INDIANAPOLIS -- We've already discussed some of the tough questions top prospects will be asked during interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, but what impact could on-field results at the combine have on some of this year's top talents?
Here's a look at five prospects and how their performance in a certain drill, or drills, could help or hurt their stock this weekend in Indianapolis.
Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Combine workout day: Sunday
Drill: Any that show power and short-area quickness
The skinny: Brown is ascending on colleague Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 list, and colleague Mike Mayock had high praise for Brown earlier this week. I was very impressed with Brown's 2014 season and have watched him play live a couple of times. He can cement his status as a riser at the combine with good showings in the 10-yard split in his 40-yard dash and in the broad jump, among other drills. With Brown, Danny Shelton, Eddie Goldman and Jordan Phillips among the top interior defensive linemen -- other than Leonard Williams -- in this year's draft, Brown can distinguish himself from the pack by showing he can get up the field the quickest. Teams will want to see his upper-body strength (bench press) and lower-body power and explosiveness (broad jump).
Randy Gregory, EDGE, Nebraska
Combine workout day: Sunday
Drill: Vertical
The skinny: Gregory is looking to emerge as the consensus top edge player in this year's draft, and he has some tough competition in Dante Fowler, Jr., and Shane Ray. He can help himself in that effort by showing off the leg drive that a lot of great pass rushers possess, but he'll hurt himself if he doesn't show that explosiveness and twitch that teams are looking for. Ryan Shazier had the top vertical last season with 42 inches, which is off the charts. If Gregory can hit the mid-to-high 30s, he'll be showing that athleticism that has made him one of the top-rated players available this year.
Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Combine workout day: Saturday
Drill: Throwing
The skinny: We know Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the consensus top two quarterbacks in this draft, but who's No. 3? Hundley is the pick for some people, but he can cement his status by showing off his arm and athleticism at the combine. The dynamic in throwing drills will be a little different this year, with the top quarterbacks announcing they intend to throw in Indianapolis. Quarterbacks can open eyes with how they perform in throwing drills at the combine. Hundley passed on a chance to compete in the Senior Bowl -- and I'm not knocking him for that decision -- so this will be his first chance to make an impression on teams this draft season and show that it should be him, not Bryce Petty, Garrett Grayson or anyone else, that should be the third QB off the board. Hundley certainly looks the part, and teams will want to see just how live his arm can be.
Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Combine workout day: Sunday
Drill: Agility/3-cone/shuttle
The skinny: McKinney is moving down on colleague Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 list, and he could go a long way toward helping his stock by showing well when his movement skills are put to the test. He's competing against the likes of Miami's Denzel Perryman and TCU's Paul Dawson to be the top inside 'backer off the board, and teams want to know if McKinney, the biggest of the three at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds, can play all three downs at the next level. Any drill that shows his fluidity, change of direction and speed will be huge for him.
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Combine workout day: Saturday
Drill: 40-yard dash
The skinny: I'm in agreement with those that rate White as the draft's top wide receiver, but I think people are still wondering about White's straight-line speed. If he runs faster than 4.5 in the 40, that would be a huge deal for him. It would distinguish him from the other top guys at his position and could be a tiebreaker in his favor for those still on the fence about who's No. 1.
Follow Charles Davis on Twitter *@CFD22.*
