- Quarterbacks took centerstage Friday here at the NFL's annual scouting combine. Among them were Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky and Clemson's Deshaun Watson, who met with reporters.
The trio are considered to be the top signal callers in this year's draft class and will try and prove as much in the coming days via interviews with teams and Saturday's on-field workout.
In doing so, they also addressed the merits of this year's group and whether they'll be able to have an immediate impact on teams across the league.
"I think it's a very good quarterback class. Me and all the other guys here, I mean we've worked really hard, we've put the work in and I wish everyone the best of luck and I think there's a lot to say for what we've done in our college careers," Trubisky said.
"And who's to say this quarterback class can't be one of the best? Only the future will tell. I think there's a lot of talented guys here and that's what we're here to show and hopefully it will throughout our careers."
- Clemson's Mike Williams is well-aware of the comparisons to his former teammate and Bills standout Sammy Watkins.
"I just looked up to him, continued to do what he did when he left," he said.I just
kept the Wide Receiver U thing going."
Williams met with reporters and stated his case as the best receiver in this year's class. He totaled 1,361 yards last season as a key member of the Tigers' national title run.
"If you're here and don't believe you're the best at your position, I don't know why you're here. I feel like everybody should think they're the best at their position," he said.
"I come out and compete every day and have fun. Compete with some of the best in the ACC, played against some of the best this year, who y'all have some of the best-rated cornerbacks in Humphreys and Lattimore, so I mean, just experience and things like that."
- Central Ohio native and Ashland standout Adam Shaheen could be the best draft prospect you've never heard of.
Shaheen, who transferred to Ashland after playing basketball for Division II Pittsburgh-Johnstown, is considered one of the best tight ends in a loaded draft class that includes Alabama's O.J. Howard and Miami's David Njoku.
But first, he was a lightly-regarded, lanky two-sport athlete. "Ohio State wasn't knocking on my door to come play football for them obviously," Shaheen said, laughing.
Thanks to "a lot of Chipotle burritos" and some good genetics, Shaheen — who weighed in at 6 foot 6, 277 pounds and hopes to run a 4.7-second 40 time — is now looking at potentially a future in the NFL.
- Michigan's Jake Butt says he has no regrets when it comes returning for his senior season and playing in the Orange Bowl, where he tore his ACL and potentially damaged his draft stock. "Absolutely not, no. I came back, I made that decision, it was the right decision for me," he said. "We had a great year as a team, I improved upon a lot of the things that I came back to improve upon. Even playing in the bowl game, I wouldn't change it going back. I was a leader on that team, I'm a captain, I love that university and just the kind of player I am, I would never sit out of a game." Butt, a Pickerington, Ohio, native, is still considered one of the top tight ends in this year's draft class.
- LSU's Leonard Fournette, considered to be this year's top running back, bounced back from an unexpectedly subpar vertical jump with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash. It was the fastest time ever by a running back more than 240 pounds and it likely helped reaffirm his status as a top 15 pick.
Of note: North Carolina's T.J. Logan clocked in as the fastest running back at the combine with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. Florida State's Dalvin Cook ran a 4.49 and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey ran a 4.49.
