The 2011 NFL Combine begins today in Indianapolis. Today is just the weigh in portion of the combine, but it's important because we get real measurements on some guys we're not sure about. How big is someone like Adrian Clayborn? How light is someone like A.J. Green? It's also going to be the weekend of the freaks and work out wonders. There's always a few realtively unknown guys who just blow up at the combine. I remember current Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson wasn't widely known until he obliterated the 40-yard dash.
Click the jump to see some players I think are going to really kill it at the NFL combine.
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
Baldwin isn't a polished wide receiver, but he's an amazing athlete with a big body (about 6-5, 220lbs). I'd expect him to run in the low 4.4 range and possibly hit in the 4.3's in the 40-yard dash. He should grade out very well in the vertical jump, bench press, and other physical drills. Because of his physical tools, it will push him up draft boards.
Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
Solder is the best athlete at the offensive tackle position not named Tyron Smith. Smith however isn't participating in all of the drills at the combine. While Solder is still raw at the tackle position, he's expect to run in the 4.8 range and have a 32" vertical, which is astonishing for a guy with his kind of size (6-8, 315lbs).
Allen Bailey, DL, Miami(FL)
I like to call Allen Bailey the man without a position, because he really doesn't have one. Is he a DT or a DE? What I do know however, is that he's a physical freak. He's been compared a lot to Vernon Gholston when he came out of Ohio State and to me that's perfect. Like Gholston, Bailey should kill all of the drills this week.
Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada
I got to see Moch in person at the East West Shrine game and he's definitely an athlete. He's supposedly run in the 4.19-4.29 range in the 40-yard dash, which is unbeliveable for a 240 pound linebacker. It's so unbelieveable that I don't think he'll run close to that this week. While Moch is an amazing athelete, I'd be surprised if he cracked the 4.4 barrier and got in the 4.3's. The other drills he should also test out extremely well.
Virgil Green, TE, Nevada
Of all the atheletes going to the combine, Green might be the best one. He's got good size for a receiving tight end at about 6-4 and 250lbs, but he should run extremely well in the 40-yard dash and the 3-cone drill. I expect him to also open some eyes with the 225 bench press, among other drills. Green is the epitome of athletic freak.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
I expect Kaepernick to grade out in all of the physical drills extremely well. He's one of the few quarterbacks who's participating fully in the combine and that's because he feels he has nothing to hide. I've been told he should run somewhere in the 4.45 to 4.55 range in the 40-yard dash. His arm strength will be put on display as well.
Who are you looking for to grade out well?