2018 NFL Draft: Five standout performers from Scouting Combine
There’s a very good chance that Penn State Nittany Lions safety Troy Apke will go undrafted in 2018. His production lacks in a number of key areas, and his game film hasn’t yet shown that he’s a consistent enough player to thrive in the NFL.
After the Scouting Combine, however, scouts will be taking a much closer look at what Apke can either do or become in the NFL.
I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked Troy Apke's tape. He doesn't play like a 4.35 athlete, but he has draftable tape. Signed with Penn State as a WR, finally got his chance at safety as a senior.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 5, 2018
Apke blew viewers away by running a 4.34 40-yard dash—easily the fastest time posted by a safety in this draft class. Apke also did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.03 seconds, which was again the No. 1 mark by any participating safety.
He didn’t stop there, as the Penn State standout also produced a 41.0″ vertical jump—just shy of the 41.5″ mark that ranked No. 1.
The concern about Apke is that he’s not much of a playmaker in the secondary. That has some questioning if he can actually put these physical gifts to use, but that’s why his Scouting Combine performance is so important.
Apke was in danger of going undrafted before, but it’s beyond probable that a team will be willing to gamble on his potential in the later rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft now.