Testing at the NFL Combine began Thursday in Indianapolis, with all eyes on the defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers as they underwent on-field workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
While Oklahoma has 10 players present in Indianapolis this week, not every player has chosen to participate in every testing drill. For Oklahoma, that meant an opportunity for Gracen Halton, R Mason Thomas, Owen Heinecke and Marvin Jones Jr. to put their skills on display for NFL personnel.
So, how did that foursome fare on the first day of on-field testing?
Let's start with Halton, who stole the show in many ways during Thursday's drills. The 6-foot-3, 293-pound defensive tackle was one of the top performers among interior defensive linemen during the day's testing.
Halton ran a laser-timed 4.82-second 40-yard dash, which included a 10-yard split of 1.7 seconds. His 40 time was third among all defensive tackles, behind only Penn State's Zane Durant (4.75) and Southeastern Louisiana's Kaleb Proctor (4.79). Halton's 10-yard split was fifth among defensive tackles.
It was a solid time for Halton, who further put his explosiveness on display in the vertical and broad jumps. He posted a 36.5-inch vertical, which was tops among all defensive tackles, and registered a 9-foot, 6-inch broad jump that was tied with Florida's Caleb Banks for second among the position group; only Texas A&M's Albert Regis (9-8) had a better broad jump at the position. In the 20-yard shuttle, Halton posted a time of 4.79 seconds, which was fourth among defensive tackles at the NFL Combine.
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Halton's performance Thursday is sure to boost his stock for April's NFL Draft, potentially putting him into the Day 2 range (second or third round).
As Halton raised his stock at Lucas Oil Stadium, Heinecke also impressed with his showing during Thursday's drills. The former walk-on linebacker who emerged as an All-SEC defender last season, Heinecke is gearing up for the draft after the NCAA denied his appeal for a sixth year of eligibility—and the 6-foot-2, 227-pounder is making the most of his opportunity in front of NFL personnel.
Heinecke didn't blow anyone away with his 40 time, registering a 4.62 (with a 10-yard split of 1.62 seconds) that was 11thamong the group of linebackers Thursday, but he continued to turn some heads with his overall athleticism, fluidity and reaction time in drills. He finished the day with a 34.5-inch vertical, a 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump and a time of 7.15 seconds in the three-cone drill.
As for OU's tandem of defensive ends, Thomas and Jones? Thomas ran a 4.67 in the 40, with Jones just behind him at 4.69. They had respective 10-yard splits of 1.63 and 1.65 seconds. Neither one performed in the vertical or broad jump, the three-cone drill or the 20-yard shuttle.
Oklahoma's other two front-seven representatives, defensive tackle Damonic Williams and linebacker Kendal Daniels, did not participate in testing but performed in positional on-field drills Thursday.
On Friday, the defensive linemen and linebackers will hit the bench press for official numbers, while defensive backs and tight ends — including safety Robert Spears-Jennings and tight end Jaren Kanak — will take to the field for testing and drills.