NFL Scouting Combine: Prospects on the Cusp of the First Round

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By Dave Doyle

They just might have it in Fleener, who boasts the size (6-foot-6, 254 lbs.), strength, ball-handling and route-running skills that fit Gronkowski’s prototype. Fleener had 667 receiving yards on 34 catches and 10 touchdowns in 2011. The biggest remaining question is: Does he have that burst of speed off the snap required to make him the total package? A strong 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine could push him into the first round.

But Dennard still has the traits that got him noticed in the first place: His intelligence in quickly assimilating Nebraska’s complex schemes, which earned him a starting spot by his sophomore year, his physical toughness, and his willingness to step up and defend the run. A good Combine showing could cause a team in need of defensive secondary help to gamble a first-round pick.

The big question is, did he make the right move in leaving school with a year of eligibility remaining? Sanu at times seems prone to mental lapses such as dropping catchable balls. If Sanu can impress the scouts off the field at the Combine, his on-field potential may be too much for some team to resist.