NFL Combine Day 2 Stock Report: Cornerbacks Put on a Show

Which prospects helped their draft stock among the cornerbacks? Coach Gene Clemons has some answers.

After watching what the defensive line and linebackers did on Day 1 of the combine's on-field drills, there was no doubt that the defensive backs would show up and show out.

The track was blazing as seven cornerbacks went sub 4.39 in the forty-yard dash. Nine defensive backs boasted a vertical over 40 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet or better. The group's athleticism was off the charts on Friday, and what was already shaping into a deep group of pro prospects became deeper.

Even with so many helping their respective causes, a few left the field on Friday, not feeling the greatest about their performance. A pair of Terrapins stole the show among the uber athletes, and others felt like they may have lost momentum. But to be frank, that might have been because of the many out-of-this-world performances by others.

Stock Up! CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Gonzalez was considered one of the best prospects in the draft coming into the combine, and his on-field testing did little to change that opinion. On Friday, he put on a physical display, showing the type of explosiveness you would expect from a Day 1 starter at the position.

Gonzalez ran a 4.38 forty-yard dash, which would be impressive, but he followed it up with a massive 41.5-inch vertical and an 11'1" broad jump to go with it. He didn't run the fastest or jump the highest or furthest, but he was among the top performers in every category. Toss in his solid game film, and Gonzalez may have placed himself in line as the top corner selected.

Stock Up! CB DJ Turner II, Michigan

Turner ran the fastest forty-yard dash time of the day at 4.26. Turner played with speed and fluidity while defending the back end for the Wolverines, but it was still surprising to see him lay down such a fast time.

His time would have been the second fastest time last season, tying with UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen, his time being just three-hundreds of a second behind Baylor's Kalon Barnes.

Stock Up! CB Deonte Banks, Maryland

Banks had one of the better days overall. Like Gonzalez, he put up a sub-4.4 (4.35) forty time. He also jumped over 11 feet in the broad jump (11' 4"), and his vertical was 42 inches. When you combine his production with these numbers, it would not be surprising to hear his name in the draft's first round.

Stock Up! CB Jakorian Bennett, Maryland

After his former teammate Banks put on a show, Bennett had his own coming-out party. His 4.3 time was faster than Banks's. He also posted a vertical above 40 inches (40.5) and had a broad jump of 11'1", which made his performance one of the most impressive for the day.

Initially, Bennett was projected to be a late Day 3 prospect, but these numbers could see him vaulting into a late Day 2 pick. Evaluators will no doubt be scrambling back to the film to see if he showed this level of athleticism in games.

Stock Down! S Trey Dean III, Florida

Much of Dean's projections for the NFL were predicated on his athleticism, but it was surprising to see him run a 4.75 forty-yard dash time, a number that placed him 86th out of 109 players through the first two days of combine testing.

While a 36.5-inch vertical and 10'4" broad jump are not bad numbers, as compared to the numbers posted by his contemporaries, it was an unimpressive showing.

Stock Down! CB Anthony Johnson, Virginia

Johnson picked a really bad time not to run his fastest. While cornerbacks dropped sub 4.3 forties, Johnson clocked a 4.6 40-yard dash. Making matters worse, he wasn't even the fastest Anthony Johnson o the field, as Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr. posted a 4.54 time.

Virginia's Johnson also performed below average in the vertical jump (30.5") and the broad jump (9'8").

Up Next

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends will take the field on Day 3 to test their athletic prowess. The cornerbacks have laid down the gauntlet--will anyone be able to respond?

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