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Sports Pulse
The 2025 NFL draft is right around the corner, meaning there are fewer than two months for top prospects to improve their draft stock. The best (and maybe last) opportunity to do so is at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Although some projected first-rounders, like WR/CB Travis Hunter, DE Abdul Carter and RB Ashton Jeanty, opted not to participate in drills at this year’s showcase, hundreds of potential draftees descended upon Lucas Oil Stadium to put on a show. Defensive linemen and linebackers kicked off action on Day 1.
Which players helped or their hurt draft stock? Here are USA TODAY Sports’ winners and losers from Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Combine:
Winners
James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
The Tennessee edge rusher resorted to wearing a hoodie during his 40-yard dash after leaving his T-shirt in his hotel room, but that didn’t slow him down. Pearce’s first attempt at the 40-yard dash clocked in at 4.50 seconds, which marked the fastest time for defensive linemen during the day. The 6-foot-5, 245 pounder bested himself on his second attempt with a time of 4.47 seconds. Pearce entered the 2025 NFL Combine on the first round bubble. The latest mock draft from USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has Pearce going with the final pick of the first round, but his impressive speed surely boosted his draft stock.
Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
Stewart’s Instagram username is @jumpboy.marr for good reason. The 6-foot-5, 281 pound defensive lineman from Texas A&M showcased his athleticism with a 10 feet, 11 inch broad jump that marked the highest of the day. Stewart finished with the second-best vertical jump at 40 inches and the third-best 40-yard dash among edge rushers with 4.59 seconds. Stewart’s spectacular day, however, ended early when he tweaked his hamstring on his first 40-yard dash attempt.
Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
The 6-foot-6, 264 pounder turned in the best vertical jump of the day at 40.5 inches, marking the highest vertical for a defensive lineman weighing 260 pounds or more since Myles Garrett (41′) in 2017. Anytime you are mentioned alongside Garrett is a win. Jackson’s impressive performance didn’t stop there. He ran a 4.68 second 40-yard dash and hit a 10 foot, 9 inch broad jump.
Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA
The latest 40-yard dash of the night goes to Medrano. The 6-foot-3, 222 pounder clocked in at 4.46 seconds, narrowly edging Pearce (4.47 seconds) for the top time. He also turned in a 10 foot, 5 inch broad jump.
Losers
Injuries keep players from taking the field
Nagging injuries kept many top prospects off the field on Thursday. Penn State DE Abdul Carter (projected to go No. 2 overall by USA TODAY Sports) had already opted to sit out drills due to a lingering shoulder injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31, but tests Wednesday showed Carter had “a stress reaction in his right foot” that could require surgery. Carter, who will bypass surgery and instead participate in his pro day at a later date, is not the only injured player. Marshall star DE Mike Green (hamstring tightness), Michigan DT Kenneth Grant (hamstring strain) and Michigan DT Mason Graham (left heel bruise) are among players who didn’t participate in on-field activities Thursday due to injury.
Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia
Ouch. The 6-foot-2, 224 pound linebacker took a hard pass off the face after missing a catch to conclude the shuffle, sprint and change of direction drill. The spiral appeared to hit Mondon in the eye and he walked toward the sideline holding his face afterward. Mondon also missed a catch during the wave drill. Otherwise, he had an impressive showing. He hit a 10 feet, 10 inch broad jump to lead all off-ball linebackers. The broad jump ranked in the 96th percentile for linebackers and 95th percentile for all positions since 1999.
Starbucks-gate
NFL insider Ian Rapoport is known for breaking news around the league, but he became the main topic of conversation at the NFL Combine on Thursday after getting into a verbal spat with FOX and Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz at a Starbucks in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Rich Eisen introduced Rapoport as “the Jake Paul of NFL Network” during the combine broadcast Thursday, jokingly adding, “He’s trending with no punches thrown.” (No blows were exchanged during the spirited exchange between Rapoport and Schultz.) The story didn’t just captivate the football world. Charles Barkley weighed in on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” pregame show on Thursday: “I was at Starbucks today. It’s dangerous in there.”
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE: Biggest topic? An argument at Starbucks between two reporters
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