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2018 NFL Combine: 13 of the most impactful combine performances

By Justin Dottavio

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

5. Players that proved people right

Every year there are superbly talented players that prove pundits right with their combine numbers. I’m not sure if a soul out there thought Saquon Barkley was anything but an impressive athlete that scored touchdowns in the clutch. Barkley threw, ran, caught and returned touchdowns in 2017 and showed on film that he’s a top five NFL Draft pick.

Then Barkley came to the combine. The 6-foot, 233 pound Barkley ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash, then logged a 40 inch vertical leap and 4.24 20-yard shuttle. Barkley even put up 29 bench press reps at 225 pounds. The Penn State playmaker has proven why he’s a top five, if not number one overall, candidate in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns could do much worse and have been while posting an 0-16 record.

Another prospect that proved me right was Bradley Chubb. The NC State defensive end is a top five talent in almost every mock draft and prospect ranking. Chubb is almost 6-foot-5 and weighs 269 pounds. He posted a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash while putting up 24 reps of 225 in the bench press. Chubb also jumped 36 inches in the vertical and 121 inches in the broad jump. Chubb finished off his combine with a 4.41-20-yard shuttle.

Linebacker Roquan Smith from Georgia also proved his value as a top fifteen, and maybe even top-10 pick in the 2018 draft. Smith measured in at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds while running a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash. Smith is expected to be a the next elite playmaking inside linebacker in the NFL in the mold of Jonathan Vilma.

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