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NFL Combine, winners and losers from Day 1: Henry Ruggs stars, Jake Fromm struggles

By Cody Williams

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III of Alabama runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III of Alabama runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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NFL Combine (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
NFL Combine (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Winner: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

Beyond just the NFL Network broadcast gassing up Jalen Hurts, the Oklahoma quarterback showed everything he needed to for teams to really consider him as a Day 2 prospect that could come in and develop into a starter.

Hurts confirmed he’s indeed a fantastic athlete at the position with a 4.59-second time in the 40 while also jumping 35 inches in the vertical. Moreover, his footwork and arm looked crisp in drills and the quarterback checked all the boxes he needed to on Thursday.

Loser: Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt

Everyone is waiting for someone in the 2020 NFL Draft class of tight ends to separate themselves and Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkney seemed as good of a candidate as anyone to emerge. Instead, he might be falling farther back into the shuffle after his Combine testing. Pinkney ran an incredibly slow 4.96-second 40 and didn’t look good doing it, which continued in the drills where he was nothing more than fine. It was a night to forget for Pinkney that could hurt his draft stock.

Winner: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

Donovan Peoples-Jones had started to gain a little bit more buzz and traction heading into the Combine after an inauspicious college career — thanks, Jim Harbaugh — and that’s only going to continue after he leaves Indianapolis.

After a pedestrian first attempt at the 40-yard dash, he ran a solid 4.48-second time at 6-2, 212 pounds and destroyed the agilities. Peoples-Jones led wide receivers with an 11-foot-7 broad jump and an unreal 44.5-inch vertical. The young man has all the talent and we’re seeing it after a performance like that.

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Winner: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri

There are still plenty of concerns about Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam when you look at his tape as his route-running, consistency and football IQ are all in question. However, with a blazing 4.49-second 40 and an overall great workout, he could start to climb boards a bit. With 23 touchdowns in college and that type of testing, he did himself a ton of favors on Thursday at the NFL Combine.

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