The NFL Scouting Combine has long been a crucial part of the pre-draft process, allowing NFL franchise front offices to get more information on prospects before an NFL Draft.
It’s not always a foolproof tool, though. Plenty of general managers have fallen for hyper-athletic performances at the combine, leading to overdrafting prospects who don’t turn out to be good NFL players. But perhaps more concerningly, now the combine is beginning to lose some credibility.
Utah’s Spencer Fano has arms measured much longer at Pro Day, compared to NFL Scouting Combine
Coming out of this year’s combine, there have been rumblings that the arm length measurements haven’t been entirely accurate for “a number of prospects”. That has now been confirmed by Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano, whose arms measured in at 32 7/8 inches at the school’s Pro Day, a big discrepancy from the combine’s measurement of 32 1/8.
While it may not seem like a massive difference, his combine measurements had analysts penciling Fano in as an offensive guard due to historical data for the OL positions. Now, Fano profiles as an offensive tackle once again. This could see his draft stock rise again, after it dipped following the combine.
The attention will now turn to Rueben Bain Jr., the powerful pass-rusher whose arm length has been a constant talking point for draft scouts and analysts. Bain is expected to be a Top 10 pick despite having historically short arms for his position.
But with the combine’s measurements now in question, it’s fair to wonder if they got Bain’s arm length right. We will find out for sure at the University of Miami’s Pro Day, which is scheduled to take place on March 23.
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