2006 NFL Scouting Combine - Day 6
By: Staff

Hard to believe we have arrived at the sixth and final day of the combine and today may have been the fastest overall day as far as the 40-yard dash is concerned.

The linebackers showed that they don’t have to take a back seat to anybody when it comes to speed. Thomas Howard put up a tremendous time of 4.46 as did Ernie Sims. But that wasn’t even the top time of the group. Stanford’s Jon Alston ran a 4.45. Alston also led his linebacker group which included Howard, Sims and DeMeco Ryans with an 11 foot broad jump. Virginia Tech’s James Anderson was another linebacker who finished high up the list on a lot of the events.

A.J. Hawk continues to wow everyone who sees him and his time of 4.59 didn’t hurt his cause. Hawk is the only player who is widely considered a top five pick to take part in all of the drills at his position. Scouts and personnel men love guys that will step up to the challenge and Hawk has certainly done that.

A group of linebackers including Howard and Chad Greenway will also work out at defensive back. That might make some sense for Greenway who posted a very poor showing in the bench press at this combine.

We saw the defensive backs take the field today and they showed that there will be plenty of speed available in April. Tye Hill solidified his spot in the middle of the first round with a 4.30 run. The others below 4.4 were Johnathan Joseph who posted a 4.31 and Tim Jennings of Georgia with a 4.32. Other top times belonged to Michael Huff with a 4.36, Antonio Cromartie at 4.39 and one guy who had a lot of question going into the combine Jason Allen proved that he is back form his season ending knee injury as he ran a 4.35 as well as showing good strength in his legs with a 10 foot 11 inch broad jump. Allen should see his stock get a big boost coming out of this week. Huff is a lock to be in the upper part of the first round and Cromartie’s time should put him at least somewhere into the bottom portion of round one.

Of the twenty-nine defensive backs working out, only four decided not to run today. Anwar Phillips and Alan Zemaitis of Penn State, Ohio State's Ashton Youboty and Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams will instead run at their respective pro days. USC’s Justin Wyatt also did not run but that was because of medical reasons.

Donte Whitner, Pat Watkins and Richard Marshall were other DB’s that shined on the field as well today.

Now that the combine has come to an end the debate will continue as to who truly helped and who really hurt their draft stock over these past six days. There is no better place on the web to jump in on the debate than here at Football’s Future. Check out our forums where over 7,000 football fans have already become part of one of the internet’s fastest growing NFL draft sites.