Florida linebacker Shemar James was one of the busiest players on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The defensive tackles, edge rushers and linebackers had the option to participate in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle run and were put through position work by NFL coaches and scouts, too, during the first day on the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium for this year’s combine.
The Thursday group included seven players with Alabama football roots. Three of them did not participate in any of the measured drills. James tackled all of them.
Among Thursday’s participants, the former Faith Academy star had the fourth-best time in the three-cone drill at 7.09 seconds and the shuttle run in 4.27 seconds.
The highest placing of any of the players from Alabama high schools and colleges was posted by Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante, whose 4.48-second 40-yard dash was the third-fastest time in that event on Thursday. Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell was tied for fourth at 4.52 seconds.
Asante covered the first 10 yards of his 40 in 1.52 seconds, which was tied for the quickest start of Thursday with Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon. Campbell was 0.01 seconds behind that 10-yard time.
Campbell also had the fourth-best broad jump on Thursday at 10 feet, 7 inches.
A rundown of how each player with Alabama football roots performed (with top-five finishes noted) on Thursday in the measured drills includes:
- Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante: 4.48-second 40-yard dash (second among linebackers)
- Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell: 4.52-second 40-yard dash (tied for third among linebackers), 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump (second among linebackers)
- Florida linebacker Shemar James (Faith Academy): 4.69-second 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical jump, 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump, 7.09-second three-cone drill (second among linebackers), 4.27-second shuttle run (third among linebackers)
- Auburn linebacker Jalen McLeod: Did not participate in the measured drills.
- Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues (Auburn): 5.15-second 40-yard dash, 27.5-inch vertical jump
- Alabama edge Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin): Did not participate in the measured drills.
- Alabama defensive tackle Tim Smith: Did not participate in the measured drills.
The defensive tackles, edge rushers and linebackers will have the opportunity to participate in the bench press on Friday. In the bench press, players do as many reps with a 225-pound bar as they can.
