NFL Combine: Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins can become first round lock
Although the NFL Combine doesn’t make or break a player’s Draft stock, Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins can solidify his first round status Friday night in Indy.
After a fantastic career at Ohio State — 4,459 yards rushing and 38 TDs (5,104 from scrimmage, 43 total TDs) — J.K. Dobbins is just under two months away from hearing his name called at the 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas in late April.
But first, he has to perform at the NFL Combine, where he will have the chance to push his stock higher and higher until he locks down “first-rounder” status.
Dobbins likely won’t be able to jump as high as 2016 fourth-overall selection Ezekiel Elliott, but has a chance to showcase his strength and speed at the Combine.
As the No. 3 running back in Bucky Brooks’ “Top 5 by Position” breakdown, Dobbins will be compared to Georgia RB D’Andre Swift and LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who are both ahead of him in Brooks’ ranking.
In last year’s draft, the difference in total contract money, according to Forbes, was nearly $2 million between Josh Jacobs at No. 24 ($12 million) and N’Keal Harry at No. 32 ($10.1 million). Although Dobbins is likely more focused on finding the team that best fits his talents, a bump in salary and higher draft position would certainly be something to be happy about.
The 3-cone drill and 40-yard dash will be important for Dobbins, who obviously needs to be quick and agile to be a star RB in the NFL.
He displayed both of these abilities with his debilitating (for the would-be tackler) and agile jump cuts and breakaway speed, which was most recently seen on his 68-yard touchdown run against Clemson in the first quarter of the 2019 Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal).
Tony Alford has coached some fantastic running backs during his tenure at Ohio State (2015-present), but Dobbins is one of the best.
Ohio State WRs showed speed isn't everything. dark. Next
He may not be drafted as high as Elliott was in 2016, but Dobbins nonetheless has the skill set needed to be great in the NFL and will have a chance to at least show a taste of that in his work outs Friday night at the Combine.