Feb. 25, 2008
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| Courtesy of NFL.com |
Every former collegiate player that participates in the NFL Combine has something to prove to those closest to professional football. Early returns from the Indianapolis event that concluded Monday afternoon suggests that four Vanderbilt’s participants all improved their stock at the pressure-packed combine.
The four Commodores – offensive tackle Chris Williams, inside linebacker Jonathan Goff, defensive end/linebacker Curtis Gatewood and receiver Earl Bennett – each posted at least one Top 10 performance in the four-day parade of talent that includes one-on-one meetings with NFL representatives, thorough physical exams, and a series of physical tests such as the 225-pound bench press repetition, 40-yard dash, 20-and 60-yard shuttle sprints, vertical jump and standing long jump.
“A lot is at stake at the Combine, but I thought it was a lot of fun. I looked at the Combine as just another chance to show scouts what I can do,” Williams said. “It was also fun being with my teammates, watching them perform, and seeing them do their best. I think all of us did that.”
The strong Commodore contingent was a storyline at this year’s Combine, which included more than 300 invitees. It was the highest Vanderbilt participation in recent memory, topping representations in 1998 and 2001.
Just like Jay Cutler two years ago, the four Commodores traveled to Indianapolis prepared to compete. While several prospects postponed their testing until on-campus Pro Days, Williams, Goff, Gatewood and Bennett arrived ready to achieve conditioning personal bests.
Each had a different mission at the Combine. Williams wanted to exhibit elite speed and agility for offensive linemen; Bennett needed a fast 40; Goff hoped to demonstrate above-average speed and strength; Gatewood hoped to show scouts the quickness needed to possibly play linebacker at the next level.
Bennett, the SEC career leader with 236 receptions, knew his Combine success – or failure – would be tied to his 40-yard time.
“I knew going in that I had to run a fast 40. The scouts wanted to see my speed,” Bennett said. “I had an opportunity to talk to several teams and all of them wanted to know what kind of 40 I thought I was going to run. I told all of them I’d go under 4.5.”
On Sunday, competing with more than 50 of the nation’s top receivers, Bennett answered the question with style – running the 40 in 4.48. His effort in the first 10-yard interval of the 40 also ranked among the leaders. Topping off the performance, Bennett bettered his career best with 15 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press.
Like Bennett, Goff hoped to exhibit speed and strength to the scouts. A two-time All-Southeastern Conference performance, Goff added weight in the weeks of conditioning leading to the Combine, then turned heads by bench pressing 225 pounds 28 times, and producing a 4.63 clocking in the 40. Both performances were among the Top 5 listed among 34 linebackers.
Gatewood, a two-year starter at defensive end for the Commodores, projects as an end or 3-4 linebacker in the NFL. Gatewood demonstrated his fitness by running the sixth-fastest 40 (4.74) and second quickest three-cone drill (6.90 seconds) while carrying 248 pounds.
Each Commodore has another opportunity to catch the eye of scouts when Vanderbilt holds its Pro Day on campus in mid-March. Several other teammates currently training for the NFL Draft, including defensive tackle Theo Horrocks, linebacker Marcus Buggs, offensive linemen Brian Stamper, Hamilton Holliday and Josh Eames, running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison and quarterback Richard Kovalcheck, are expected to participate in the on-campus Pro Day.