BY FRAN DUFFY

I find the National Football Scouting Combine to be a test of expectations. Fast players should look fast. Slow players should look slow. When the results don’t match the expectations, that is when more work must be done.

Below you’ll find my expectations for this position group this week in Indianapolis. Who do I expect to stand out? Who does this week mean the most for? What are the drills I prioritize most? Here are my thoughts on all of that and more!

Workout Warriors:

These are the players who I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Mason Graham (Michigan)

A likely Top 5 pick, Graham has impressive flashes of athleticism on tape with the Wolverines. A twitched up tackle with the ability to shoot gaps and penetrate, he should be one of the better testers on the interior.

Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)

In all the ways I try to discern a defensive tackle’s athleticism, I thought Nolen checked the box on film. He’s explosive upfield, has great change of direction once he’s back there, has impressive balance, and closes in a blur. He should test well across the board while cementing himself as a first-round pick.

Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee)

Norman-Lott has JUICE on tape. An impact role player for the Vols off the bench this year, the senior’s explosiveness pops off the film as soon as you turn it on. He can turn the corner well and he closes fast from the backside. He should be one of the top testers at the position in Indy.

TJ Sanders (South Carolina)

I’ve got three SEC lineman to this list, and Sanders is extremely deserving of it. A good athlete with first-step quickness, impressive cornering skills once he gets the edge on blockers, and burst to close, he checks a lot of boxes.

Jahvaree Ritzie (UNC)

I’m calling my shot here, because Ritzie is very much off the radar. The son of a heptathlete, the brother of a college track athlete, and a high school sprinter himself, Ritzie is a 290 pound tackle who racked up 7 TFLs and 6.5 sacks this fall.

The Drill To Watch:

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium - not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.