As I watched the quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers during the NFL Scouting Combine in primetime on NFL Network, there weren't a ton of surprises. Alabama's Henry Ruggs III is just outrageously fast as he put up the third-fastest time in the history of the Combine (4.27!). Oregon's Justin Herbert and Utah State's Jordan Love threw the ball well, again, as expected. But, as Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah and a slew of former NFL stars waxed poetic about what they had seen on the field, something struck me.
The city of Houston and the surrounding areas in our great state should be incredibly proud of the show that "The Locals" put on Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Let's start with the pride of Richmond, TX, yeah, that's my spot too - Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. The Foster HS product ran 4.50 in the 40, which was a solid time for him. Even as important, he caught the ball as if it were on a string during the on-field portion of the Combine. He made the gauntlet drill look like recess at playtime. He showed off his release at the line of scrimmage, ironically enough on Houston Texans receivers coach John Perry who was assisting at the Combine, on a fade drill. Catching the ball looks simple for a guy I've labeled a thinner DeAndre Hopkins.
Channelview HS star Jalen Hurts came to the Combine with some questions as to whether he will play quarterback in the future. The name Taysom Hill came up A LOT for the greater Houston product, but he did help his cause to stay at quarterback full time. He ran 4.59, posted a 35.0 vertical jump and a 10-5 broad jump, which are great numbers for any skill position, much less quarterback. However, what really helped his cause was the ease with which he threw the ball in all the drills that he did. Now, that's not the end all be all as the questions about him playing quarterback aren't going to be answered in that kind of setting, but it certainly did not hurt his cause with the way he spun the rock on Thursday night.
Baylor University receiver Denzel Mims was an intriguing name for many, especially after such an outstanding Senior Bowl week. In essence, he "won" the night with a workout for the ages - 4.38 in the 40 at 6-3, 207 lb., 16 bench reps, 38.5-inch vertical, 11-10 broad jump and a 6.66 3-cone (!). Having seen him up close at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl, I knew IT was there. I knew he had IT. He flashed IT at Baylor, then stole the show with IT in Mobile and did IT again Thursday night. Another Texas product that helped his cause was University of Texas weapon Devin Duvernay who blazed a 4.39 in the 40, combined with a 35.5-inch vertical. When he did the gauntlet, he was clean as a whistle and caught the last ball and turned up the field like he was playing Oklahoma with the game on the line, speeding up the sideline.
Those four were discussed often throughout the night and, hopefully, made the locals proud.
Check out shots of current Texans offensive players from previous NFL Combines. (Photos via AP Images)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller V runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil runs a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma receiver Kenny Stills runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Miami running back Duke Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is seen in a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Northern Illinois offensive lineman Max Scharping runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mississippi State tight end Jordan Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Notre Dame offensive lineman Nick Martin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas Tech wide receiver Keke Coutee runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee offensive lineman Zach Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma receiver Kenny Stills runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson throws a pass during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Washington offensive lineman Senio Kelemete runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is seen after a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
San Diego State tight end Kahale Warring runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
USC wide receiver Steven Mitchell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson warms up during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Miami running back Lamar Miller runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
