The 2024 NFL Combine commenced on Thursday and ran through Saturday — and Oregon’s seven-player representatives showed out as they made their final case to the visiting NFL scouts and general managers. Bo Nix, Troy Franklin, Bucky Irving, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Khyree Jackson, Brandon Dorlus and Evan Williams were on scene in Indianapolis in front of representatives from teams from across the league.
Nix, the most experienced college quarterback ever, kept his draft stock reasonable after the Combine. The 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist tallied 4,508 passing yards and 45 touchdowns for the Ducks last season and will sit just below the top signal-callers in the draft. He’s projected as a late-first to mid-third round pick — teams are reluctant to take a chance on his age (he’s two years older than projected second pick Drake Maye), but could rise to a team without a lottery pick looking for an experienced option.
Franklin, coming off one of the best statistical seasons ever for an Oregon wide receiver — 1,383 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns — performed well at the combine, with an unofficial 4.41 second 40-yard dash. Like Nix, he’s projected late-first round at the highest in a draft stacked with excellent players at his position. Concerns around his height and weight linger (he weighed in at 6’2’’ and 176 lbs on Saturday) and teams may favor Marvin Harrison Jr.’s (Ohio State University) X-factor ability or Rome Odunze’s (University of Washington) big-play moments, but Franklin’s gamebreaking speed and power should land him a roster spot headed into training camp.
Powers-Johnson is the highest-projected Duck this year. After winning the Rimington Trophy in 2023, awarded to the nation’s best center, he’s a solid option for any team looking to improve its offensive line and should go in the first round. The Draper, Utah, native slid into the middle of the line last season for the Ducks, but could slot in in any of the available positions.
Irving is an interesting case: despite his ‘undersized’ tag — he’s listed at 5’10’’ and 195 lbs — his ability as a ball carrier in open space consistently attracts teams. He tallied 1,180 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 186 carries in 2023, and while he won’t go as high as a bigger back like Blake Corum (Michigan) or Jonathon Brooks (Texas), he showed last season that he could carry a college program. HIs speed was reasonable — 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and he could be a Day 2 pick and compete for a roster spot.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Brandon Dorlus made his case as a Day 2 option, though he could fall lower. Oregon’s dominant rusher (four sacks in 2023) could end up inside in the league, where he featured earlier in his career with the Ducks. His smaller size (6’3’’) is a factor for teams looking for big inside tackles, but the athleticism that he displayed on Thursday should make up for that. At the combine, he was the second-fastest end in the 40-yard dash (4.85 seconds) and had the third-highest vertical (9’3’’), both behind Texas Tech defensive end Myles Cole and Connecticut’s Eric Watts.
Defensive backs Evan Williams and Khyree Jackson also attended the Combine. Jackson projects as a early Day 2 pick — his height and length on the outside will attract teams looking for a player to match the growing crop of athletic wide receivers in the NFL. The corner had a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, 36.5’’ vertical and 11’1’’ broad jump. Williams, meanwhile, is a later pick — Round 5 or 6 — but sits at a unique position as a nickel or safety option that could push him higher. He clocked in at 4.60 seconds on the 40-yard dash and a 40.5’’ vertical to go with his 10’6’’ broad jump. Neither will set him apart, but they won’t strand him either.
The players will continue to train ahead of Oregon’s Pro Day on March 12, and the NFL Draft on April 25. As they look to join a bevy of pro Ducks, follow the Emerald’s coverage on social media and dailyemerald.com.
