Written by David Regimbal

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Nine players from Ohio State’s 2010-2011 team attended the NFL Combine this year, and with the grand spectacle coming to a close earlier this week, we can now look back and see how each former Buckeye performed. Each player was put through a number of physical and mental tests ranging from running 40 yards as fast as they can to fielding questions from an army of media-zombies*. Regardless of your feelings toward the combine, whether you think it’s pointless or pivotal, how these NFL hopefuls perform can dramatically alter their perceived value to a professional football team.

* Can you imagine if each player was interviewed by an actual army of zombies? Think about it -- navigating a room full of curios zombies who want nothing more than to feed on your flesh would test the mental strength of a player more than any other situation could. Why don’t they do this? Who decides what these players have to go through during combine week? Because that person clearly messed up by excluding the zombie Q&A session.

This is a brief overview of how the nine former Buckeyes fared at the combine. After reviewing each players work-out results, I’ll reveal a picture of former Hollywood star James Van Der Beek that reflects whether the player improved, hurt, or did nothing to their draft value. Here’s how it’ll work:

This picture of James Van Der Beek celebrating a victory in the movie “Varsity Blues” will appear after the review of a player who improved their draft value at the combine.

 

 

This picture of James Van Der Beek crying after an emotional scene in the television show “Dawson’s Creek” will appear after the review of a player who hurt their draft value at the combine.

 

 

And this picture of James Van Der Beek looking like he just took the most life-altering poop will appear after the review of a player who did nothing to improve or hurt their draft value at the combine.

 

 

Let’s jump in...

Chimde Chekwa, CB
Ckekwa has been Ohio State’s top cornerback the past two years, and although he has been a reliable rock in Ohio State’s secondary, draft experts didn’t think very highly of him. His pre-combine scouting report stated he “does not have enough speed to play on an island at the next level”, and also mentioned he was a liability against the run.

Chekwa came in and ran an unofficial 4.33 in the 40 and an official time of 4.4 seconds, which was the third fastest for a cornerback at the combine. He also ranked sixth in the broad jump, displaying a ton of athleticism to compliment his great attitude and work ethic. Oh yeah, and he did all this with a cast on his arm, covering the wrist that was shredded against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl just seven weeks ago.

If his sub 4.4 40 time is still “too slow to play on an island at the next level”, then I think the NFL should release a statement that says they require live jaguars to play at the corner position if they’re expected to operate in single coverage.

 

 

Justin Boren, OG
Boren is expected to be a valuable backup at the offensive guard position in the NFL, at least early, before stepping into a starting role. Boren is known for having a nasty streak on the field and pro scouts took notice of that. His “mental makeup” was called into question because he transferred from Michigan to Ohio State (when Dick Rod was hired), but I’d argue that shows brilliance on his part. Even Michigan fans would agree with me there.

Boren performed decently at the combine, showing good strength by tying for the 14th best “bench press” work out, lifting 225 lbs 28 times. He also registered the seventh best time in the 3 cone drill, but didn’t place in the top 15 for any other event. This is probably because Boren’s typical workout is simply wrestling a live, angry ram to the death. These silly vertical jumps and 60 yards shuttles don’t prove the strength of a man.

I bet Boren would have aced the Zombie Q&A.

 

 

 

Brian Rolle, LB
Rolle has always been undersized for a linebacker, and that’s one of the biggest knocks against him when scouts do their evaluations. NFL teams will probably shy away from selecting Rolle until day 3 because he lacks the size to shed blocks as a linebacker in addition to the speed to make it as a safety. Why teams would ignore the fact that he’s basically murder dressed in football pads is beyond me.

Rolle was great at the combine, registering the third fastest 40 time for a linebacker at 4.56 seconds. For those thinking he’s too slow to be a safety, by comparison, he would’ve tied for the second fastest 40 time at that position. He also put in the fourth best performance for a linebacker in the bench press workout with 28 reps while tying the third best time in the 3 cone drill at 6.89 seconds.

Although he still (probably) won’t be picked until the third day, Rolle only improved his draft stock this week.

 

 

Brandon Saine, RB
Saine was supposed to have a breakout year for the Buckeyes in 2010 after he finished his junior year on a tear of good games. But after struggling through the non-conference schedule, he turned Dan Herron from a co-starter into a... just-starter. Saine has always possessed great speed but he doesn’t have the ability to cut or make a defender miss like most running backs should.

