One of the more over-looked big losers at the N.F.L. combine is Miami Hurricanes linebacker Sean Spence. The Book on Spence is a guy who is a terrific athlete, but undersized. A guy who can really run and cover for a N.F.l. team at the next level and entered the combine as a second round type prospect.
But Spence tested out terribly at the combine. First in the bench press Spence only put up 12 repetitions at 225 pounds, which is not good for a linebacker. He measured in at a 5’11 and 231 pounds, which is smaller for a linebacker. Then at the forty yard dash Spence ran a 4.71 forty yard dash and didn’t finish as a top performer in any of the individual drills for linebackers.
This is NFL.com’s scouting report for Sean Spence:
Spence’s athleticism shows in all what he does. He can quickly diagnose a play and use his explosive hips to meet running backs and deliver the blow. He has fluid hips in coverage and uses his arm strength to shed blockers when he gets engulfed by bigger players. He is an experienced starter at a high level, and this should allow him to play fast and instinctually from early on at the next level. He has natural athletic ability to fit in a 4-3 scheme where he is playing freely and flowing to the ball. He is an active player and almost always involved on run plays.
An undersized linebacker running slower than many of the Tight Ends at the combine is not good at all for his stock. If he doesn’t have an exceptional Pro-Day he could see his stock tumble into day three.
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