AFCNFCNFL DraftNFL News

10 Combine snubs that will prove they were worth an invite

Paul Magoire is my favorite linebacker in the draft. He is so versatile and that interests me

While everyone is saying Chad Kelly, and Joe Mixon but I believe in some others that I have watched on film who will dominate when given the chance.  Let me go over my 10 biggest combine snubs.

Jeremy Cutrer – CB – Middle Tennessee State – He was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2015 (31 tackles, three interceptions, 13 pass breakups, two blocked kicks) despite missing two games with an ankle injury. Cutrer excelled as scouts watched in his senior year, making 64 tackles, 4.5 for loss, breaking up 10 passes and picking off three others on his way to first-team all-conference honors.

Paul Magloire – LB – Arizona – Magloire started out at safety for the Wildcats, but moved to linebacker partway through the 2015 season, starting the final eight games there (72 tackles, four TFL). He polished off his career by leading the team with 81 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks.

Karel Hamilton – WR – Samford – Hamilton picked up his first of three straight first-team All-SoCon honors in 2014 (55-877, six TD), and had similar production in his junior year (75-880, four TD receiving; 5-179, TD on kickoff returns). His game exploded in 2016, however, as he garnered first-team Associated Press All-American notice by ranking second in the FCS with 111 receptions and 126.3 receiving yards per game (1,389 total). Hamilton also scored 14 times on the year, and set school records for receptions and receiving yards.

Jordan Herdman – LB – Simon Fraser – Herdman was a three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference pick during his career, setting the conference record for career tackles with 428. He led the Clan with 113 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. That was the lowest number of tackles he’s had over the past three years, as he accumulated 133 tackles (9.5 for loss) in 2015 and 165 (14 for loss, 2.5 sacks) in 2014. 

Chad Williams – WR – Grambling State – He led the SWAC with 90 catches for 1,337 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named a second-team FCS All-American and first-team all-conference pick for his efforts in leading the Tigers to a SWAC championship. Williams also was a first-team All-SWAC pick in 2015 (64-1,012, 10 TD). He played a reserve role as a freshman (11-141, two TD) and then became the team’s second-leading receiver in 2014 (45-572, five TD).

Javancy Jones should have been invited to the Combine

Javancy Jones – LB – Jackson State – He was the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2013, making 54 tackles, 14 for loss, and five sacks and earning a first-team all-conference nod. Jones led the team with 106 stops (18 TFL, three sacks) at linebacker in 2014, somehow missing out on all-conference honors. He was a first-team pick in 2015, however, after leading the FCS with 25.5 tackles for loss (95 total tackles, 7.5 sacks), and in 2016 (82 tackles, 19.5 for loss — sixth in the FCS, four sacks).

Marcus Cox – RB – Appalachian State – He hit a career rushing high in 2015 with 1,423 yards, but scored only nine times. Cox missed four games with a left leg injury as a senior, but still became App State’s all-time leading rusher after covering 1,015 yards and putting nine balls into the end zone.

Elijah Lee – LB – Kansas State – Lee was a second-team All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore starter, leading the Wildcats with 80 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and accumulating five sacks and three interceptions on the season. He continued to be a team leader in his final year with the program, topping the charts with 110 tackles (6.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks), intercepting two passes in a first-team All-Big 12 junior season. 

Corey Vereen is a monster for the Vols.

Zack Johnson – OL – North Dakota State – Johnson missed the entire 2014 season after having knee surgery. The prior year, Johnson was a second-team All-MVFC pick after starting all 15 games at left guard. Even as a true freshman, coaches couldn’t keep from him off the field, playing him in 13 games with one start.

Corey Vereen – DE – Tennessee – The Vols other end, the guy who lined up opposite Derek Barnett.  He plays hard, understands leverage and uses his strength to get to the passer; he had seven sacks in 2016.

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button