In Indianapolis, where hundreds of NFL hopefuls are poked, prodded and asked to perform various tests of athletic skill, former Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart likely solidified his status as a first-round draft pick.
Stewart weighed in at 5-foot-10 1/4 inches and 235 pounds and proceeded to impress with a time of 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 28 repetitions of the 225-pound bench press.
Although his 40-yard dash time wasn’t the 4.3 speed he promised to run at his press conference declaring that he was leaving school early, it was still considered impressive for a running back his size and was the 10th best overall.
Stewart’s 28 reps were the third best of any of the running backs, two fullbacks did 30 reps, and his vertical jump of 36.5 inches was second best at the position.
Stewart refrained from running the shuttle-cone drills as his turf-toe injury is still lingering and would have affected his ability to change direction and speed in those drills.
He also had a broad-jump of 10-feet-8-inches, fifth best for the running backs.
SI.com said Stewart’s performance helped his draft stock with the strong showing.
“Stewart was another big back who amazed scouts with his speed. The junior from Oregon tipped the scales at 230 pounds, yet timed both of his forty’s in the low 4.4’s,” Tony Pauline wrote. “Stewart is likely to be rated as one of the top eight players in the draft.”
While Stewart didn’t run as fast Darren McFadden, who ran a 4.33 and is widely considered to be the first running back chosen, Stewart is considered to be a mid-first round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.
The other former Ducks in the combine, however, are up in the air.
Both quarterback Dennis Dixon and wide receiver Brian Paysinger are still recovering from knee surgery and are limited to what drills they can participate in.
Geoff Schwartz has to prove to scouts that he’s capable of playing in a pro-style offense after playing in Oregon’s spread-option scheme.
Stewart had to answer similar questions.
“A lot of the coaches I’ve talked to have brought that up and been emphasizing they’ve got to look at (extra) film,” Stewart told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “But I don’t see it being a problem. Even in the spread offense, I find ways to smash it up there and get up the field as soon as possible.”
Stewart dazzles scouts
Daily Emerald
February 25, 2008
0
More to Discover