Penn State Pro Day: Defenders draw a crowd

[RS12]

Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill was still recovering from a knee scope at the combine and yet elected to run through drills anyway. The result was a 5.23-second time in the 40-yard dash and an 8-foot-7-inch broad jump.

Neither demonstrated the explosiveness that scouts associated with the 6-foot-1, 303-pound defensive tackle, who'd earned First Team All Big Ten honors with a breakout 2012 season (64 tackles, 8 1/2 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks).

With time to heal, Hill was much better March 11 at Penn State's Pro Day, reportedly shaving more than a quarter second from his fastest 40-yard dash time in Indianapolis with a 4.97-second time. Hill also added eight inches to his broad jump.

Gerald Hodges, 6-foot-1, 243 pounds, surprisingly elected not to attempt an improvement on a less than ideal time of 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He did, however, demonstrate very good agility in the short-shuttle drill (4.25 seconds) and a solid 35 1/2-inch vertical jump after not testing in these drills in Indianapolis.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/21860977/penn-state-pro-day-defenders-draw-a-crowd

 

[supercowboy8]

I still like Jordan Hill and Hodges.

 

[AsthmaField]

I like them too, just not in the early rounds.

Hill could surprise some people next year, IMO.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Hill would be a nice pick anytime after rd 2.

 

[1LoyalCowboyFan]

Hill would be a nice pick anytime after rd 2.

Would you take Hill over Spence? A couple games I saw Hill really scared me going backwards. His effort there is no question ability and strength is another.

 

[LehighCowboy]

Would you take Hill over Spence? A couple games I saw Hill really scared me going backwards. His effort there is no question ability and strength is another.

Watch the 4th quarter of Penn State's game against Wisconsin this past year. Hill absolutely MANHANDLED the Wisconsin OL.

Most people do not know that he played a large chunk of the year with a painful, somewhat debilitating leg injury -- yet still played as well as he did.

I don't care what round we draft them in - i'd be ECSTATIC to come away with either Hodges or Jordan Hill. The passion and leadership that these two, along with Michael Mauti, exhibited this past year is unparalleled.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Would you take Hill over Spence? A couple games I saw Hill really scared me going backwards. His effort there is no question ability and strength is another.

Nope I love Spence, in fact I would seriously consider him in the second, though ideally a third rounder. Cowboys need a guy who can anchor and play a one-technique. I see Hill as more of a three, but I think he will be an effective player in the NFL as well.