Some say that a lot of life is chance.
Regardless if that’s true about life, it’s definitely true about the NBA Draft Lottery!
Unlike traditional sport drafts, the NBA Draft Lottery is the first of its kind! Under traditional methods, the Draft order is determined based on how teams finished the previous season. For example, if a team finishes with the worst record in the NFL, they are granted the first pick in the draft. The same goes for the NHL, MLB and many other major sports leagues.
However, the NBA Draft Lottery turns traditional drafting methods on its head. Here’s how!
How it Works
I was pretty good at my times tables in elementary school, but by no means am I a mathematician!
To completely understand how the NBA Draft Lottery works there is a “highly technical” and “somewhat simple” way to understand how the process works. I’ve included both explanations below!
“Highly Technical” Description of NBA Draft Lottery – The Whole Book
14 teams are entered into the NBA Draft Lottery. These 14 teams are ranked in reverse order of their regular season record and are assigned the following number of chances:
In the new system, 14 numbered ping pong balls are placed in a lottery machine and four balls are randomly selected from the lot. This process is verified with a witness, ensuring that all 14 balls are represented once as they are placed in the lottery machine.
The balls are placed in the machine for 20 seconds to randomize before selection. The first ball is selected and the remaining three balls are drawn at 10-second intervals. The four numbers drawn represent the winning combination and that franchise is awarded the #1 overall draft pick.
The four balls are then returned to the machine and the process is repeated for the second and third overall picks. In the event that a combination belongs to a team that has already won its pick, the round is repeated until a unique team winner is determined. When the first three teams have been determined, the remaining 11 lottery picks are given out based on regular season record with the worst teams getting the highest picks.
This process ensures that no lottery team can drop more than three sports from its projected draft position.
“Somewhat Simple” Description of NBA Draft Lottery – Clift Notes Edition
- 14 Ping pong balls, numbered 1-14, are placed in a lottery machine
- 1000 Different four digit number outcomes can occur
- Certain number of outcomes given to 14 NBA Lottery team
- Largest number of outcomes awarded to Worst Team
- Second largest number of outcomes awarded to 2nd Worst Team
- So on and so forth for the 14 NBA Lottery teams
- Four balls are selected at random
- The team with this 4-digit combination is awarded the first pick
- The four balls go back into the machine and this process is repeated for the second and third overall picks
- Picks 4-14 are determined by the remaining team’s final regular season record
- Worst team gets the higher pick and so on.
Congratulations! You are now a NBA Draft Lottery Expert!
What are the Odds in 2013
The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 21st. Now that you are a Lottery expert, here is a breakdown of this year’s Lottery teams, records, and chances of getting the number one overall pick.
Who do you think will be the first person selected in the 2013 NBA Draft? Tell us your pick below!
What a crazy first round!
The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft is in the books and many Draft Experts were left speechless.
As mock drafts became mockeries, the mysteries of this intriguing draft unspooled with a series of twists and turns that lasted all evening.
Trades, shocking picks, and snubs were rampant last night, which made for a truly unpredictable spectacle for the NFL faithful. Watching each of the 32 picks left me with more questions than certainties, but I did takeaway three things from last night's first round.
Top 3 Things I Learned from the 2013 NFL Draft
1. 2013 NFL Draft = The Year of the Big Uglies
Night One of the NFL Draft was dominated by big players. Not big playmakers, but actually "big" players. Also known as "fat guys."
For the first time in the history of the NFL Draft, five offensive linemen were taken in the first ten picks! And it didn't end there:
- 9 Offensive Linemen were selected
- 8 Defensive Linemen were selected
- 1 Quarterback was selected
- 0 Running Backs Drafted for the first time since 1963
The big guys ruled the night and understandably so. Teams were focused on protecting their offensive assets and drafted linemen accordingly.
Teams also looked to bolster their defenses by drafting defensive linemen. Defenses are always looking to stop pass/run, which starts with great defensive linemen.
2. The NFL Draft is Unpredictable
After watching last night's first round, the second thing I learned is that no one can predict the NFL Draft. Whether you have insider sources, watch tons of film, and understand the needs of all 32 teams, picking all 32 first round selections is impossible. Who knew that five offensive linemen would go in the top 10 and no running back would be drafted in the first round? Obviously not the Mock Draft "Experts."
