Prospects to watch at combine: | | | | | The NFL is Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis, and it brings together 323 of the nation's most draftable players and numerous front-office representatives and scouts from each NFL team. A big portion of the combine is the individual events, such as the 40-yard dash, the bench pre s and the vertical jump. This is part three of our position-by-position look at the combine, spotlighting wide receivers and tight ends. We look at six players at each position who will be scrutinized this year and also look at some noteworthy event performances in the last five combines. We'll also look at how some current NFL players performed in their combine events. Wide receivers: Six to watch , Auburn: He is big (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), fast (he has been clocked at under 4.4 in the 40) and athletic (his vertical jump once was measured at 44 inches), and should test off the charts at the combine. So what's the problem? His hands are inconsistent, and a receiver with inconsistent hands is problematic no matter how fast or athletic. As NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein puts it, "He has early-round traits and late-round receiving skills right now." Still, expect scouts to be awed by the numbers Coates puts up in the event portion of the combine. Chances are, those numbers will be impre sive enough that more than a few teams will be willing to overlook his inconsistencies. , Alabama: He will be the first receiver taken in the draft, right? Not nece sarily. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks , but fellow analyst Daniel Jeremiah , behind West Virginia's . While their combine performances won't nece sarily settle the debate, it will be interesting to compare. Cooper's 40 time will be especially interesting. , Miami: Dorsett's 40 time might end up being the fastest at the combine. Jeremiah called him in this entire draft cla s" during week. Still, as fast as he is, he never was a dominant college receiver, finishing with 121 career catches, albeit at 17.6 yards per catch and with 21 TDs; Amari Cooper had 124 catches this season alone. Dorsett was a teammate at powerhouse Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas with Florida State's , a far more polished receiver who also will be one to watch at the combine. Still, expect Dorsett to excite scouts in the 40 and other drills. , Oklahoma: He was the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2012 cla s and has a ton of talent. He also has had a ton of off-field i sues and didn't play a down of football in 2014 after he was dismi sed from Mi souri last spring and ended up at Oklahoma. Green-Beckham is a big guy (6-6, 225) who can run. But how fast will he run at the combine? Zierlein says Green-Beckham's 40 will be scrutinized: "He needs to meet high expectations for his workout. If he doesn't run a really good 40-yard dash, , Louisville: Here's the dark-horse candidate to be the first receiver off the board. He had 43 receptions for 855 yards (19.8 yards per catch) this season despite mi sing six games with a foot injury; he absolutely torched FSU's mega-talented secondary in a narrow lo s, finishing with eight catches for 214 yards (27 yards per catch). He is a big guy (6-3, 211) with an 80-inch wing span whose athleticism is off the charts: vertical jump of 36.5 inches, broad jump of 10-10, a squat of 455 pounds, a bench pre s of 335 pounds. But he didn't seem quite as explosive when he returned from his foot injury, and his 40 time will be important. , West Virginia: He definitely is in the mix to be the first receiver off the board, which would continue his meteoric rise from complementary receiver in 2013 to go-to stud in 2014. He had 109 receptions for 1,447 yards (13.3 per catch) and 10 TDs this past season after a 35-catch season in '13, which was his first for WVU after transferring in from a junior college. He, too, has good size (6-3, 210), but his perceived lack of top-end speed has been noticed. "His 40 time ," Zierlein wrote. His hands were like glue in 2014, and that obviously is a big positive. Wide receivers: Combine bests over last five years 40-YARD DASH 1. Marquis Goodwin, Texas Time: 4.27 in 2013 Draft status: 3rd round, Buffalo 2. , Clemson Time: 4.28 in 2010 Draft status: 4th round, Oakland 3. , Oregon State Time: 4.33 in 2014 Draft status: 1st round (20th overall), New Orleans 4t. , Pittsburg (Kan.) State Time: 4.34 in 2014 Draft status: 3rd round, 4t. , West Virginia Time: 4.34 in 2013 Draft status: 1st round (8th overall), 4t. Ryan Swope, Texas AM Time: 4.34 in 2013 Draft status: 6th round, Notable players , Florida State: 4.72 seconds in 2003 , Central Michigan: 4.56 seconds in 2010 , California: 4.35 seconds in 2008 , Georgia Tech: 4.35 seconds in 2007 , Alabama: 4.39 seconds in 2011 VERTICAL JUMP 1. , Connecticut Jump: 43.5 inches in 2012 Draft status: Undrafted 2. Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt Jump: 42 inches in 2011 Draft status: 1st round (26th overall), 3. Scott Long, Louisville Jump: 41.5 inches in 2010 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. , Baylor Jump: 41.0 inches in 2014 Draft status: 7th round, 4t. , Mi souri Jump: 41.0 inches in 2012 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. , Maryland Jump: 41.0 inches in 2011 Draft status: 2nd round, 4t. Terrance Turner, Indiana Jump: 41.0 inches in 2011 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. Donald Jones, Youngstown State Jump: 41.0 inches in 2010 Draft status: Undrafted Notable players , Mount Union: 36.5 inches in 2008 , Northern Colorado: 39.0 inches in 2005 , Miami: 39.0 inches in 2003 , Georgia Tech: Did not jump in 2007 , UCF: 37.0 inches in 2006 20-YARD SHUTTLE 1. , Oregon State Time: 3.81 seconds in 2014 Draft status: 1st round (20th overall), New Orleans 2. , Boise State Time: 3.88 seconds in 2011 Draft status: 3rd round, St. Louis 3. , Louisville Time: 3.90 seconds in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. Jr., LSU Time: 3.94 seconds in 2014 Draft status: 1st round (12th overall), 4t. , Fresno State Time: 3.94 seconds in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. , Oregon Time: Rob Blake Jersey 3.94 seconds in 2011 Draft status: Undrafted Notable players , Central Michigan: 4.18 seconds in 2010 , Georgia: 4.21 seconds in 2011 , San Jose State: 4.20 seconds in 2007 , Alabama: 4.25 seconds in 2011 , SMU: 4.10 seconds in 2010 3-CONE DRILL 1. , Oregon Time: 6.42 seconds in 2011 Draft status: Undrafted 2. Scott Long, Louisville Time: 6.45 seconds in 2010 Draft status: Undrafted 3. , Ohio State Time: 6.46 seconds in 2011 Draft status: Undrafted 4. Terrence Toliver, LSU Time: 6.48 seconds in 2011 Draft status: Undrafted 5. , Mount Union Time: 6.50 seconds in 2011 Draft status: 4th round, Jacksonville Notable players Jr., LSU: 6.69 seconds in 2014 , Florida State: 7.35 seconds in 2003 , Georgia: 6.91 seconds in 2011 , Alabama: 6.66 seconds in 2011 , Kansas State: 7.03 seconds in 2008 BROAD JUMP 1. , Tenne see Numbers: 11 feet, 4 inches in 2013 Draft status: 2nd round, Tenne see 2. , Alabama Numbers: 11 feet, 3 inches in 2011 Draft status: 1st round (6th overall), Atlanta 3. , Georgia Tech Numbers: 11 feet, 1 inch in 2012 Draft status: 2nd round, 4t. , Mi si sippi Numbers: 11 feet in 2014 Draft status: 3rd round, Indianapolis 4t. , Baylor Numbers: 11 feet in 2014 Draft status: 7th round, San Diego 4t. , Texas Numbers: 11 feet in 2013 Draft status: 3rd round, Buffalo 4t. , Tenne see Numbers: 11 feet in 2013 Draft status: Undrafted Notable players , Notre Dame: 10 feet, 2 inches in 2012 , Georgia: 10 feet, 5 inches in 2011 , UCF: 10 feet in 2006 , Mi si sippi: 10 feet, 9 inches in 2007 , Clemson: 10 feet, 6 inches in 2014 BENCH PRESS 1. , North Carolina Numbers: 27 reps in 2011 Draft status: 2nd round, Cleveland 2. , Mi souri Numbers: 26 reps in 2013 Draft status: Undrafted 3. , Nebraska Numbers: 24 reps in 2011 Draft status: 5th round, Washington 4. , Indiana Numbers: 23 reps in 2014 Draft status: 2nd round, Denver 5t. , TCU Numbers: 22 reps in 2013 Draft status: 4th round, New England 5t. , Mi souri Numbers: 22 reps in 2012 Draft status: Undrafted 5t. , California Numbers: 22 reps in 2012 Draft status: 5th round, Cincinnati Notable players , Oregon State: 16 reps in 2014 , Georgia: 18 reps in 2011 , Florida: 19 reps in 2009 , Georgia Tech: Did not lift in 2007 , Notre Dame: 17 reps in 2010 Tight ends: Six to watch , Ohio State: If Heurman is healthy, he should surprise folks with his athleticism. He was underutilized as a receiver in the Buckeyes' offense, finishing his career with just 52 catches. