Five Hoosiers Performed at the NFL Scouting Combine this Past Weekend, Here's What They Did

Simmie Cobbs hauls in a touchdown against Purdue Image Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written By Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB)

Five former Indiana football stars were invited to participate in the 2018 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, which began last week and concluded on Monday.

Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. was the only Hoosier to participate in all seven drills, while Ian Thomas was involved in five. Linebackers Tegray Scales and Chris Covington took part in only the bench press and 40-yard dash. Cornerback Rashard Fant was unable to participate due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Here are the results from Indianapolis, along with a brief scouting report on each player from the past week. Indiana will also have its pro day on April 3.

Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR

The lone Hoosier to participate in all seven drills, Cobbs was exceptional in the 60-yard shuttle (11.2 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.7 seconds), ranking in the top four among wide receivers in both categories. But the 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver wasn't great in many of the other measurable drills. He posted a 4.64 time in the 40-yard dash, completed 11 repetitions on the bench press, had a vertical jump of 30 inches and a broad jump of 113 inches, all of which ranked in the lower half of participating receivers. His 20-yard shuttle time was 4.32.

Scouts seem to like Cobbs' NFL-ready frame and his natural knack for plucking footballs out of the air, but there's still some major concerns about his overall speed and ability to create separation from some of the better defenders in the league.

Cobbs is currently tabbed as a fifth-round selection according to NFL.com.

Ian Thomas, TE

Out of the five former Indiana stars to attend the Combine, Thomas may have been the one who helped himself the most. The tight end participated in five drills, stacking up with some of the best in nearly every category. He tied for the sixth-fastest time in the 40-yard dash among his position group with a 4.74, ranked third with a vertical jump of 36 inches, second in the broad jump with a leap of 123 inches, and second in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.2. Thomas also ranked sixth in the three-cone drill, coming in at 7.15.

Thomas did not participate in the bench press or the 60-yard shuttle.

Scouts seem to be impressed with Thomas' strength, particularly with the ball in his hands. He's also shown some improvement as a blocker, something that is helping his stock heading into the NFL Draft. The biggest concern for Thomas, and there aren't many, is his route-running ability.

Thomas is currently predicted as a second- or third-round draft pick according to NFL.com.

Tegray Scales, LB

Scales participated in just two events in Indianapolis, the bench press and 40-yard dash. The All-Big Ten linebacker was in the middle of the pack with a  4.77 time in the 40 but tied for the second-most bench press repetitions among his position group, throwing the bar up 27 times. 

There's still some mystery to Scales among NFL scouts. His natural instincts and ability to find the ball-carrier are the skills that seem to be favoring the linebacker right now. However, his size and trouble shedding blockers quickly are big question marks.

Basically, Scales' participation in the Combine reaffirmed what everyone already knew about the hard-hitting Hoosier. 

Scales is currently projected to be picked in the fourth- or fifth-round according to NFL.com.

Chris Covington, LB

Like Scales, Covington only participated in the bench press and 40-yard dash at the Combine. He was a whisker behind his teammate in the 40, clocking in a 4.78. He also had 23 reps on the bench press, tying him for fourth among other linebackers.

After the Combine, there are still several concerns about whether Covington would be an impact player at the NFL level. Scouts are knocking his lack of experience, undisciplined pursuit and allowing himself to be taken away from the play too often. What he has been praised for, though, is his on-field demeanor, mostly his aggressive and physical style of play.

Covington is currently pegged as a seventh rounder or to wind up as an undrafted free agent according to NFL.com.

Rashard Fant, CB

A torn pectoral muscle prohibited Fant from participating in the NFL Combine. While the cornerback was unable to showcase his athleticism, it's unlikely many would have changed their opinion about Fant in Indianapolis.

Fant is excellent in pass coverage, possesses great speed and has great leaping ability, all desirable traits for a secondary defender. However, Fant has been knocked for his inability to shed blockers and absence as a tackler against the run. His physicality has seems to be a major issue among scouts. 

Fant is currently tabbed as a seventh-round pick according to NFL.com

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