Wattenberg

UW

5.20 (31 st )

-

29.5 (11 th )

113 (T-4 th )

7.45 (7 th )

4.57 (10 th )

Dohnovan West

ASU

5.27 (T-39 th )

-

28 (T-18 th )

112 (T-6 th )

-

-