I reviewed several of the final mock drafts of the NFL Draft's most distinguished experts and compared their picks to the actual draft selections. The results were surprising!
- Mel Kyper, ESPN - 8 correct picks
- Todd McShay, ESPN - 7 correct picks
- Matt Miller, Bleacher Report - 0 correct picks
These gentlemen are paid for their expert
NFL Draft analysis, and they incorrectly predicted 75% of the first round! It goes to show you that the NFL Draft's first round is completely unpredictable, which leads to an exciting night at Radio City Music Hall!
3. My Mock Draft Skills are Terrible
You ever hear that saying, "Don't quit your day job?"
That pretty much sums up my NFL Mock Draft ability!
Fellow blogger Niala Samnarine and I put out our final mock drafts yesterday afternoon. We were so excited about the possibility of picking all 32 picks and even joked that we could become the next NFL Draft analysts!
That dream ended for us after pick number one...
Regardless, Niala and I are dusting off our wounds and aren't afraid to show you our atrocious mock drafting skills. Check out our final mock drafts below and how they compare to the actual results of last night. FYI... the highlights are the correct picks.
Final Score: Niala 6 Matt 2
What did you think of last night's First Round? Share your thoughts below!
Don't Miss Out on the 2014 NFL Draft
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Okay, okay. So our NFL Mock Draft might not be able to "predict the future." But you have to ask yourself one question: What if?
What if all of our picks were correct? Could you imagine? Eat your heart out Mel Kiper!
Regardless if our picks are 100% correct, we thought it would be fun to have our two bloggers "predict the future" of tonight's NFL Draft first round.
Myself and Niala sat down, printed out about 100 different "expert" mock drafts (in black & white of course), and hand crafted our own 32 first round picks for the 2013 NFL Draft.
Some picks are smart, some picks are crazy, and some will leave you thinking, "what are these two sipping on?"
But isn't that what is great about NFL Mock Drafts? No two mocks are the same, everyone has their own opinions, and there is a one in a million chance to get every first round pick correct.
So here are our one in a million picks for tonight's first round of the 2013 NFL Draft:
2013 NFL Draft: Round 1 Mock Draft
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below!
Don't Miss Out on the 2014 NFL Draft
Let us bring you a one-of-a-kind package that you can only get from the NFL. Only NFL On Location can offer you unparalleled access to the 2014 NFL Draft. Get guaranteed authenticity of tickets, hospitality, and more with your Official NFL On Location NFL Draft Ticket Package. Click below to get more information on the 2014 NFL Draft!
We are one week away from the 2013 NFL Draft! As NFL teams decide who they will take, I've created my latest first round NFL Mock Draft.
But one set of picks is never enough!
In order to add some expertise, I've compared my first 32 picks with Rob Rang, Senior Analyst for NFL Draft Scout and major contributor to CBS Sports. Rob and I definitely have different opinions, as to be expected in one of the most unsure drafts in recent history.
Check out our picks below and let me know what you think. Don't forget to see who your favorite team will pick in "primetime" on April 25, 2013, at the 2013 NFL Draft!
2013 NFL Draft: Round 1 Mock Draft
What do you think of our picks? Share your thoughts below!
Attend the 2014 NFL Draft
Interested in seeing the NFL's future stars get their start? QuintEvents and the NFL On Location can get you into the action at the 2014 NFL Draft! See all three rounds live at Radio City Music Hall with exclusive benefits including a NFL Chalk Talk Session with a NFL Draft Analyst, photo opportunity at your favorite Team Table, souvenir merchandise & much more. Contact us today and to plan your 2014 NFL Draft Experience!
We are all aware of the horrific details of what occurred in Boston, Monday afternoon. At the end of the 2013 Boston Marathon, two bombs exploded within 12 seconds of each other, tragically killing three people and wounding 183.
According to the FBI, one (bomb) was housed in a pressure cooker hidden inside a backpack. The device also had fragments that may have included nails, BBs and ball bearings, the agency said.
Monday’s events left me sick to my stomach, but I found comfort in the reaction of those affected.
What has been called a terrorist attack, may have shaken the ground of Boston that day, but did not shake the foundation of humanity in our great country.
After the horrific events of Monday, sports teams, players, and leagues from across the world showed their support for the victims in Boston. Moments of silence were honored before games and players were seen wearing messages to those who were affected by the terrorist attack.
