NFL

NFL Combine: Big Sky results

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The NFL Scouting Combine began last week in Indianapolis. A total of 335 prospects worked out for NFL scouts and executives, including four former Big Sky Conference stars.

Weber State All-American offensive tackle Iosua Opeta worked out with the offensive linemen, running backs and special teams specialists on Friday.

Wide receivers Keelan Doss of UC Davis, Emmanuel Butler of Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado wide receiver Alex Wesley worked out Saturday.

Here is a look at the results of the four former Big Sky Conference standouts.

Iosua Opeta, offensive line, Weber State

 

Height: 6-4 ½” 

Weight: 301 pounds 

Arms: 33 ¼”

Hands: 9 7/8″

 

RESULTS

40-yard dash: 5.02 seconds (5th among OL)

Bench press: 39 reps (top mark, all positions)

Vertical jump: 33 inches (4th for OL)

Broad Jump: 9’4” (8th among OL)

3-cone drill: 8.06 

20-yard shuttle: 4.94 

60-yard shuttle: —

Summary: Opeta, a converted defensive lineman, started 40 straight games on the offensive line, earning All-Big Sky honors three times and All-American honors two times as the Wildcats won back-to-back league titles.

Opeta will likely transition to guard in the NFL. His combination of strength and speed could make him a late-round draft pick.

https://twitter.com/RD_Mullin/status/1101604789404614656

NFL Scouts say: Opeta will need to add more mass for his move inside to guard, but he does possess some natural strength if he can play with better bend to open up his leverage. His hands at feet don’t work together effectively in pass protection and he struggled badly to save his inside edge against quality competition in Utah. His footwork and balance is too uneven and will require plenty of work to get fixed for his move inside to guard on the next level. Scouts believe he has a chance to get drafted late.

 

Keelan Doss, wide receiver, UC Davis

Height: 6-2

Weight: 211 pounds

Arms: 31 ¾” 

Hands: 9 ½”

 

UC Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss/by UC Davis Athletics

Results

40-yard dash: N/A

Bench press: 8 reps

Vertical jump: 38.5 inches

Broad Jump: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

20-yard shuttle: N/A

60-yard shuttle: N/A

Summary: The game-changing two-time All-American had back-to-back 100-catch seasons, leading the Aggies to the FCS playoffs for the first time ever as a senior. But Doss, who many compare to Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, had his combine cut short.

Doss is expected to conduct a full workout at UC Davis’ pro day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 25.

NFL Scouts say: “He’s got size and understands how to play the position. I don’t know how he runs, but I like receivers who are at their best when the ball is in the air anyway.” – AFC Receivers coach

 

Alex Wesley, wide receiver, Northern Colorado

Height: 6-0 

Weight: 190 pounds

Arms: 31 ¼”

Hands: 9”

Results 

40-yard dash: 4.45 seconds (12th-fastest among WR)

Bench press: 13 reps

Vertical jump: 38.5 inches (tied for 7th)

Broad Jump: 10 feet, 5 inches (tied for 9th)

3-cone drill: 7.4 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.44 seconds 

60-yard shuttle: —

Summary: Wesley has unquestionably been one of the Big Sky’s best male athletes, any sport. He earned All-Big Sky honors in football while winning half a dozen Big Sky championships between indoor and outdoor track and field in the 400. He was an All-American in the quarter-mile last season.

As expected for someone who competes in track year round, Wesley tore up the straight line speed and explosion drills. He is undersized but his eye-opening 40 could get him some looks.

NFL Scouts say: Wesley’s on-field prowess is intriguing to scouts but they also love the fact that he was a three-time Big Sky Conference outdoor 400-meter dash winner for the Bears. The four-year starter led the team in receiving his final two years, and was honored with second-team all-conference accolades each season. He caught 57 passes for 1,050 yards (18.2 average) and four scores in 2018 and posted similar numbers as a junior (55 catches, 1,010 yards, 18.4 average, six touchdowns). Wesley started nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2015 (17 catches, 282 yards, 16.6 average, two touchdowns) and all 10 contests the following fall (27 catches, 374 yards, 13.9 average, five touchdowns). He was an honorable mention All-State pick from Wylie High School in Murphy, Texas before signing at UNC.

Emmanuel Butler, wide receiver, Northern Arizona

 

MSU wide receiver Emmanuel Butler/by Brooks Nuanez

Height: 6-3

Weight: 217 pounds

Arms: 33″

Hands: 10 1/8″

Results

40-yard dash: N/A

Vertical jump: 36 inches

Broad Jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

3-cone drill: 4.22 seconds

20-yard shuttle:

Summary: Butler burst onto the scene with an enormous sophomore season back in 2015 that helped birth his NFL potential. He had another 1,000-yard season in 2016, earning first-team All-Big Sky as a junior. But injuries have thwarted his last two seasons, adding to the intrigue about the physically impressive prospect.

At the combine, his camp decided to not have Butler run the 40 or do a few other drills. He will run at NAU’s pro day later this month. But Butler did impress in other drills.

NFL Scouts say: Butler’s possesses the size and frame NFL teams want out on the perimeter, but his 2018 tape failed to capture enough magic after missing 2017 with a shoulder injury. He lacks vertical push to fight back against bump and run coverage and he may not be an effective enough ball-winner to overcome his speed deficiencies.

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About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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