Tuesday was mostly business related for groups one, two and three of the more than 300 attendees to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The first group of players arrived for their orientation, registration, medical examinations and interviews with team representatives before workouts begin on Thursday. Tuesday’s arriving groups consists of placekickers, punters, offensive linemen and tight ends.
On Wednesday, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs are slated to arrive.
But just because no one was working out inside Lucas Oil Stadium doesn’t mean we were without news. According to the NFL Network consensus No. 3 quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft, UCLA’s Brett Hundley, will definitely throw for scouts and coaches at the combine and was the first of the top three quarterbacks to confirm that Tuesday.
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota told teams Tuesday that he will throw Saturday, after reports surfaced that he might hold off because the sprained AC joint injury he suffered in the national championship game.
“Really, I’m looking forward to throwing if I’m able to do that,” Mariota told the Associated Press. “It’s going to be a decision that my agent and the team that I have around me will decide when I get closer.”
Mariota is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and threw for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns last season.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is also reportedly planing on throwing Saturday. Winston, along with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty have been training with George Whitfield at the University of Michigan’s facilities and Tuesday got some one-on-one instruction from new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
QBs Jameis Winston (FSU) & Bryce Petty (Baylor) are preparing for the NFL Combine at Schembechler Hall. pic.twitter.com/2ICM9XMVrc
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) February 17, 2015
Winston won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and followed that up with a solid 2014 where he threw for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns with 18 picks. Winston has been his own worst enemy as an NFL prospect, continually getting in trouble with Florida State and with the law over the last two seasons.
Petty is the fourth-ranked quarterback prospect heading into he draft also coming off a terrific senior campaign for the Bears. Petty finished with 3,855 yards and 29 touchdowns with just seven picks and projects as a high second-round selection. Of all the top quarterbacks, Petty has the most to gain from a good combine.
Last year, both Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel elected not to throw at the combine and both watched their stock plummet on draft day. Blake Bortles did throw at the combine and was the first QB taken in the draft at No. 3 by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indiana running back Tevin Coleman will not run at combine
Tevin Coleman, who rushed for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns last season will not lay down a 40-time at the NFL combine as he’s still not fully-recovered from ankle surgery in December. Coleman, at 6-foot-1, 210-pounds is a monster back coming off an All-World season for the Hoosiers. Coleman is the No. 6-ranked running prospect heading into the combine and is projected as a second round selection.
By sitting out the combine, Coleman gets extra time to heal up for Indiana’s Pro Day on April 15, just two weeks before the draft.
Cooper and Funchess show off on social media
Amari Cooper is already headed for a top five selection in the upcoming draft, and he showed he has more than just speed on his Instagram feed Monday night, posting a video of him doing pull ups and clapping at the top of each one.
http://instagram.com/p/zLCVRMMtxO/?modal=true
Devin Funchess from Michigan, on the other hand, was recorded not only dunking a basketball, but getting his head completely above the rim in a vertical jump Sunday.
Former #Michigan WR Devin Funchess (@D_FUNCH) has avatar-like bounce. When NFL teams see his head above the rim?! pic.twitter.com/uLWbbxBQeQ
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) February 15, 2015
Cooper, of course, is the No. 1 wide receiver prospect entering the combine. Funchess, at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, is the No. 7-ranked receiver and projects as a low first round, high second round selection.
