Five prospects with the most to gain at NFL combine
— -- The NFL combine rarely makes or breaks a prospect, but it frequently affects where he falls on a team's draft board. With that in mind, here are the five prospects with the most to gain over the next week in Indianapolis.
Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
On the field, it will be hard to miss the 6-foot-5, 297-pound physical freak who will likely generate a lot of buzz during workouts. But the most important portion of Nkemdiche's combine will be behind closed doors during interviews with teams. The underclassman has seen his stock cool off after getting suspended for the Sugar Bowl (marijuana possession) and putting together inconsistent tape in 2015. Nkemdiche will need to be upfront and forthright during his 15-minute interviews. He has a chance to get his stock pointed back in the right direction if he's able to take accountability for his actions.
Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
Miller has taken full advantage of his position switch to wide receiver. He put together quality tape this fall, but he really caught scouts' eyes at the Senior Bowl, where he exceeded expectations as a route runner with his ball skills. Miller is one of the more explosive athletes in this class and is expected to test well during the workout portion. He has a chance to solidify himself as a top-50 selection, which is significantly higher than the Day 3 projection he would have held if he had remained a quarterback.
Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
After a promising freshman season in 2013 under the tutelage of Bill O'Brien, Hackenberg failed to live up to expectations the past two years. He struggled with decision-making and his accuracy was erratic at times. But teams will need to account for several factors that hampered Hackenberg's development -- a coaching change, drops and poor offensive line play. The junior has an impressive physical skill set and should create a buzz during on-field workouts. If he's able to show a strong football acumen during the interview process, he has a chance to build some positive momentum with his stock.
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Apple has generated a significant amount of buzz within scouting circles since putting together a strong showing against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Apple is fluid athlete who possesses quality mirror skills and is a reliable tackler in run support. Being an underclassman, this will be the first opportunity for teams to verify Apple's measurables (he's listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds). If that checks out and if he turns in strong test results (particularly in the 40-yard dash), he will be one of the most-talked-about names coming out of Indianapolis and has a chance to solidify himself as our third-ranked CB, behind Jalen Ramsey and Vernon Hargreaves III.
Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford
On tape, Hooper displays above-average size, athleticism and reliable hands in a crowd. We expect Hooper to measure well at the weigh-ins. The wild card is the on-field testing. If he's able to display quality fluidity with his routes and catch the ball well during the workout portion, he has a chance to significantly help his stock in a tight end class that lacks quality depth near the top this year. Currently, Hooper and Ohio State's Nick Vannett are battling to likely be the second tight end to come off the board behind Arkansas' Hunter Henry.