But none of these messages were as strong as the one shown Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
During a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a stadium full of Yankees fans stood arm in arm at the bottom of the third inning, singing along to "Sweet Caroline," a Red Sox tradition. There were no boos, no sarcasm, just sincerity from an unexpected source.
The rival teams put aside their differences, if only for a day, and showed solidarity with the people of Boston.
I have one of the greatest jobs in the world. I get to work for a fantastic company, talk about sports all day, and post about it all on social media. I even get the chance to go to amazing events such as the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, and NBA All-Star Game.
Working in sports, I’ve learned that sporting events are a true escape from the realities of life. Opportunities to put everything on hold and indulge in the true passion of sport.
Sporting events are also a time to heal. Rivals coming together for the sake of humanity. To forget the horrible action of others and remember that we are not rivals, but brothers and sisters.
Born in Rhode Island, I was groomed to love the Sox and despise the Yankees. It’s in my blood, my father’s blood, and in the blood of my relatives who still live in the Northeast.
But after Tuesday’s events in Yankee Stadium, I’ve grown to respect the New York Yankees. I may never cheer for them, but they’ve shown me that humanity is still strong in this great country of ours.
It gave me faith that no matter what horrible events, attacks, or bombings that may occur, Americans will put aside their differences and come together. We live in a country that will overcome hardship and become stronger as a result.
Thank you, Boston. Thank you, New York. Thank you, humanity.
A 14-year-old phenom, a sudden-death playoff, a bad drop, and a first time Masters Champion. The 2013 Masters will be forever remembered as one of the best in history!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Prevailing in a sudden-death playoff over Angel Cabrera, Adam Scott notched his first major victory at the 2013 Masters.
After a rain-filled Sunday at Augusta National, Scott and Cabrera headed into the 72nd hole tied for The Masters lead. In the group ahead of Cabrera, Scott buried a long birdie putt on 18, which erupted the crowd and the Aussie nation into a state of celebration.
Scott seemed destined to win and celebrated as such, but Cabrera still had something to say. Watching Scott’s birdie from the 18th fairway, Cabrera answered with a birdie of his own, hitting a nine-iron to a few feet away.
The 2013 Green Jacket would be decided in sudden-death.
Both Scott and Cabrera parred the first playoff hole as they each got up-and-down from just off the green. The pair headed to No. 10 for the second playoff hole and found each other with with similar birdie putts.
Cabrera was away and narrowly missed his birdie putt. Scott was next, and left nothing to chance. Scott drained his putt and became the 2013 Masters Champion!
Scott is the first Australian born player to win The Masters. Scott had a miraculous come back on Sunday, coming back from three shots behind with eight holes to play.
Having come up short in so many majors and choking away the lead in the 2012 British Open, it was great to see him finally come out on top for his first major victory.
A Phenom in the Making
Amateur Tianlang Guan will not be found on the first page of the leaderboard, but his play at the 2013 Masters will be remembered as one of the greatest amateur efforts in the event’s history.
The 14-year-old Guan made history at Augusta National becoming the youngest player to ever make the cut in the Masters. Guan dominated the buzz surrounding this year’s Masters, and rightly so!
Guan posted a final round 75, finishing the tournament at 12-over-par and winning low amateur honors. He was one of the only players in the field not to make a double bogey or worse and did not have a three-putt all week. Not bad for a seventh grader!
It’s hard to say what the future has in store for Guan, but he surely grabbed the golf world’s attention by putting on one of the best amateur performances in Masters' History.
The Drop Heard Round the World
In one of the more controversial moments in this year's Masters, Tiger Woods was given a two-stroke penalty for making an incorrect drop on the 15th hole Friday.
Woods' third shot hit the flag on the 15th green and bounced into the water. He went back to his original position, dropped the ball "near" his original spot and made a bogey six.
Masters officials reviewed the drop and determined that it was legal, however, in a post round interview, Tiger said that he dropped the ball 2 yards farther back from where he hit the original shot.
According to rule 26.3, a player may proceed under the stroke and distance provision of rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last. Two yards behind is not close enough!
Because Masters Officials had originally deemed his drop to be legal, Woods was protected from disqualification after signing an improper scorecard. Woods was penalized two strokes for the improper drop and was granted the ability to finish the final round.
