Every year, hundreds of college football’s most talented prospects gather in Indianapolis to put their skills on display, hoping to impress NFL head coaches and scouts.
After four years of preparing for Saturday night games, the NFL Scouting Combine puts athletes through physical and mental tests to prepare them for the next level.
“The combine is a piece of the puzzle,” said local NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier. “When you’re going to spend this kind of money on a draft choice, especially an early-round draft choice, you want to find out how much football really means to him.”
Eight Tigers were invited to the 2011 Combine, including junior defensive back Patrick Peterson, senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis, junior running back Stevan Ridley, senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, senior wide receiver Terrence Toliver, senior offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, senior kicker Josh Jasper and senior defensive tackle Lazarius Levingston.
Combine participants are challenged to a series of on-the-field tests evaluating their pure athleticism and skills. Events include a 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle run.
“The combine acts, from an athletic standpoint, [are] a confirmation of the things you think you kind of know but you want to be confirmed,” Detillier said. “It is important, but it’s just a confirmation of what you’ve seen on film.”
While Peterson is considered by most a consensus top-five pick in this year’s draft, Detillier said some other LSU unknowns like Toliver and Sheppard could gain much experience from the weekend’s workouts.
“For Terrence, I think the big question is going to be speed. He showed some separation skills, but he’s not a super quick guy,” Detillier said. “With Kelvin Sheppard … it’s leadership and it’s that intangible part with him that’s intriguing. And I think he can play multiple positions.”
Players have arrived in bunches since Wednesday. The physical stage of the combine begins Saturday morning with kickers, offensive linemen and tight ends. Jasper said he has been practicing his own workout regimens at LSU to prepare for the events, all while finishing his degree.
“It’s a little different for a kicker. I don’t have a kicking coach or a trainer,” Jasper said. “I’ll do a bunch of different kicking drills and make sure all the little things that need to be corrected are done. I hit a little bit of weights every day, and I end up doing a run after I get done kicking.”
Jasper said he kicks between 15-20 kickoffs and hits 20-30 field goals each day before his workouts and daily run. He said his main focus during training is getting more power behind his kickoffs.
Sheppard, who is considered by some draft experts as a mid-third to fourth-round pick, has been working at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Pensacola, Fla., to try to boost his draft stock.
Sheppard said a typical day consists of a 7:30 a.m. wake-up call, followed by a full day of workouts and training.
“We do speed work on field work that normally lasts for an hour,” said Sheppard, LSU’s leading tackler the past two seasons. “After that you come inside to the weight room and do a workout. In all we’re working out on the field doing speed work twice a day, and we’re in the weight room twice a day.”
Joining Sheppard at API are other big names featured on big boards across the country, like North Carolina standouts Bruce Carter and Robert Quinn, Georgia linebacker Akeem Dent and Penn State lineman Stefen Wisniewski.
Sheppard said he has been developing friendships with the guys between workouts and training. The group relaxes during any available free time.
“It’s a good group down here,” Sheppard said. “On a Saturday when we get an afternoon off, we’re just relaxing really. Destin is right down the road, so I’ve been down there two weekends.”
Working with the group in Pensacola is former Tiger and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brett Bech. Sheppard complimented “Coach BB” on his knowledge of the game and help on the field.
“I’m comfortable with everything,” Sheppard said. “They do a great job down here in preparing us, so I’m ready to do it all and just have fun.”
 
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Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]