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Pac-12 stars shine bright at 2022 NFL Combine

Rick Kimbrel

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Staff
Mar 5, 2002
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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.

USC’s Drake Jackson gained 30 pounds ahead of the Combine but it didn’t 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.

Stanford’s Thomas Booker showed he deserves to be in the conversation among the top defensive tackles. Booker finished in the top five among DT’s 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 State’s D.J. Davidson wowed in the drills at Indianapolis, finishing in the top 10 in all four drills he participated in.

UCLA’s 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 ThibodeauxORE4.58 (T-7th)27 (1st)----
Drake JacksonUSC--36.5 (7th)127 (3rd)--
Thomas BookerSTAN4.94 (5th)--110 (T-4th)7.33 (T-1st)4.41 (1st)
D.J. DavidsonASU-23 (2nd)28 (8th)-7.85 (3rd)4.72 (4th)
Otito OgbonniaUCLA-29 (1st)----
(Thibodeaux & Jackson ranked among DE; Booker, Davidson, Ogbonnia among DT)

LINEBACKERS

Utah’s 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.

Lloyd’s 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 year’s NFL Draft.

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

Arizona State’s 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 ButlerASU----7.47 (7th)-
Nate LandmanCOL4.86 (22nd)-36.5 (T-9th)119 (T-21st)--
Devin LloydUTAH4.66 (16th)25 (2nd)35 (16th)126 (10th)--
Nephi SewellUTAH4.67 (17th)-32 (24th)120 (T-19th)7.01 (2nd)4.33 (3rd)
CORNERBACKS

Another combine and another showcase for Washington cornerbacks. NFL Network’s 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.

USC’s 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 State’s 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 State’s 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 GordonUW4.52 (T-23rd)-----
Jack JonesASU4.51 (T-21st)-----
Chase LucasASU4.48 (T-16th)-39 (3rd)128 (3rd)--
Trent McDuffieUW4.44 (14th)-----
Chris SteeleUSC4.48 (T-16th)-37.5 (4th)126 (5th)--
Isaac Taylor-StuartUSC4.42 (13th)--123 (7th)--
Jaylen WatsonWSU4.51 (T-21st)18 (1st)----
Mykael WrightORE4.57 (30th)-----
SAFETIES

Oregon’s 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.

UCLA’s Quentin Lake had the same 40 time as the top safety prospect, Notre Dame’s 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 LakeUCLA4.59 (T-14th)-----
Verone McKinley IIIORE-16 (T-6th)35 (T-9th)120 (16th)--
WIDE RECEIVERS

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

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

Johnson’s 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.

UCLA’s 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 IIIORE4.60 (27th)-32 (T-29th)121 (T-23rd)7.21 (9th)4.54 (12th)
Kyle PhilipsUCLA4.58 (25th)-33.5 (T-22nd)124 (T-16th)--
Devon WilliamsORE4.65 (T-29th)-33 (T-24th)133 (4th)--
TIGHT ENDS

UCLA’s 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.

Washington’s Cade Otton did not participate in the on-field workouts as he’s 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 it’s a “stretch goal” to be ready for that.

At 6-foot-8, Arizona State’s 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 State’s 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 DulcichUCLA4.69 (5th)16 (9th)34 (T-5th)122 (2nd)7.05 (T-4th)4.37 (4th)
Curtis HodgesASU4.85 (11th)-34.5 (T-3rd)117 (T-6th)7.14 (7th)4.28 (3rd)
Teagan QuitorianoOSU-22 (2nd)----
RUNNING BACKS

Arizona State’s 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.

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

Washington State’s Max Borghi did not run at the Combine after injuring his ankle at the Senior Bowl but says he’s 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 Oregon’s 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. Oregon’s 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 BorghiWSU-20 (5th)----
Keaontay IngramUSC4.53 (T-16th)-34.5 (T-7th)122 (T-9th)--
CJ VerdellORE--29.5 (T-30th)118 (T-21st)--
Rachaad WhiteASU4.48 (T-13th)-38 (3rd)125 (5th)--
OFFENSIVE LINE

Arizona State’s 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.

Kellen Diesch ran an official 4.89 40-yard dash at 6'7 1/8" and 301 lbs at the #NFLCombine

That is 2nd-fastest by a player measuring taller than 6'7" and 300+ lbs at any combine since 2003, behind 3-time Pro Bowler Taylor Lewan's 4.87
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 4, 2022
Equally impressive was Washington State’s 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.

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

Washington’s 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 State’s 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 year’s draft.

OL Test Results (with position rank)

Name
School
40-yd Dash
Bench
Vert Jump
Broad Jump
3 Cone
20 Shuttle
Kellen DieschASU4.89 (T-2nd)-32.5 (3rd)110 (T-12th)7.77 (17th)4.43 (2nd)
Abraham LucasWSU4.92 (T-5th)24 (T-12th)27 (T-26th)107 (T-25th)7.25 (T-1st)4.40 (1st)
Sean RhyanUCLA5.25 (T-37th)-33.5 (1st)110 (T-12th)7.55 (11th)4.81 (27th)
Luke WattenbergUW5.20 (31st)-29.5 (11th)113 (T-4th)7.45 (7th)4.57 (10th)
Dohnovan WestASU5.27 (T-39th)-28 (T-18th)112 (T-6th)--
 
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