After two days being poked, stared at and grilled by the media, the players in attendance at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine will take the field for the on-field portion of the event on Saturday.
2013 NFL Combine: Players to watch in Saturday’s workouts
The biggest names to keep an eye on during Saturday’s workouts.
USA TODAY Sports
This is the part we get to blow out of proportion. Offensive linemen and tight ends highlight Saturday’s workouts, with kickers and specialists doing some drills as well.
Let’s take a look at who could make the most noise in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Vance McDonald, Tight End, Rice
If you haven’t heard of Vance McDonald, that’s ok. He plays at Rice and watching the Owls play football isn’t on the top of anybody’s fall to-do list. But lost in Rice’s triple option attack this season was a physically gifted tight end McDonald. During yesterday’s workouts, McDonald put up 31 reps on the bench press, a number that becomes more impressive when you see that he has an 84-inch wingspan. This kid will make some noise on Saturday.
Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
Lane Johnson, a former junior college quarterback and tight end at Oklahoma, is now one of the top offensive tackle prospects available in the 2013 NFL Draft. He said on Friday during his media session that he wants to break the 40-yard dash record for offensive linemen at the NFL Combine. He put up 28 reps on the bench press and is looking to show off his athleticism on Saturday.
“I’ll be able to showcase my speed a little bit,” Johnson said on Friday. “I don’t know how much a good 40-yard dash time comes into play for offensive linemen, but I think what they want to see is a good 20-yard split, 10-yard split just showing you have explosion under your stance. I think just athleticism puts me over the top.”
Johnson laughed when a media member clarified that he wanted to break the record for offensive linemen and not the overall record.
“If y’all that I was running a 4.2 40 you’re crazy,” Johnson said.
Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
Wide receivers don’t start on-field workouts until Sunday, but West Virginia’s Tavon Austin feels like he has something to prove during Saturday’s workouts when his position group will take to the bench press. Given his size, some have questioned whether Austin can hold up in the NFL and if he is strong enough to beat press coverage. Austin wants to put up 15 reps on the bench press to prove his strength. He thinks he’s the best all-around player in the draft.
“A lot of teams are looking for the type of player who can do multiple things on the field, and I think I can be that guy,” Austin said on Friday. “I think I’m the all-around best player in the draft.”
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