Clemson represented well at NFL Combine

By Will Vandervort.

While Vic Beasley was turning heads and raising his draft stock higher and higher with each drill, there were other former Clemson players who participated in this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Linebacker Stephone Anthony ran the second best 40-yard dash among all linebackers, while defensive tackle Grady Jarrett ran a 7.37 in the three-cone drill.

Anthony, who weighed in at 243 pounds and stands 6-foot-3 ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash on Sunday, just behind LSU’s Kevin Alexander’s 4.55. Anthony also posted a vertical of 37 inches and a broad jump of 122.0 inches.

On Saturday, the middle linebacker did 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Anthony, who has been projected to go anywhere from second to fourth round in the 2015 NFL Draft, perhaps helped his draft stock overall.

“He has had a good day,” said NFL analyst and draft expert Mike Mayock. “He is a big linebacker with better movement skills than people think. He is a little bit of a downhill thumper, but he can move.”

Anthony, who was a First-Team All-ACC linebacker in 2014, led the Tigers for a second straight year in tackles as he totaled 90 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss. He also had 2.5 sacks, intercepted a pass, had four passes broken up and caused two fumbles.

“Clemson LB Stephone Anthony, one of my favorite players in the draft,” tweeted NFL Network color analyst Charles Davis from the combine on Sunday. “(Had) terrific Sr. Bowl week, good reviews-More tape, pls!”

It’s not a deep draft for linebackers and Mayock was not overly impressed with the group as he was the defensive ends and defensive tackles that worked out on Sunday.

“I thought the two defensive line groups were outstanding and I was disappointed with the athleticism of the final group,” the NFL analyst said.

Jarrett and Beasley were not the only two former Tigers from the defensive line at the combine. Defensive end Tavaris Barnes ran a 4.80 40-yard dash after benching 22 reps of 225 pounds on Saturday. He did not participate in any other drills.

Defensive end Corey Crawford did not bench on Saturday, but ran a 5.01 40 on Sunday, while producing a 7.64 in the three-cone and a 4.65 in the 20-yard shuttle. He also had a 33 inch vertical jump and a 110 inch broad jump.

After pumping 30 reps at 225 pounds on the bench Saturday, Jarrett followed up with a 31 inch vertical, 112 inch broad jump and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.56 seconds. He also ran a 5.06 40.

Defensive back Garry Peters is scheduled to work out for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers on Monday. Punter Bradley Pinion worked out on Friday.

Beasley’s 4.53 40-time was the fastest among all defensive linemen and linebackers on Sunday.