LSU players at 2020 NFL Combine: info, quotes
Just in case you haven't been keeping up with all the latest information from the NFL Scouting Combine, we've got you covered on all you need to know about the 16 former LSU players in attendance -- the most of any other college.
The full list of Tigers in Indianapolis for combine: QB Joe Burrow; LB K’Lavon Chiasson; OL Saahdiq Charles; OL Lloyd Cushenberry; DB Grant Delpit; LB Michael Divinity; RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire; LS Blake Ferguson; DB Kristian Fulton; WR Justin Jefferson; DL Rashard Lawrence II; OL Damien Lewis; TE Thaddeus Moss; LB Jacob Phillips; LB Patrick Queen; TE Stephen Sullivan.
BURROW is pretty much locked in at the No. 1 overall pick. He said he will not be throwing or working out at the combine, but will wait to show his skills at LSU's Pro Day on April 3. The Heisman Trophy winner made headlines this week about his "small" hand size -- of all things. He also set the record straight on if the Cincinnati Bengals draft him at No. 1.
QUOTE: "Just so everyone knows, I am not going to throw. I am not going to work out. I didn’t think I’d be able to put my best foot forward here, so I wanted to wait until Pro Day. ... Yeah, I am a ball player. Whoever picks me, I am going to show up. I'm not going to not play. I'll play for whoever drafts me."
CHAISSON has major upside if he can stay healthy in the NFL. He's a terrific pass rusher with speed and power, and he isn't afraid to call himself the "most valuable person in the draft." He's considered by many analysts to be a first-round pick.
QUOTE: "Let's be honest. I am the most valuable player in this draft and we all know it. Are you going to hire somebody that speaks one language or three languages. I can rush the passer, I can stop the run and I can run in coverage with anybody.
“Guys who say I’m just a speed guy don’t watch the film. I’ve got speed and power.”
CHARLES is one of the most athletic offensive linemen at the NFL Combine, but teams will have plenty of questions for the former LSU left tackle because he missed six games last season due to suspension. He never said what led to his suspension nor did Ed Orgeron, who always said it was a "coach's decision."
QUOTE: “It was just a mistake. It’s not a part of my life anymore, whatever I went through that led to the suspensions. It was selfish and a stupid mistake, honestly. I moved forward from it. ...
“I feel like I made a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes, but judge me — the whole me — not just the mistake. I am a good guy. A great guy. Everything they learned from me is that I was a great guy who just made some mistakes in college.”
CUSHENBERRY started 27 straight games on the offensive line next to Saahdiq Charles. The former LSU captain is meeting with several teams while at the draft, according to Walterfootball.com. Cushenberry will be spending time with the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
QUOTE: "Center and guard. I feel like I'm versatile to play both. I'm athletic enough. I've been playing center. Obviously, I'm a smart guy that can make calls. I can play both positions or whatever the team needs me to do."
DELPIT is close to 100 percentage after dealing with an ankle injury throughout the season that caused him to miss some tackles, but he won't work out for NFL teams at the combine. He's waiting until LSU's April 3 pro day. He's projected to be a first-round pick.
QUOTE: "I get a lot of hate and slander from the media and the experts, but I think that's just gonna make the glory so much better in the end."
DIVINITY might be the LSU candidate who needs a strong showing at the combine after he missed nine games due to suspension. He checked in at the 6-1 5/8" mark at 242 pounds with a 9 4/8” hand size, 33 5/8” arm length and an 80-inch wingspan. He did 14 reps on the 225-pound bench press Friday.
EDWARDS-HELAIRE was one of the most productive running backs in college football this past season with 1,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while catching 55 passes for 453 yards. He's a versatile back that proved he can do it all, but some NFL teams requested him to work out at receiver while at the combine. On Friday, the 5-foot-7 back showed off his hops and logged a 39.5 inch vertical leap. He ran an unofficial 4.61-second 40-yard dash.
QUOTE: "Ultimately, me believing in myself, I feel like I am the running back in the draft. It's as simple as that. I feel like I can do everything. I feel like I have the most tread on my tires. I didn't have the 800, 900 carries as far as my career, but for the most part, everything that needed to be displayed was something that was done."