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Heuerman clock in the high 4.7s in the 40, and he also should test well in the other events. A strong combine could mean he ends up being a second-day pick. , Penn State: James surprised a lot of folks by declaring for the draft, but given the relative paucity of talent at the position, he might have made a good call. He is huge (6-7, 254) and was an important part of Penn State's pa sing attack this season (38 receptions, 396 yards, three TDs). He has been dinged for a perceived , so he will be looking to do well in the combine events. Penn State produced a ton of tight ends in the 1990s, but James is seeking to become just the third Nittany ' player at the position to be selected in the past 11 drafts. , Notre Dame: Koyack struggled at times during week, and his college production (just 44 career catches) certainly didn't match his hype. That said, he's a guy who could blo som as a pro and far outpace his college production. How athletic is he compared to the other tight ends? That's a question he needs to start answering at the combine. , Ma sachusetts: His age, 27, is a negative, as is the fact that he played just one season of FBS football (and it came at a MAC school). He quit school as a high school senior to work, earned his GED, then eventually got an itch to play football again. He played at two junior colleges, then had a solid 2014 season at UMa s (41 receptions, 15.5 yards per catch, six TDs). He has excellent size (6-7, 250) and is a good athlete who should test well. He is raw but looks to have a big upside. One concern: Can he reach that upside before he turns 30? , Miami: NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock calls Walford in this year's draft." He definitely is a receiver-first tight end, and while his blocking needs a bit of work, his skills as a pa s catcher make him a good fit in today's NFL. He looks to have the versatility and speed to be a threat to be used all over a formation. He can further show that with his combine workouts. (Walford is part of College Football 24/7's .) , Minnesota: Williams was a third-year sophomore who declared for the draft, and he could end up as the first tight end off the board. He played in a run-heavy scheme at Minnesota but still had 51 receptions in his two seasons, including 36 (for eight TDs) in 2014. While he did a lot of blocking for the Golden Gophers, his receiving skills are what stand out to NFL scouts. He made a couple of highlight-reel catches for Minnesota this season, and chances are, he will be impre sive in his combine workouts. His dad, Brian, is a former longtime NFL offensive lineman. Tight ends: Combine bests over last five years 40-YARD DASH 1. , Pitt Time: 4.40 in 2010 Draft status: 7th round, Houston 2. , Oklahoma Time: 4.49 in 2012 Draft status: 6th round, Dallas 3t. A.C. Leonard, Tenne see State Time: 4.50 in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 3t. , Arkansas Time: 4.50 in 2013 Draft status: 7th round, Buffalo 5. , Louisiana-Lafayette Time: 4.53 in 2012 Draft status: 4th round, San Diego Notable players , Maryland: 4.38 seconds in 2006 , Miami: 4.56 seconds in 2010 , Arizona: Did not run at 2010 combine , Miami: 4.51 seconds in 2007 , Portland State: 4.64 seconds in 2011 VERTICAL JUMP 1. , Pitt Jump: 43.5 inches in 2010 Draft status: 7th round, Houston 2. , Nevada Jump: 42.5 inches in 2011 Draft status: 7th round, Denver 3. , Mi souri State Jump: 40.0 inches in 2010 Draft status: 4th round, Philadelphia 4. , Oregon Jump: 39.0 inches in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 5. , Miami Jump: 38.5 inches in 2010 Draft status: 3rd round, New Orleans Notable players Dallas Clark, Iowa: 37.5 inches in 2003 , Maryland: 42 inches in 2006 , North Carolina: 32 inches in 2014 , Portland State: 35.5 inches in 2011 , Tenne see: 31 inches in 2003 BROAD JUMP 1. , Mi souri Numbers: 10 feet, 11 inches in 2012 Draft status: 3rd round, Miami 2. , Nevada Numbers: 10 feet, 10 inches in 2011 Draft status: 7th round, Denver 3t. A.C. Leonard, Tenne see State Numbers: 10 feet, 8 inches in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 3t. , Oregon Numbers: 10 feet, 8 inches in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 5. , Pitt Numbers: 10 feet, 5 inches in 2010 Draft status: 7th round, Houston Notable players , USC: 9 feet, 11 inches in 2011 , Maryland: 10 feet, 8 inches in 2006 , Notre Dame: 9 feet, 11 inches in 2013 , Miami: 10 feet in 2010 , Miami: 9 feet, 6 inches in 2007 BENCH PRESS 1t. Joe Don Duncan, Dixie State Numbers: 35 reps in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 1t. , Georgia Numbers: 35 reps in 2012 Draft status: 4th round, Cincinnati 3. , Rice Numbers: 31 reps in 2013 Draft status: 2nd round, San Francisco 4. , Mi soui State Numbers: 30 reps in 2010 Draft status: 4th round, Philadelphia 5t. , Texas Tech Numbers: 28 reps in 2014 Draft status: 2nd round, 5t. , Georgia Numbers: 28 reps in 2014 Draft status: 5th round, Miami Notable players , Maryland: 33 reps in 2006 , North Carolina: 24 reps in 2014 , Miami: Did not lift in 2010 , Arizona: 23 reps in 2010 , Tenne see: 25 reps in 2003 Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter . Oskar Olausson Jersey