Saine had the opportunity to bust that myth by performing well in workouts like the 3 cone drill and the shuttles, but the running back didn’t participate in those events. He obviously did well in the 40 yard dash, notching a time of 4.43 seconds, but Saine disappeared for the other workouts much like he did during conference play in 2010. Looking at his combine picture, I have a theory that Saine was drugged the morning of his workouts and then was kidnapped before he could compete in the remaining events. Email me if you want me to expand on that theory.

Saine’s draft value fell, but that’s the least of our worries right now. If anyone has any information regarding the disappearance of Brandon Saine, please contact the authorities as soon as possible.

 

 

Cameron Heyward, DE
Heyward didn’t work out at the combine (aside from the “vertical” event, which doesn’t count -- it’s just jumping) because he’s still recovering from shoulder surgery. The versatile defensive lineman tore his UCL during an incredible performance against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, a game that improved his draft stock more than anything. Heyward didn’t have the year everyone expected him to in 2010, showing inconsistent play occasionally interrupted by flashes of dominance, but he’s still the only Buckeye player expected to have a shot at a first round selection.

Since he was basically inactive, Heyward didn’t move up or down any draft boards.

 

 

 

Jermale Hines, FS
Hines was a steady member of the Ohio State secondary during his collegiate career, playing Ohio State’s “Star” position (a linebacker/cornerback hybrid) before moving to free safety this year to replace Kurt Coleman.  Although he was an important piece to one of the nations best pass defenses, pro scouts don’t like his coverage skills or his “inability to identify or recognize routes”.

Hines put questions about his speed to rest, notching the fourth best 40 time for a safety at 4.62 seconds. He also placed third at the bench press with 19 reps and performed very well compared to the other safeties in every workout he participated in. NFL.com’s “combine” website didn’t register any of his workout results, which makes me wonder what Jermale Hines did to insult the universe this badly.

Yes, he improved his draft value at the combine, but Hines is still a likely day three pick.

 

 

 

Ross Homan, LB
Homan is a good outside linebacker prospect that a lot of scouts like, just not enough to project him in their first round mock drafts. The criticism against Homan is that he isn’t strong enough to shed blockers or operate well in the trenches at the next level. Homan then used the combine to showcase that he’s not a human, but rather a terrifying monster living inside a humans body.

Homan had a fantastic outing at the combine and ranked among the best at his position  in nearly every workout he participated in. He recorded the highest number of reps in the bench press with 32 (which makes the people thinking he wasn’t strong enough particularly “derpish”) while ranking seventh in the 40, eighth in the vertical, 14th in the 20 yard shuttle and ninth in the 60 yard shuttle. He still won’t be a first day selection, but he’ll be a steal in the later rounds.

If James Laurinaitis and Anthony Schlegel had a baby, it would grow up to be Ross Homan.

 

 

 

Dane Sanzenbacher, WR
Sanzo (which is how I write his name because typing out his real last name is insultingly difficult) was Ohio State’s best receiver in 2010 despite sharing the field with DeVier Posey. Sanzo has been described as “gritty”, which basically means he’s a white receiver that isn’t blazing fast but will risk concussions going over the middle to catch a lazy slant pass.

His combine results solidified every preconception a draft expert could think of when it comes to guys like Sanzo -- decent 40 times (4.59 seconds) with impressive performances in the shuttle workouts as well as the 3 cone drill. Sanzo didn’t do anything to wow scouts and he didn’t do anything to scare them either, because that’s who Sanzo is -- a reliable, strong route running receiver. The question isn’t what round Sanzo ends up going in, but which team will draft him first -- the Patriots or the Colts*.

* Get it? Because the Colts and the Patriots always have a small, white wide receiver running slants, finding holes in soft zones and running good routes with frustrating consistency...

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady want you so, so bad Sanzo.

 

 

 

Devon Torrence, CB
Torrence is the third and final member of Ohio State’s secondary to participate in the combine. Scouts like his ability to support against the run from the secondary, but they like his coverage skills about as much as they like a swift punch in the dick. Torrence is a “fluid athlete”, but likely wouldn’t hold up against elite or even average wide receivers at the next level.

The Canton-native did nothing to improve his draft stock at the combine. Torrence ran a painfully slow 40, chugging along at 4.68 seconds. His vertical, broad jump and 3 cone drill numbers didn’t rank anywhere near the top 15 at the position, so NFL coaches would trust him defending against an opposing wide receiver as much as you’d trust Charlie Sheen baby -sitting your children. Torrence is already part of the Houston Astros’ program and is a promising baseball prospect, so he’ll likely go the MLB route for his professional career.

He'll be the next Kenny Lofton before he becomes the next Darrelle Revis.