The 2016 NFL scouting combine was a mixed bag for Arizona Wildcats draft prospects Scooby Wright and Cayleb Jones.
Wright came to Indianapolis hoping to prove to scouts that he’s more athletic than they think. But the linebacker’s 40-yard dash time of 4.90 seconds Sunday fell short of expectations. Word from the Wright camp was that he’d run in the high 4.6s or in the 4.7s at worst.
Wright did turn in a good time in the 20-yard shuttle, which measures lateral quickness and explosiveness in a short area. Wright’s shuttle time of 4.47 seconds tied for 13th among linebackers, according to NFL.com. It was one of two drills in which he ranked in the top 15 at his position. The other was the bench press. Wright’s 22 reps tied for fifth among linebackers.
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His father, Phil Wright, said via phone Sunday that Scooby was disappointed in his performance but looking forward to Arizona’s March 24 pro day, which will afford him a second chance in front of NFL representatives.
“Things happen,” Phil Wright said. “No excuses. Live to fight another day.”
Chris Burke of SI.com summed up Wright’s weekend and draft outlook:
He always has presented as a function-over-form evaluation for the draft, so the combine didn't shape up as his best environment. Wright excelled for Arizona on his instincts – hardly something that shows up (in) speed drills. …
Even with that in mind, Sunday was disappointing for him. …
Will it matter? In terms of his final draft spot, probably. When it comes to his success in the NFL, the answer will depend on if his next team can find a creative way to take advantage of his nose for the ball.
Jones, who worked out Saturday, ranked in the top 15 in only one category – the 20-yard shuttle. But tying for seventh among wide receivers at 4.14 seconds in the shuttle has to be considered a positive sign, especially considering the knocks against him in this NFL.com scouting report by Lance Zierlein:
Upright target. Easy for press corners to get under his pads and jam his release. Feet lack initial quickness to make press corners pay. Looks slow on tape. Might have to live with defenders in his pocket if he makes it in the league. Stiff hips offer little sink into breaks a,nd routes are sluggish and sloppy.
Jones measured at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, which makes his 40 time of 4.65 seconds more palatable.
Another local product, Stanford linebacker and Tucson native Blake Martinez, enjoyed an impressive afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium. Martinez, who attended Canyon del Oro High, ranked in the top five among linebackers in the 3-cone drill (6.98), 20-yard shuttle (4.20) and bench press (22). He ranked 11th in the 40-yard dash (4.71).
Here are the combine results for Wright, Jones and Martinez, per NFL.com (rankings in top 15 where indicated):
SCOOBY WRIGHT
- Height/weight: 6-0, 239
- 40-yard dash: 4.90 seconds
- Bench press: 22 reps (T-5)
- Vertical jump: 31.0 inches
- Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.47 seconds (T-13)
- 3-cone drill: N/A
CAYLEB JONES
- Height/weight: 6-3, 209
- 40: 4.65
- Bench: 9
- Vertical: 33.5
- Broad: N/A
- Shuttle: 4.14 (T-7)
- Cone: 6.99 seconds
BLAKE MARTINEZ
- Height/weight: 6-2, 237
- 40: 4.71 (11)
- Bench: 22 (T-5)
- Vertical: 28.5
- Broad: 9 feet, 5 inches
- Shuttle: 4.20 (T-3)
- Cone: 6.98 (2)
