Pair of Oregon Ducks named to NFL.com 'all-Combine' team
The accolades continue to roll in for several Oregon Ducks after they produced standout performances at the NFL Combine.
This week, NFL.com released its 2024 ‘All-Combine Team’ and highlighted which players stood out at each position in Indianapolis.
Oregon running back Bucky Irving and offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson both made the cut on the offensive side of the ball.
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Evan Williams was an honorable mention selection.
Irving earned a 6.17 prospect grade, which indicates that he has the potential to be a ‘good backup with the potential to be a starter.’
Here’s what NFL.com’s Nick Shook had to say about Irving’s showing at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Irving’s testing numbers didn’t pop off the spreadsheet, but the volume of touches he saw in collegiate stops at Minnesota and Oregon certainly showed in his workout. Irving thrived in nearly every drill, showing off his springy and fluid attributes in the bag and Duce Staley drills, and ran every route with precision and pace. He was a natural pass catcher when running routes, sprinted fast enough in the 40 (4.55 seconds) to pass that test, and undoubtedly looked like a football player equipped with the tools to handle the full workload of an NFL running back. In an RB class that lacks top-flight talent (and was missing some notable names in the workout), Irving stood out as a pro-ready back who could surprise some folks.”
Shook believes that the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Chargers would be the best organizational fits for Irving.
Powers-Johnson, who won the Rimington Trophy during his final season with the Ducks, did not participate in every workout or test in Indy. He earned a 6.34 prospect grade, indicating that he ‘will eventually be a plus starter.’
He also produced several viral moments during position drills at the Combine.
Here’s what Shook had to say about Powers-Johnson’s performance.
“This was the toughest decision of the entire week for me. Tanor Bortolini crushed the testing, then went out and aced nearly every positional drill, prompting me to fill my notes with overflowing praise. He was my pick for this spot — until Jackson Powers-Johnson mightily tossed a coach to the ground in the screen drill, confirming my thoughts about the pivot in one motion. Ultimately, this comes down to a comparison of different styles. Bortolini will thrive in schemes that ask him to fill a Jason Kelce-like role, getting out in front on long pulls and working to the second level in zone schemes. Powers-Johnson, meanwhile, fits more of a traditional mold, one of sheer size and power. His college tape suggests he can also work to second level, too, and he was excellent in every drill he completed in on Sunday — he just isn’t quite as fleet of foot as Bortolini. Both will make their future employers very happy, but I’m going with Powers-Johnson here because of his potential to dominate along the interior.
Shook sees the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Commanders as the best potential landing spots for Powers-Johnson.
Williams posted some big numbers in several key tests at the Combine. His 40.5-inch vertical was the second-best among safeties at the Combine. Only Tyler Owens of Texas Tech (41 inches) recorded a better jump.
In the board jump, Williams posted a 10-foot, 6-inch leap — fourth-best among safeties.