If Masters Officials deemed the drop to be improper, they needed to warn Woods before the signing of his card and assess a two-stroke penalty. No warning was given, so Tiger escaped disqualification.
Don’t Miss out on Masters History
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So you have always wanted to attend The Masters, but could never figure out how to get tickets to one of the most exclusive events in the sport of golf.
I’m not going to lie to you, Masters tickets are historically one of the most difficult tickets to acquire in sports. They are limited in number, not exclusively sold to the public, and are mostly available in the secondary ticket market.
But the assumptions that Masters tickets are impossible to get or that, “you need to know someone,” are false. Anyone can get tickets to The Masters and I’m going to show you how.
Below are five ways on how you can get tickets to The Masters. Some methods are easier, cheaper, and safer than others, and I will grade each method accordingly (Scale of 1-5: 1=Low, 5=High).
How to Get Tickets to The Masters
1. Off-site Ticket Websites – Availability: 3/5, Price: 5/5, Safety: 3/5
Ticketing websites such as StubHub are one option to purchase Masters tickets, but they will cost you. Ticket holders and brokers list badges on these websites hoping to make the largest margin. Pricing at these sites will fluctuate greatly with the market and are usually very high throughout the year. Badges for the 2013 Masters reached as much as $10,000 for a single day, making it almost impossible to afford. StubHub is a safe buying option as they offer users a Buyer Guarantee*, but they will only guarantee a refund and not the delivery of tickets.
*Author's Note: Check the website’s “guarantee policy. You will note that most do not guarantee your ticket, and some will guarantee your money back should the ticket not be secured.
2. Masters Ticket Lottery – Availability: 1/5, Price: 1/5, Safety: 5/5
Beginning in 2012, Augusta National announced it would begin selling a small number of practice and tournament round tickets through a random drawing following online registration. If selected, patrons are granted the right to purchase practice or tournament round packages at face value ($50/practice round, $75/tournament round). The Masters Ticket Lottery* is by far the cheapest method of acquiring Masters tickets, but is very unlikely. Large numbers of people request tickets each year, making it highly unlikely to be selected in the lottery.
*Author's Note: Augusta does not release the number of tickets allocated to their lottery program or the likelihood of being selected in the lottery.
3. Ticket Package Companies – Availability: 3/5, Price: 3/5, Safety: 5/5
Ticket Package Companies such as QuintEvents are an additional option to purchase Masters tickets or packages. QuintEvents guarantees* each of our Masters Ticket Packages, which reduces the purchasing risk of the consumer. QuintEvents also packages hospitality party venue access (food and beverage included) with our Masters tickets and price these packages similar to ticket only options on the secondary market. Ticket prices could fluctuate somewhat with the market, but due to our large ticket volume, we are able to keep our costs low relative to the market.
*Author’s Note: QuintEvents’ guarantee ensures our clients receive their tickets, as opposed to off-site ticket website guarantees. Also, there is no official ticket package provider for The Masters and no on-site hospitality venues accessible to the general public.
4. Ticket Scalpers in Augusta – Availability: 1/5, Price: 5/5, Safety: 1/5
If you are pressed for time and would like to press your luck, you can always buy tickets from scalpers in Augusta. Scalping tickets is legal in Georgia as long as it is 1,500 feet or more away from the event. Make sure that you do not buy tickets on or near the grounds, because it is against the law!
Scalping in Augusta could be beneficial if the weather is iffy and there are no big names on the leaderboard. These factors drive the market price down and increase the volume of available tickets. However, if the weather is great and Tiger is in the lead, you will pay a pretty penny on site.
*Author’s Note: Avoid purchasing tickets on or near the grounds of Augusta National. 24 people were arrested in 2012 for purchasing tickets from undercover police officers. It’s not worth the risk, so don’t do it!
5. eBay or Craigslist – Availability: 3/5, Price: 4/5, Safety: 1/5
eBay and Craigslist always have Masters tickets for sale by ticket holders and brokers. eBay is more credible and typically offers a limited selection of tickets each year. eBay has a buyer guarantee*, so you will get your money back should someone try and scam you.
Craigslist, however, is buyer beware. Ads for Masters tickets are readily available on Augusta, Georgia’s Craigslist site, but the likelihood of shady dealing is very high. It may work for some patrons to purchase their tickets here, but I would want mine from a more reputable source.
