- Players out on the West Coast often get overlooked by the not-so-National media, but the scouts are always watching, and one of the guys they've no doubt been keeping tabs on is Washington State's Jason Hill. Despite an injury that hampered him for the duration of his senior season and forced him to miss 2 games, he leaves WSU as one of the Pac-10's most productive wide receivers with 148 catches, 2,704 yards and 32 touchdowns in just over 2 and a half seasons. His soft hands and impeccable route running gave opposing defensive backs nightmares, but the constant knock on Jason Hill was his lack of speed. Lateral speed, straightline speed, breakaway speed... they were all over-analyzed and questioned ad nauseum. What better way to answer such criticism than by running an amazing 4.32 40-yard dash in front of all 32 head coaches and their respective scouting departments? This will no doubt cause some scouts to go back to the film room and attempt to decipher if that clocked time was "manufactured speed" rather than "game speed," but Jason Hill helped himself immensely either way. Size, speed, route running and good hands; these are the building blocks of a great receiver and Jason Hill possesses all of them, which is why some team will possess Jason Hill by drafting him in the 2nd round.

- One of the position's late risers has been LSU's Dwayne Bowe, the big, physical target who wowed all the scouts during the Senior Bowl practice week after being JaMarcus Russell's favorite target during the regular season. Bowe's size, precise route running, high "football IQ" and compatibility to the popular West Coast style of Offense has helped him make a late push at being the second wide receiver chosen, behind Calvin Johnson. All the while the knock on Dwayne Bowe has been long speed, and he didn't negate those concerns with his 4.50 40-time. That time is really nothing to be ashamed of at 224 pounds, and his work in the other agility drills was good, so that window of being the second wideout selected is still open just a crack. The NFL has a shortage of WR's who can hurt you in multiple ways and still aren't afraid to go downfield and lay a mean block in the running game, and thats exactly what Dwayne Bowe will provide at the next level.

- The NFL's rules of eligibility require a player to be out of a high school for a minimum of 3 years in order for them to enter the NFL Draft, and every year or two you'll see a dynamic Redshirt Sophomore or Junior College transfer leave school early for the promises of fame and fortune. This season that player will be South Carolina's Sidney Rice, a Sophomore who lit the SEC up during his 2 non-redshirt seasons for the Gamecocks. His lanky 6'3", 200 pound frame made him an alluring red zone target where he amassed 23 touchdown catches in only 26 career games. Production aside, there are many questions regarding Rice's readiness to adapt to the complicated offensive and defensive schemes that the NFL will throw at him. Another year or two in a dedicated collegiate weightroom program also would've helped him immensely in reaching his physical maturity. His workout at the Combine(including a pedestrian 4.55 40) essentially confirmed the perceptions a lot of scouts had about Sidney Rice; the raw, physical talent is there in bushels, but he was a one trick pony in Steve Spurrier's offense. His lean frame and build-up straightline speed will serve as a problem when he faces bigger, tougher cornerbacks at the next level. To me, Rice is a 3rd round player with 1st round talent. He'll just need the right coaching staff who will be dedicated and patient enough to get that out of him.

-Every Combine provides the opportunity at a small bragging right for the 300+ players who are invited, all of whom are obviously gifted athletically and tend to be very competitive. That bragging right goes to whoever manages to run the quickest 40-yard dash time regardless of position. This year that honor went to Kansas State's Yamon Figurs. The diminutive Figurs tips the scales at nothing more than 5'11" and 174 pounds, but he made his name known when he ran a scorching 4.30 40. With only 3 career touchdowns for the Wildcats and an obvious lack of "NFL size," Figurs has his work cut out for him. But there is no question to me that he'll find his way onto an NFL roster and make an impact, if not solely for his ability on special teams. He is a very capable return man, and may be the best kick-coverage gunner in the nation, where he forced 3 fumbles last year including a game-clincher against a highly ranked Texas squad. Look for him to be off the board somewhere around the 5th round.

-Someone looking to make his mark in any way possible was South Carolina's Syvelle Newton, one of the game's "Jack of All Trades." In the 2006 season alone, Newton started games at quarterback, wide receiver, running back and safety--sometimes all in the same game. In his senior season he produced 12 catches for 99 yards and a TD, 330 rushing yards and 3 TDs, 1,316 passing yards and 12 TDs, and 21 tackles with 3 passes defensed. Newton had his choice of what position to try to make his strongest impression at for the scouts, and he went with Wide Receiver. Unfortunately, after a running a subpar 4.73 40 and looking overwhelmed in the position drills, it might be a challenge for Syvelle Newton to be drafted. Nonetheless he is a player who can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands, and some NFL team will have enough intrigue to give him a shot.