No draft prospect can really know what's coming at the NFL Scouting Combine -- not at an event that, sometimes by design, challenges them with the unexpected.
It's going to be a bit harder for NFL clubs to throw T.J. Watt off his game, however. The former Wisconsin linebacker had quite a resource -- brother J.J., who experienced the combine in 2011 -- to help him prepare.
"He said it's crazy, don't be surprised how much they have you doing and just be yourself. You don't really have free time here and just enjoy the process," Watt said Saturday. "You don't get much sleep. It does get tiring, but you can't get lazy and create an attitude because everyone here is going through the same situation. I bounced ideas off of J.J. for this experience."
He should know.
The older Watt had an outstanding combine six years ago, a springboard event to eventually becoming the No. 11 overall pick of the draft by the Houston Texans. T.J. isn't projected quite that high, but he's in the first-round ballpark. NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks him the No. 34 player in the draft, and Watt has drawn comparisons to the likes of Clay Matthews.
T.J. shouldn't need much in the way of advice where the workouts are concerned; his athleticism will come out on its own. J.J. was more helpful in the aspect of approach.
"The biggest piece of advice I got from J.J. is just to be yourself, don't overthink things. We're being evaluated with everything we do and a lot of guys, and even myself, sometimes kind of drive yourself crazy with everything being so time-demanding and having everything to do all the time," he said. "Just be yourself, relax and you show people who you really are."
Sunday, he'll show them who he is more athletically than personally. Watt and the rest of the linebackers will go through the majority of coming drill work Sunday. He's already performed on the bench press, where he notched 21 reps at 225 pounds. That ranked him tied for 8th place among 22 linebackers who participated.