*Author’s Note – eBay’s guarantee is similar to the off-site ticket websites and will issue you a refund for undelivered tickets.
As you can see, there are several ways to purchase Masters tickets. Some are cheaper, safer, and easier to get than others, but all give you an experience of a lifetime.
Attend the Masters with QuintEvents
Want to attend the The Masters? QuintEvents has deep experience in managing this very special event, and can package together Masters ticket badges, accommodations, hospitality, transportation, and other concierge extras. For information on our Masters Ticket Packages, call (800)835-8663 or visit our website today! You can also follow QuintEvents on Facebook and Twitter @QuintEvents for the latest Masters news.
One of my favorite moments as a football (and Jets) fan was the New York Jets “Win and In” opportunity a couple years back. An amazing series of events had taken place:
• The Jets defeated the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts
• Baltimore Ravens lost
• Denver Broncos lost
• Miami Dolphins lost
• Tennessee Titans lost
• Jacksonville Jaguars lost
After all of these domino pieces fell into place, we had arrived at a moment where the Jets needed this must-win game to clinch a spot in the 2010 playoffs. I remember two things from that game: first, the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals (37-0) and were in the playoffs and second, it was the coldest football game I’d ever attended at a chilling 16°F.
To this day my friends and I talk about that game and how we felt like we were part of something special. We endured the windy and almost arctic-like conditions with the rest of the Jets die-hards and it was worth every minute of the freezing-cold-goodness to see that green and white confetti shower down on the last game at Giants Stadium.
The Big Announcement
When it was announced that the 48th Super Bowl would take place at the new MetLife Stadium, the first thought that crossed the minds of New York football fans was “How do we get into that game!?” Jets and Giants fans know how special games at MetLife are and how braving the elements puts you into a special class of football fan--someone who loves the game so much that you’d sit through anything to see your team win. They’re not alone, a total of 23 NFL teams have outdoor stadiums and many in cold-weather cities have had experiences similar to mine.
Many felt like the game was finally going to be played where and how it was meant to be--at the doorstep of one of the greatest cities in America and exposed to the elements.
Super Bowl Firsts
Super Bowl XLVIII will be a memorable and amazing game for many reasons--first, it will be co-hosted by New York and New Jersey. These diverse and vibrant states will make a great backdrop for travelling fans, many of whom will be able to cross the Super Bowl and a trip to New York City off their bucket lists.
Second, this will be the first cold-weather Super Bowl ever played in non-domed stadium. The NFL’s newest arena, MetLife Stadium, boasts one of the highest capacities with the ability to seat over 82,500 fans. The stadium is outfitted with the newest technology available and has more HD square footage than any other building in the U.S. Fans will especially appreciate the 4 giant 30 x 118 foot HD video boards in each corner of the stadium featuring instant highlights of the game! Also, for those opting to tail-gate prior to the game, fans will find that the pre-game tailgating atmosphere is unlike any other. The stadium’s parking facilities were redone to accommodate this football tradition and it is sure to be an exciting and hyped experience.
What to Expect
For teams and players, a cold-weather Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium will bring, for some, a challenge, and for others, a small edge. With the game open to the elements, teams who have outdoor stadiums will be at a slight advantage, especially any hailing from a cold weather city.
The cold and possibility of snow and wind, will affect the hardness of the ball as well as the ability to throw and catch. Quarterbacks who aren't mobile or have poor accuracy become a liability, and teams who rely on the deep threat will need to switch to more of a run game and short passes. Kickers may have to recalibrate their motions and coaches will certainly need to make the tough decision of calling time outs before big field goals, deciding effectively whether to ice the kicker or let the weather do that for them. The run game will be even grittier when bodies smash as the defense tries to make a stop.
Concerns about weather aside, some of the most famous and entertaining regular season games in the past seasons have come in cold, snowy or inclement weather. Many of these games come down to the wire and culminate in exciting and wild endings!
Be a Part of History
For many fans being part of history and attending the first ever Super Bowl in an open-stadium and in the New York Metropolitan area is an opportunity they simply cannot pass up.
QuintEvents will bring you the exact Super Bowl Program Package that suits your specific needs. Our Official ticket packages come with exclusive Insider Extras and your choice of either Gameday only or multi-day options featuring the very finest accommodations available in the New York City area. Reserve your place in history today!
