NFL
The NFL combine has officially come and gone, and some players saw their draft stock go upwards in the combine. This was a showcase for college players to get a look by all 32 teams in the NFL. And some players were able to wow all 32 executives in the NFL with their workouts in the combine. No doubt that some players were able to move their stock up draft boards for the better. But these players were able to raise their draft stock and could be a game-changer for one franchise.
LB Sonny Styles:
Linebacker Sonny Styles at the NFL combine had numbers that could put a smile on any NFL GM’s face. Styles had a tremendous year at Ohio State, where he was named first-team all-Big Ten and had 82 total tackles. In the combine, Sonny Styles weighed in at 244 pounds and was 6 ft 5 in tall, and his numbers are incredible. His 40-yard was impressive, running a 4.47, and his 43.5 vertical screams doing this at 244 pounds. The numbers by Sonny Styles have General Managers in the NFL believing he could be drafted as high as #2.
Sonny Styles is a linebacker who can go from sideline to sideline and make plays at the football. The style of player that Styles is could be a game changer who ever drafts Styles in the NFL draft. My NFL comparison for Sonny Styles is a prime Roquan Smith from 2023, who plays sideline to sideline. The numbers for Styles at the NFL combine to me solidified him as the #1 linebacker in the NFL draft. Sonny Styles could be a defensive player who could be a foundational piece for any defense in the future. And don’t be surprised if he’s drafted top 4 or maybe in the top 2 in the NFL draft.
WR Brenen Thompson:
One thing that Wide Receivers like to have is Speed, and Brenen Thompson had that at the combine. Thompson officially clocked in a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was the fastest among WRs. Also, having a time of 1.54 seconds during his 10-yard split. And his time of 4.26 seconds was the fastest in the entire NFL combine at all positions. The speed and the acceleration of Thompson could make any GM want a speed guy for the deep ball.
Brenen Thompson from Mississippi State weighs 170 lbs, which could scare some GMs, but his speed is a game-changer. Last season, Thompson had a great year by having 1,054 receiving yards and 6 touchdown catches. Coming in, Thompson was looked at as a Day 3 selection in the draft, but that changed in the combine. His results could slide him as a potential late Day 2 selection for the speedster from Mississippi State. In the draft, there are always diamonds when it comes to prospects, and Brenen Thompson could be one.
RB Mike Washington Jr:
Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is the #1 RB prospect, but climbing up draft boards is Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. During his drills, Washington clocked in a time of 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash, faster than Jeremiyah Love. Also had the fastest 10-yard split time of 1.51 seconds, which was the fastest in the combine. He is dangerous as both a runner and a pass-catching running back when in the open field. Mike Washington Jr.’s performance at the combine, in my eyes, is a top-3 running back prospect.
Mike Washington Jr at 223 Ibs is everything that a general manager wants in a running back: big and brusing. In 2025, the senior from Arkansas ran for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdowns in a bad year for Arkansas. Seeing his game film, I do see a lot of Omarion Hampton coming out of North Carolina. The draft projection I see is late 2nd round or early 3rd round for Washington. Every position will have a player who could be a steal; I believe Mike Washington Jr. will be that.
