NFL Combine Player Analysis of Four Players Looking to Move Up in Rankings

This year's NFL draft is full of some very talented young men. This does not make the scout's job any easier. There are several big names on the buffet table and several highly talented little names added to the mix. There are a lot of small schools being represented this year as well. A lot of the less-watched universities have produced, or at least stumbled upon, some Pro Bowl-caliber talent, and it is all up for grabs this year. One thing that will make the team's job a lot easier is the Combine. This weekend, talented players from all across the country will be able to show their stuff. For the most part, the decisions have been made, but that may soon change. There are some players that have been invited to the Combine that can move from the "nice to have" status to "must have." Some of these names you may have heard, but there are bound to be some dark horses emerging this weekend. With several players opting not to participate in some drills, there may be room for some of these names to wiggle into the first round.

Tim Tebow (Quarterback, Florida)

For Tim Tebow, this combine may mean a huge difference in his draft status. Tebow has done some amazing things during his college career, but now that it is over, he is starting to stumble. From poor performances in his final game to a decision to not throw at the Combine, he may find himself slipping to the third or fourth round. While Tebow is an amazing quarterback, he has a unique style that will only fit with a handful, or less, pro teams. This hampers who will be looking at him. Now you add his recent troubles with handling the ball, and the picture begins to get bleak. Tebow has said that he is changing his style to fit more teams and improve his handling skills. This is the true blow to his first-pick status. No one is going to take his word for it that he is better now and can play anywhere. They will want to watch him throw and take some snaps. Without being able to witness the changes first hand, many teams may not want to risk a high round choice on a players "Scout's Honor" promise. This year's Combine may prove to be a crushing blow to Tebow. He needs to throw and perform well to return to a first round pick. If he stays reclusive and keeps his new form and talent hidden, he will continue to sink lower and lower. With Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen pro day workout coming in April, Tebow may get passed over for Clausen. Tim really needs to wow the scouts at the Combine to keep his first round status.

Ndamukong Suh (Defensive Tackle, Nebraska)

This kid from Nebraska is tougher than his name is to pronounce, and that is impressive. After a couple years of being corn fed in the Heartland, Suh has become a beastly monster on the defensive line. Suh has often been compared to a bull in the way he can break through the line and tear up the offensive backfield. The Rams are already drooling over this kid, and he is likely going to be the first overall pick this year. The only thing that can change that is Oklahoma's McCoy. If Suh can dominate at the Combine, he is a cinch for the top spot this year. To get this coveted spot he must stay one step ahead of McCoy in every event. It will be a bitter fight for these two for the number one and two overall spot in the NFL draft. My money is on Suh, though. He is a little more aggressive and shows the ability to convert to a linebacker if needed. With his size, speed, and tenacity, he could be one of the best monster backs to ever play the game. At defensive tackle, he is really impressive and shows a knack for breaking huge holes in the offensive line. Given a little nurturing and guidance, Suh can easily break the record for career sacks. This will be an interesting fight to watch during the Combine. It is only fitting that Oklahoma and Nebraska, rivals in all things, are fighting for the top spots.

Brian Price (Defensive Tackle, UCLA)

Brian Price had a very impressive year last season, and it may pay off. The only reason he will be picked lower than he should be is due to the competition. This year's NFL draft is full of talented tackles. Price is one of the best out there, but there are some with better numbers. For scouts and coaches, numbers on paper mean a lot more than performances since they can not watch every minute of every game. The Combine will be a stage for Price to really boost his draft status. It will give him the chance to really awe the coaches and scouts. A good performance at the Combine can land Price a much higher round than he is currently looking at. If he can keep pace with Suh and McCoy, Price could easily be a dark-horse candidate to steal away the top spot. It will take a lot to get the Rams to notice him, but a very impressive performance this weekend may land him in the coveted position of first overall. A lot of teams are looking for new tackles, so there will be a lot of competition, and all eyes will be on this position. Price could even cause a shakeup of the pecking order if another team wants to trade for first pick. The Rams could be lured into a deal that would still land them Suh and give Price the top draft pick. It will be very interesting to watch. Even more important than a good showing for Suh, Price, and McCoy, is to avoid any stumbles. If one of them makes the slightest mistake at the Combine, they could land far down on the draft list.

Mike Iupati (Offensive Guard/Tackle Idaho)

One of the most surprising young upstarts to tear up the draft standings lately is Mike Iupati. Coming from almost nowhere, Iupati can very easily dive into the first round. With the