February is almost over, spring is on it’s way and before you know it, the best golfers in the world will be teeing it up in Augusta. We are only 42 days away from The Masters and the PGA Tour season is heating up, even after a little snow slowed play last week at the WGC- Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. This week, players tee it up at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to hopefully win and earn that elusive invitation to Augusta. We’re going to take a look at five top contenders, who seem poised to make a run at the Green Jacket.
Keegan Bradley
Keegan Bradley burst onto the PGA Tour scene in 2011, defeating Jason Dufner in a playoff at the PGA Championship. That season he won Rookie of the Year honors and hasn’t slowed down much since. He finished 2012 with one PGA Tour victory, and 14 top-25 finishes in 25 starts. He is off to a good start in 2013 and is currently ranked 18th in the latest Official World Golf Rankings. So far he has three top-25’s in six events. He is always a dangerous player because of his elite ball striking, especially when he gets the putter rolling.
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson is primarily know for his extreme length off the tee, but in the first tournament of the year he showed the touch and skill to deal with overwhelming winds in Hawaii. He won the season opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions by four strokes after it was shortened to only three days. He will be playing in his fourth Masters, a tournament where he has not finished in the top-30, but with a solid start and the power to bring any course to it’s knees, don’t be surprised to see DJ making a run at the 2013 edition.
Rory McIlroy
It’s easy to pick the number one player in the world to be a contender, because he’s the number one player in the world. But not mentioning him would be a mistake. In 2012, McIlroy took his game to the next level, winning three of the last five tournaments he played, including The PGA Championship. He hasn’t gotten off to a great start in 2013, but in 2011 he had the lead at Augusta, eventually letting it slip away. In 2013 he comes in as the number one ranked player in the world. His combination of length off the tee, consistent iron play and putting make him a threat at any tournament, add in that he is now a two-time major champion and Augusta might not know what hit it.
Brandt Snedeker
The current leader of the FedEx Cup Points Standings is starting right where he left off. He finished 2012 winning the FedEx Cup. Last season, Snedeker finished with two wins and ten top-25 finishes in 22 events. In 2013, he has finished in the top-25 in the five events he’s played and finished in the top-3 in four of them. That includes win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. His consistency and if his excellent play continues from the past few months, Brandt Snedeker will put himself in contention to win golf’s greatest prize.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods has worked his way back into the second spot in the Official World Golf Rankings after his highly publicized fall from grace. He has is building off a solid finish to last season, where he finished in the top-10 in the final five tournaments he played in. He already has a victory under his belt this year, at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and is looking to keep that going through the spring. The bottom line is, never count Tiger out at Augusta. The spring after his infamous car accident, he still finished T-4 at Augusta, which would be his highest finish of the season. Since his last victory at Augusta in 2005, he only has one finish outside of the top-5 in the last seven years. With the swing changes seemingly taking hold, look out for Tiger Woods on Sunday.
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The NFL Combine wrapped up yesterday in Indianapolis. There were a lot of outstanding performances as well as some underwhelming ones. We’re going to highlight the top results from each of the seven primary workouts and revisit our 4 Sleepers That Will Improve Their Stock at the NFL Combine.
First things first, we have to start with most people’s favorite Combine workout, the 40-yard dash. The Tennessee Titan’s Chris Johnson set the Combine record in 2008 crossing the finish line in 4.24 seconds, officially. This year a few prospects clocked a 4.25 40-yard dash, unofficially.
40-Yard Dash
Things got interesting when both Marquise Goodwin from Texas A&M and Tavon Austin from
West Virginia were clocked running 4.25 40-yard dashes on. Unfortunately, those are adjusted by a computerized stop watch to become “official.” Goodwin finished with the top time of the Combine, officially running a 4.27 40-yard dash and Austin officially ran a 4.34. Chris Johnson’s record is safe for another year.
Bench Press
Two defensive linemen put up 38 reps of 225 pounds to tie for the best total this year. Margus Hunt from Southern Methodist University and Brandon Williams from Missouri Southern State were ahead of Akeem Spence, 37 reps and Eric Herman, 36 reps. That is still 11 shy of the all-time mark of 49 reps, put up by Stephen Paea in 2011.
