Mustangs at the NFL Combine

[PonyPride]

DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
6-3 / 290
Arm: 33 inches
Hand: 9-1/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.86
10-yard split: 1.69
Vertical jump: 32 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches

Analysis
Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Overview
With a mature rush approach, Harrison-Hunte is a sixth-year senior who needs a scheme-specific fit. He has average snap quickness and limited knock-back pop but rarely gets pushed around badly despite a lack of mass. He shines as a pass rusher, where he can be a constant menace for guards in pass pro. He plays with basketball feet and a boxer’s hand flurries to access edges and gain early advantages. He rushes with an unpredictable tempo and a relentless motor. Harrison-Hunte doesn’t have the size or length to stand out on early downs, but he might be dynamic enough to earn a spot as a rotational rusher.

Strengths
Drops low to split and spoil double-team momentum.
Crowds into blocker’s frame as quickly as possible.
Lands hands while hips are uncoiling.
Basketball background shows in his footwork.
Slides and flurries his hands to outflank guard as a rusher.
Alters stride length and tempo to keep protection guessing.
Rarely rushes to contact and has counters available when he does.

Weaknesses
Can be a step slow getting off the snap.
Hands are quick but not very heavy.
Labors to get rid of blocker in shed mode.
Unable to create consistent threat with prower rush.
Gets to the edge but often sees redirect blocks instead of clean wins.


DE/Edge Elijah Roberts
6-4 / 285
Arm: 33-5/8 inches
Hand: 10-1/4 inches
40-yard dash: 4.78
10-yard split: 1.67
Vertical jump: 31-1/2 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 8 inches

Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Overview
Productive base end with good play strength who continues to add weight to his frame. Roberts has chalked up stats as a standing defender but isn’t athletic enough to play as a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the NFL and might not have the brutality to play inside at three-technique despite his size. Roberts won’t win the rush with speed or quickness but he can collapse the pocket with a finesse-to-power rush transition. He is slow to read and react to mesh points and counters. He’s also a wildly inconsistent arm tackler. The production could earn him an opportunity, but it might not be translatable as a base defensive end in the pros.

Strengths
Compiled 23.5 TFL, 17.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in the last two seasons.
Changes up his rush plan to keep protectors off-balance.
Able to roll tackles deep into the pocket with speed-to-power.
Capable of stacking his moves as a pass rusher.
Beats run blocker into the gap with an effective arm-over.
Can brace and hold the edge with leverage, length and strength.

Weaknesses
Needs to play past blocks with his eyes and diagnose the action.
Foot quickness and change of direction are below average.
Can be mirrored and controlled by an anchor-strong tackle.
Straight-legged rush gets him knocked off track by redirect blocks.
Will pull up short of full-body contact and default to arm tackles.


RB Brashard Smith
5-9 / 195

Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Overview
Undersized running back who transferred from Miami and switched positions from wide receiver. Smith lacks ideal size and displays some hesitation in his early reads but is slippery over the first two levels, using quick cuts and spin moves to elude tacklers. He has a feel for finding soft spots along the interior but has average speed to turn the corner on wide runs. He could get pushed up a full round thanks to his ball skills and ability to run routes in space. Smith shined as a kick returner at Miami and will likely get that chance in the pros as a third-down back with room for development.

Strengths
Fresh legs with only 253 career carries.
Very good stop-and-start quickness when probing.
Above-average ability to get to the smoothest path on interior runs.
Processes second level quickly to spin around or side step defenders.
Former wideout with outstanding hands and ball skills.
Able to line up and run a variety of routes from the slot.
Showed off kick-return and punt-cover talent during his career at Miami.

Weaknesses
Below-average size to take on a heavier workload.
Runs with a little too much hesitation in his approach.
Has a tough time outrunning pursuit to the corner.
Requires better understanding to read and set up block development.
Below-average leg drive to break through arm tackles.
Doesn’t offer up enough effort in pass protection.

[PonyPride]

Brashard Smith ran a 4.39 in the 40!

[PonyPride]

Harrison-Hunte: second-fastest 40 among defensive tackles

Roberts: fastest 40 among defensive ends weighing 280 or more

Smith: third-fastest 40 among all running backs