Which TCU football player helped his NFL draft stock the most at the scouting combine?
Count Ross Blacklock as TCU’s biggest winner from last week’s NFL scouting combine.
Blacklock helped his case the most to become a first-round pick in the NFL draft next month, running an impressive 4.9-second 40-yard dash.
Blacklock also had a 29-inch vertical jump, a 7.77-second 3-cone drill and a 4.67-second short shuttle. He did not compete in the bench press.
Blacklock checked in at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, lighter than his playing weight but delivered in the 40-yard dash. He played mostly nose tackle in his time at TCU, although Blacklock is versatile enough to play the three-technique as an interior pass rusher at the next level.
At the end of the day, Blacklock may become TCU’s highest-drafted player next month. He, receiver Jalen Reagor and cornerback Jeff Gladney all have first-round potential.
As the saying goes, it only takes one team to fall in love with a player to make them a first-round player.
Here’s a look at how all of TCU’s prospects fared at the combine. The Horned Frogs sent seven players to Indianapolis, the most among any Big 12 team —
Reagor
Height/ weight: 5-foot-11, 206 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds
225-pound bench press: 17 reps
Vertical jump: 42 inches
Broad jump: 138 inches
3-cone: 7.31 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.46 seconds
Takeaway: Reagor posted impressive numbers when it came to jumps, but underwhelmed in the 40-yard dash and agility drills (3-cone, shuttle). Most feel Reagor’s stock remained the same as he didn’t hurt himself or help himself. The explosion he showed in the jumps offset any speed/ agility concerns.
At the end of the day, Reagor is a home-run threat with the ball in his hands and will be coveted by teams at the next level.
Gladney
Height/ weight: 5-foot-10, 191 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds
225-pound bench press: 17 reps
Vertical jump: 37.5 inches
Broad jump: 124 inches
3-cone: 7.26 seconds
Takeaway: Gladney will undergo surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus but will be ready when minicamps start this summer. With that being said, his 4.48-second 40-yard dash should hold up well throughout the pre-draft process.
Gladney had a disappointing showing in the 3-cone, ranking last among cornerbacks, but he’s solidified himself as a Day 2 pick with potential to sneak into Day 1.
Lucas Niang
Height/ weight: 6-foot-6, 315 pounds
Takeaway: Niang received positive reports on his hip after undergoing season-ending surgery in December. He was able to go through the interview process with teams, but TCU’s pro day on March 27 is where he’ll be able to really re-establish himself among the top offensive tackles in the class by going through physical tests.
Niang put together stellar film throughout his college career, allowing zero sacks the past two seasons.
Darius Anderson
Height/ weight: 5-foot-10, 208 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.61 seconds
225-pound bench press: 19 reps
Vertical jump: 36 inches
Broad jump: 128 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds
Takeaway: Anderson ranked as the second-best running back in broad jump and had a good time in the 20-yard shuttle, but he had a disappointing showing in the 40-yard dash. The expectation is for Anderson to run again at TCU’s pro day.
Anderson is viewed as a Day 3 prospect at this point.
Sewo Olonilua
Height/ weight: 6-foot-3, 232 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
225-pound bench press: 25 reps
Vertical jump: 36 inches
Broad jump: 123 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.28 seconds
Takeaway: Olonilua showed off his strength with 25 reps on the 225-pound bench press, but his speed was a disappointment as he posted the third-slowest 40-yard time among running backs.
But Olonilua has position flexibility — he lined up at tight end and H-back for TCU — and should be attractive to teams at the next level because of that.
Cordel Iwuagwu
Height/ weight: 6-foot-3, 309 pounds
40-yard dash: 5.22 seconds
225-pound bench press: 25 reps
Vertical jump: 27 inches
Broad jump: 94 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.87 seconds
3-cone: 8.03 seconds
Takeaway: Iwuagwu is viewed as a late-round, priority free agent candidate at the next level. He didn’t do much to change that narrative at the combine.
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
