Some of North Carolina’s best college players made the trip to Indianapolis and showcased their skills at the NFL Draft Combine over the weekend.
Overall, it wasn’t the best couple of days for the state’s NFL hopefuls at Lucas Oil Stadium, but there were some standout performances and surprises that may earn bigger paydays come draft night.
From best to worst, here’s a look at how the state’s former college standouts either raised or hurt their chances to play on Sunday.
Omarion Hampton (running back, UNC)
Former UNC star Omarion Hampton is rightfully regarded as one of the best running backs in this draft class, and his combine numbers didn’t dispute that. Although his 40 time fell outside of the top 10 for running backs, he still ran well below a 4.5, 4.46 to be exact, and he had a top two broad jump performance (10 feet, 10 inches) as well as a top four bench press output (18 reps) within his position.
Hampton has a prospect grade of 6.33, predicting that he will become a “plus starter” according to the NFL’s grading system.
Jahvaree Ritzie (defensive tackle, UNC)
Jahvaree Ritzie, the former UNC defensive tackle, had a positive day at the combine. His vertical jump (35.5 inches) ranked second and his broad jump (9 feet, 6 inches) ranked fifth amongst defensive tackles. His 26 reps on the bench press were also a top three performance in his position group.
With a prospect grade of 5.68, projecting him to be a practice squad player, his showing may cause some reconsideration and help his draft stock.
Kaimon Rucker (edge, UNC)
Former UNC standout edge rusher Kaimon Rucker didn’t participate in any on-the-field activities at the combine after fracturing his fibula in the Tar Heels’ regular season finale. However, he did pump out 27 reps on the bench press, which tied for third in the defensive end group.
Although he’s considered undersized for his position, standing at 6-foot-1 and 254 pounds, Rucker’s speed and explosiveness combined with a powerful punch is what made him a great pass rusher in college. With concerns of how he’d do in against an NFL rushing attack, his performance on the bench press at least shows strength might not be an issue.
However, there are concerns about his ability to overcome his size against bigger tackles and his ability to remain effective when his first pass rush move stalls. These concerns show in his 5.69 prospect grade, which projects him to be on the bottom of a roster or on the practice squad.
Shavon Revel Jr (cornerback, ECU)
Former standout ECU cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in September, but he still left the combine with positive buzz despite not working out.
Revel earned a prospect grade of 6.33, indicating that he will “eventually be a plus starter.” Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 194 pounds, his length combined with his speed and athleticism stands out amongst the combine’s defensive backs as he can use that to his advantage in covering zones and making up ground in man coverage.
Alijah Huzzie (cornerback, UNC)
Because he suffered an injury during an East-West Shrine Bowl practice in January, Huzzie did not workout at the combine. However, he didn’t go unnoticed, even if a flock of reporters didn’t pay him any attention.
Huzzie went viral for just having Chicago radio host Mark Carman ask him questions while every other reporter seemed to have their focus on other players, including former Colorado star Travis Hunter.
As a prospect, though, scouts don’t have the highest expectations for Huzzie, expecting him to be an average backup or special teamer with a 5.89 grade.
Anthony Belton (offensive tackle, NC State)
Anthony Belton, the former NC State offensive tackle, ran one of the slowest 40-yard dashes in his position group (5.26 seconds), but he had a decent showing in the three-cone drill, finishing with a top 10 offensive lineman time of 7.77 seconds. Although his workout and reports indicate he’s not the quickest tackle, his size is a big plus, coming in at a height of 6-feet-6 and 336 pounds. Belton has a 6.27 prospect grade, indicating he will “eventually be an average starter.”
Bryson Nesbit (tight end, UNC)
Former UNC tight end Bryson Nesbit didn’t test well at the combine. His 40 (4.88), vertical (32.5 inches) and broad jump (9 feet, four inches) all fell near or at the bottom of the tight end position group, which likely hurt his draft stock.
Nesbit has a 5.68 prospect grade, projecting him to be a bottom of the roster or practice squad guy.
Power Echols (linebacker, UNC)
Power Echols, the former UNC standout linebacker, didn’t perform well compared to other linebackers at the combine. His 40 (4.73), broad jump (9 feet, 7 inches), three-cone drill (7.6 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.56) landed near or at the bottom of the linebacker group, which didn’t help his low 5.62 prospect grade.