FERGUSON checked in at 6-2 5/8, 229 pounds with 9 6/8-inch hands, 31 3/8-inch arms and a 75 6/8-inch wingspan.
FULTON only played two seasons at LSU because of his lengthy suspension that was eventually overturned, however, he is still considered one of the best cornerbacks in the draft and could be taken in the first round. In one mock draft by CBS, Fulton is the 16th overall pick.
QUOTE: "Just from a competitive standpoint I feel like being in the SEC, I go up against the best receivers. You go and look and tell me who’s put numbers up on me. I feel like that’s what really separates me. It’s a great cornerback class but I don’t feel like anybody’s technique is as sound as mine and I just get the job done every Saturday.”
JEFFERSON was one of the best receivers in the country in 2019. The Destrehan alum continues to rise in mock drafts, but at the combine he made headlines for comments he made about taking money from Odell Beckham Jr. on the field of the National Championship Game. He also flashed his speed with one of the best 40 times posted on Thursday.
QUOTE: "A lot of people made a big deal, but it was really just the heat of the moment. (Beckham and I) talked about it after the fact, and we both had some words about it. I mean, we shouldn't have done it, but it was really just the heat of the moment. We had some doubts about it. We knew we shouldn't have done it.
"I just gave that money back to my church. I donated that money to them, just to show that money really didn't mean that much to me."
LAWRENCE has met with quite a few teams while at the combine. Saying he had a "good, in-depth meeting" with the Patriots, Colts, Buccaneers, Cowboys and Bengals. He checked in at 6-2, 308 pounds, size 11 hands, 34-1/8 arm length, 80-3/8 wingspan.
QUOTE:
LEWIS spoke to the media about his nastiness on the field while at the combine and how going through Hurricane Katrina with his mother and brother really fuels the former LSU guard.
QUOTE: "I wanna put you on the ground on every single play. I wanna get off the ball and take you out of the play. I’m gonna move you off your spot and out of your gap. I’m gonna take your will from you. The first goal is to get you out of the way, the second goal is to keep on mauling you through the whistle. That goes for both the pass and run game."
MOSS said many NFL teams aren't asking about his Hall of Fame father, Randy Moss, because everyone knows the story already. The two are built so differently with the elder Moss being listed at 6-4 and 210 pounds, while the former LSU tight end came in at 6-2 and 250 pounds. He also talked about the possibility of the New England Patriots drafting him -- which is where his father played. Moss did not participate in drills or work out due to a fracture in his foot, which will require surgery.
QUOTE: "It would mean a lot. Just to catch a touchdown pass period in the NFL would mean a lot. But to catch from Tom Brady knowing that he threw a good amount of touchdown passes to my father, it would be a good story."
PHILLIPS measured in at 6-3 and 229 pounds with a 10 inch hand size, 32 3/8 arm length and a 78 2/8 wingspan.
QUOTE: “Everything about it is kind of professional. We try to practice like it’s the NFL, we try to prepare like the NFL. We try to scheme, too. Obviously, it’s going to be another step forward, but I was prepared well at LSU.”
QUEEN was not expected to be in the position he's in now, heck, he wasn't even a starter at the beginning of the season. He recorded 85 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2019. Queen was also the defensive MVP in the national championship with 2½ tackles for loss and half a sack. He has met with the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers.
QUOTE: “I'll play anywhere. Like I said, this is a blessing to be in this position to be able to talk to you guys and be here at the NFL Combine. So wherever I get drafted to, I'm going to go there day one, put my head down and go to work."
SULLIVAN is one of the more intriguing prospects that scouts are wanting to see work out and interview. He wowed at the Senior Bowl with his size and at the combine he measured in with a 85-inch wingspan. Sullivan has faced a lot of adversity in his life, even overcoming homelessness. While at LSU he made the switch from receiver to tight end, but only caught 12 passes for 130 yards during LSU's historic run.
QUOTE: "It means a lot (to be at combine); coming from where I come from and growing up how I grew up. A lot of people in my city don't have this opportunity. A lot of people don't come this far. ... I really just want to give kids motivation and let them know not to give up. Just never know when your opportunity going to come."