NFL Combine: Ohio State WRs showed speed isn’t everything

Former Ohio State WRs K.J. Hill, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor posted average 40-yard dash times at the NFL Combine, but impressed in other drills Thursday night in Indy.

With times of 4.6 (Hill and Victor) and 4.59 (Mack), former Buckeye WRs showed that speed isn’t everything and impressed in other ways at the NFL Combine.

Even though the recorded workouts don’t make or break a player, Hill put up an impressive 17 reps at the bench press (only 6 WRs put up more reps) and Victor posted the seventh-best length in the broad jump (128 inches).

Brian Hartline has already built up a reputation for being an excellent recruiter, and has already coached some fantastic receivers, namely the three at the Combine this year, along with Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin. Both Campbell and McLaurin made an impact on their NFL teams (Campbell for the Indianapolis Colts and McLaurin for the Washington Redskins) in their rookie seasons.

Hill, Mack and Victor now have the opportunity to build off the success that Ohio State WRs have achieved in the NFL, and while their Combine performances weren’t perfect, they still showed they will be valuable players for NFL franchises.

For Hill, his best performance was a drill where the player starts on one sideline and ends up on the other sideline. Hill stood on the sideline and faced one end zone, then turned around and caught a pass before turning around again and catching another pass.

He then cut quickly toward the other sideline and caught a pass every 10 yards or so, turning to the opposite side for each pass, bringing in each of the catches with ease before catching the seventh and final pass before turning up-field.

Although his work out numbers weren’t great, Hill showed that he can do what receivers are supposed to do — catch a pass while moving across (or up) the field and keep his concentration purely on catching the football.

Victor displayed a similar ability on a post-corner route where he stretched out his arms to their full length and got both feet down in-bounds before taking a tumble out-of-bounds. Victor bounced back up to his feet and appeared to be okay.

Each of the three receivers may not have the luster of a Henry Ruggs III or Justin Jefferson, but they will still be important for NFL teams, even if they are taken in later rounds.

Though fans and the media often put a focus on the 40-yard dash, former Ohio State WR Michael Thomas posted a 4.57 time and has turned into the best WR in the NFL. Hill, Mack and Victor will hope to emulate even a piece of Thomas’ success and bring the best of their abilities to whichever NFL franchise drafts them in April.