Vertical Jump
Christine Michael of Texas A& M jumped a full inch and a half higher than anyone else all week. The running back reached 43 inches to take the top spot. By comparison to a sports that involves a little more jumping, Harrison Barnes had the top vertical at the 2012 NBA Draft Combine of 38 inches. Michael was still two inches shorter than the record of 45 inches, set in 2009 by Donald Washington.
Broad Jump
On Saturday, Justin Hunter of Tennessee posted a broad jump of 136 inches, (11’4”) and had set a new Combine record. That lasted for about a day. On Sunday, Jamie Collins of Southern Mississippi, broke the day old record with a broad jump of 139 inches (11’7”).
3 Cone Drill
Utah State defensive back, Will Davis, narrowly edged T.J. Moe of Missouri, by one one-hundredth of a second to have the best time in this year's 3 cone drill. Davis finished the drill in 6.52 seconds, a full tenth of a second slower than Jeffrey Maehl’s record set in 2011.
20-Yard Shuttle
B.W. Webb of William & Mary, topped the 2013 Combine in the 20-yard shuttle, finishing in 3.84 seconds. Desmond Trufant of Washington was second with 3.85 seconds. 3.81 seconds is the Combine record set by Jason Allen in 2006.
60-Yard Shuttle
WR T.J. Moe of Missouri completed the 60-yard shuttle .29 seconds ahead of B.W. Webb to finish the workout in 10.87 seconds. In 2012, the Combine record was set by Jamell Fleming in 10.75 seconds.
These stats are all a part of the week long job interview that more than 300 college football players went through this past week. Last week this blogger highlighted 4 Sleepers That Will Improve Their Stock at the NFL Combine. Time to see how I did.
Ezekiel Ansah, DE- BYU
I’m fascinated by Ansah’s upside and really think he has the potential to dominate at the NFL level. I pointed out that he’s not a sleeper, but with his performance this week he would solidify himself as a top-10 pick come April. He did not disappoint, but he may not have cemented himself in the top-10. He ran a very solid 4.63, 40, that was good enough for sixth among DL’s and it showed he has the versatility to play either as a 4-3 end, or a 3-4 linebacker. His athleticism was on display as he was the top defensive lineman in the 20-yard shuttle and finished in the top-10 in the vertical jump, broad jump and 3 cone drill. Did this performance vault him into the top-10? I’d have to say no, but I’d be stunned if he fell out of the top-15.
Margus Hunt, DE- SMU
Margus Hunt had an outstanding week and has certainly placed himself squarely in the first
round discussion. His strength was never in question, as he tied for first in the bench press with 38 reps. The questions involved his athleticism, but after his workout on Monday, he definitely made scouts do a double take. He had the third best 40 time among DL’s running, 4.60, he posted a 34.5 inch vertical, on top of measuring 6’8” 1/8. Among DL’s, Hunt placed seventh in the broad jump, leaping 10’1” and eighth in the 3 cone drill, finishing in 7.07 seconds. He is still very raw, but any NFL team is willing to work with numbers like that.
Rex Burkhead, RB- Nebraska
Burkhead did a good job improving his stock and will certainly give some teams something to think about in the later rounds. His 4.73, 40 was not the best, but his 21 reps on the bench press was good enough for 13th among RB’s. His 39 inch vertical was tied for 13th best among all of the players at the Combine and second among RB’s. In the broad jump, his 125 inches, or 10’10”, was second among RB’s and 6.85 second 3 cone drill, was fourth. He also had the second best 20-yard shuttle and fifth best 60-yard shuttle for his position. He ranked among the top-5 for his position in five of seven workouts. That will certainly help some coaches or GM’s overlook his slower than expected 40.
Ace Sanders, WR- South Carolina
Ace Sanders really needed to impress this week to elevate his draft stock and ensure that he would be selected in April. Unfortunately, he may have done the opposite. He was supposed to be a burner, but only ran a 4.58 in the 40. At 5’7”, he needed to show off excellent leaping ability, but only posted a 32.0 inch vertical and 117.0 inches in the broad jump. He showed excellent acceleration with a 4.37 in the 20-yard shuttle, 11.29 in the 60-yard shuttle and 6.81 in the 3 cone drill. Those ranked second, fourth and eighth among receivers, respectively. That may not be enough to move him up in the draft and may even force him to be an undrafted free agent. Ace will really need to have a better performance at the South Carolina Pro Day in Columbia to make sure his name is called in April.
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