I discussed the offensive players that have my attention heading into the NFL Combine, but today, it's time to dive into the Combine's defensive stars.
Interior Defensive line
This group, like those before it, has turned into an "all over the map" sort of group. There are 6-5, 315 lb. behemoth studs like Auburn's DERRICK BROWN and South Carolina's JAVON KINLAW, two guys that can play anywhere on the defensive line...at 315 lb. mind you. Then, there's a guy like North Carolina's JASON STROWBRIDGE who can do the same thing at 267 lb (not to mention he was like 285 lb. earlier in his career). The local player that I'll be most interested in is Missouri's JORDAN ELLIOTT of Westside HS in Houston. His HS defensive line coach taught my son for a couple of years at Westside. Consequently, I heard about Elliott all the time and wouldn't be surprised to hear his name called on night one of the draft.
Edge
Who doesn't want to see what The Freak, version 4.0, aka Ohio State's CHASE YOUNG, will do in testing? If he, in fact, tests at all. He may not have to and could ultimately choose not to, knowing that his draft status is pretty secure at number two or even number one in a trade down scenario. One of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl was Utah star BRADLEE ANAE. He has pass rush moves/counters for days, but I'm curious what his athletic testing numbers will show. The local player that will have my, and most other teams', interest is former LSU star K'LAVON CHIASSON from state champion North Shore HS. I remember seeing him as a high school star at NRG Stadium wondering who that freakazoid was and now he has a chance to put on a show and solidify a night one draft selection.
Stack linebackers
This one is easy. It took all of about five plays to fall in love with Wyoming star LOGAN WILSON. He was a defensive back, wide receiver and track star in high school and now plays inside linebacker. He's the absolute prototype at this position with the speed, change of direction and tackling skills he possesses. The local product that I'll have my eyes on is Texas Tech's JORDYN BROOKS who went to high school just down the road from me at Stratford HS. Now, he was injured in his senior campaign and missed the last three games of the year and also the Senior Bowl. So, I'm not sure if he works out at all, but if he does, he could really shine.
Safeties
Oh, this one is easy. Cal's ASHTYN DAVIS might be the best pure athlete in this draft. He was a member of the Cal track team, starring in the 60-, 110-hurdles and also in the sprints as well. He was a second team All-American in 2018 as a senior. He walked on the football team a year into his track career so he was able to extend his stay in college and he became one of the best safeties in this draft as a result. I love him as a player and he's fixing to knock that Combine right out of the park. The local product that'll have my attention is LSU All-American GRANT DELPIT, who spent his first three years at St. Thomas HS and Lamar HS. Oh, he's also one of my top rated safeties in this class.
Cornerback
I like watching track guys run at the Combine and Notre Dame's TROY PRIDE JR. was a track star in high school and at Notre Dame. He had a tremendous Senior Bowl week and a top notch Combine will only move him up on draft boards. The local product I'll follow is the pride of Kountze HS Baylor's GRAYLAND ARNOLD. He was the closest product to Houston that I could find, but he's intriguing nonetheless because he surprised me and a few others by declaring a year early. Due to an injury in 2018, he did have one more year of eligibility remaining but decided to take his game to the NFL. So, I'm curious to just gather more information on him from Indy.
Check out shots of current Texans defensive players from previous NFL Combines. (Photos via AP Images)
Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Illinois defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Stanford defensive back Justin Reid performs in a drill at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick Mckinney runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kentucky defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Charles Omenihu runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick Mckinney runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Illinois defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stanford linebacker Peter Kalambayi runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State defensive back Gareon Conley makes a catch as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Justin Reid runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn defensive lineman Angelo Blackson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham catches a pass during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
UCLA defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Illinois defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stanford defensive back Justin Reid runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick Mckinney runs the 40 yard dash during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham competes in the vertical jump at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Clemson defensive lineman D J Reader runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Ohio State University cornerback Bradley Roby runs up the fields the at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Louisiana State defensive lineman Barkevious Mingo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Rice defensive back Phillip Gaines runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
