The stakes will be high for 329 prospects as the NFL Combine gets underway from Indianapolis this week. The annual event will take place from February 24 through March 3rd. Scales, measuring tape, and each blade of grass will significantly impact where each prospect is selected. Here are five polarizing players I’m excited to watch.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Bond has had one of the strangest college careers in recent memory.
In 2023, he led Alabama in receiving, hauling in 48 passes for 668 yards. He decided to take his talents to Austin, transferring to the Texas Longhorns in the offseason, likely due to NIL. But his production fell off significantly. Just 34 receptions are hard to digest for such a talented player with above-average quarterback play. He was rumored to be playing through an injury towards the end of the year, but didn’t miss time.
But the reason he has scouts salivating is because of his speed.
He has his sights set on another former Texas wideout, Xavier Worthy’s forty-time record, one of the most electric moments in combine history – a performance that likely vaulted him into the first round:
An NFL scout recently texted ESPN’s Matt Miller, writing “I think (Bond) might be faster than Worthy.”
Woah, baby.
If the #Bears are looking for speed at WR in the draft, Isaiah Bond from Texas is a guy I like on Day 2
Dynamic athlete who’s crisp out of his breaks and agile after the catch. Good hands, can stretch the field. Slot-wide versatility, too pic.twitter.com/mUSm2Gmw9k
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) February 11, 2025
But Worthy had 192 catches over three years compared to just 92 for Bond. That translated quickly to the NFL, as he led the Kansas City Chiefs receivers in yards, catches, and TDs.
If Bond does run the fastest recorded forty-yard dash, could he vault into the late first round, just like his predecessor?
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Milroe will likely be the most talked about prospect at this event. Whenever you turn on your television, you’re likely to get a heavy dosage of the Alabama signal-caller. I’ve seen him mocked anywhere from the first to the third round.
He’s very erratic – tossing 11 INTs on just 319 attempts in his final season. For comparison, former Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, who Milroe went head-to-head against in the CFB playoff last season, threw 11 in 38 games.
There’s already concerning news out of his camp. At the senior bowl we learned that Milroe has 8 3/4-inch hands. No starting NFL quarterback last season had hands smaller than 9 inches.
The only smaller hands in recent memory? Hmm. That would be former Steelers starter and first-round pick, Kenny Pickett, who measured at 8- 1/2 inches.
But unlike Pickett, Milroe has game-breaking speed and a strong arm.
Does hand size matter as much when that’s the case?
RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
By now I’m sure you’ve read plenty about Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, or Ohio State’s TreyVeon Henderson, who could both be first-round picks. But Harvey is someone who is gaining steam in the mid-rounds, a spot where the Steelers should focus on adding another back.
He’s a smaller back, standing at just 5’8 (we’ll confirm shortly of course). But I love his patience and savvy. He has some Le’Veon Bell to his game, which I know is quite lofty, but it’s noticeable in the way he reads his blockers before decisively hitting a hole.
I expect UCF’s RJ Harvey to be RB riser post Senior Bowl
✅ patient runner with anticipation
✅ great changes direction
✅ slippery + elusive
✅ reliable hands + YAC upside
Could be a steal in rounds 3/4 of rookie drafts
pic.twitter.com/xTiD9yvZxF
— Matt Hicks (@TheFF_Educator) January 2, 2025
He does lack top end speed, so if he runs in the 4.6s, he’ll diminish his draft stock. But if he can sneak into the late 4.4’s in the forty, he’s got a chance to be a third-round pick.
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
I’ll make a prediction; Porter will be the defensive player we’re all talking about post-combine. His projected measurables are off the charts.
He’s expected to measure in at 6’3, 200 lbs., which must mean he lacks top-end speed, right?
Not so fast my friends.
In high school, he won the 400-meter state championship twice. He also won a state championship in the 200- and 800-meter sprint.
So why isn’t he already a surefire first-round pick?
Well, he’s a 25-year-old sixth-year and is too frequently exposed to short screens. Even with his age, he was a part-time player for the Cyclones. He could certainly take better angles and improve his tackling.
These are things that can be corrected, but the age factor is certainly worrisome.
The backpedal and react drill for defensive backs will go a long way in determining his status.
TJ Sanders, DL, South Carolina
Sanders, a pass-rushing defensive tackle, already had a few breakout moments at the Senior Bowl.
At 284 lbs. he’s nearly impossible for guards to block. His hand usage is next level and he has incredible burst. He’s a true three-down player. Keep an eye on him in the 3-cone drill, which tests lateral agility.
I suppose he could be a bit stouter in the run game, but it’s difficult to poke holes in his game. He’s someone who could possibly vault into the back half of the first round if he continues to ascend.
Given the Steelers’ biggest needs, these players certainly check a lot of boxes. They will likely be scattered throughout the draft, but the combine will create an enormous opportunity for them to rise… or fall.
