The first day of the NFL’s Scouting Combine saw the running backs and offensive linemen finishing up the bench press in front of fans as well as being available to the media. While there isn’t enough to form a full opinion on players based on interviews and bench presses, these, combined with the rest of the drills as well as their respective college tapes can start to form a picture of what kind of NFL player these prospects might be. Here are some highlights from players who might be on the Panthers’ radar as they head into this all-important offseason.

 

Kalen Ballage – Arizona State University RB

  • I’m a competitor. If I could carry the ball 80 times a game, I would. That’s just my mentality. At the end of the day, the coaches didn’t feel like that was best.
  • I’m a versatile back, but I’m not a small guy. I’m 6-2, 228 pounds. I feel like I can get down with the best of them, running-wise.
  • [I model my game after] David Johnson. I feel like he’s a bigger back that can catch the ball out of the backfield. Todd Gurley. Le’Veon Bell. All bigger backs that do things that I want to be able to do.

Alex Cappa – Humboldt State University OL

  • Humboldt state was my only offer coming out of high school. It’s cool, it definitely give s you a different perspective and a different appreciation. It’s not something that people really expect coming from a place like that so gives you a chip on your shoulder and really a different perspective on the whole experience.
  • I think teams were just saying you have to do both [guard and tackle]. You really have to be able to play everything, from tackle and guard like I have to even center. You only carry seven or eight offensive linemen, so it’s important to be versatile, and I think that’s what teams are really stressing.
  • [Coming from a smaller school] You have to hold yourself to a higher standard, because you’re not always held to a higher standard; so you have to put it on yourself and put in extra work that maybe isn’t expected of you. It also gives you a chip on your shoulder, too. You had all these schools that didn’t want you coming out, I only had one offer, and now I proved I can play with anybody and it’s good to show that no matter where you’re coming from, it’s what you do with it.

Nick Chubb – University of Georgia RB

Nick Chubb

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

  • Everyone wanted to see my knee, obviously, and they said everything looked good. They pulled on it … everyone said it looked good. Great work by the doctors and good rehab.
  • Coaches I’ve talked to have told me, ‘It doesn’t matter where you get drafted. Where you get, you gotta work hard and work your tail off.’
    A lot of free agents have got a lot of playing time because they work harder than any other guys.

Derrius Guice – Louisiana State University RB

  • Oh, I’m very powerful on the field. One guy rarely tackles me. At LSU, we don’t really pass much, so I can’t really speak on my receiving.
    Just not how we operate our offense. But I’m pretty good at receiving as well, and I’ll show you guys that.
  • We didn’t really pass as much in college, like other running backs do. But as a runner in between the tackles, in my opinion, there’s no one better than me in that area. Point blank. I run hard. I hardly ever get tackled by one person. And I’m very powerful. I get a lot of hidden yardage.
  • [I think I run like] Beastmode. Skittle Man. I see anger, man. I see somebody who refuses to go down. When I run, I really think about him every time. And when I go back and watch him, I’m like, ‘Man, I really run like this dude, man. It’s crazy.’ Growing up, my favorite running back was Reggie Bush. And as I got older and started really studying running backs, I was like, ‘Man, Beastmode reminds me a lot of myself.’ So that’s who I like to watch a lot nowadays.

Will Hernandez – UTEP OL

Will Hernandez

Photo Credit: Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

  •  I think my physical ability has helped me and has picked up the slack in a lot of other areas. My technique, you have to have technique for offensive line. I think once you learn how to use your technique along with your strength, I think that’s really what separates you from the crowd. You can have all the technique in the world, but if you don’t have physical attributes, it can only help you so much. You can have all the strength in the world, but if you don’t know to use it, it’s not really worth anything. So I think both of those coincide with the other.

Rashaad Penny – San Diego State University RB

  •  I think the best way to score a touchdown would be as a returner. Most people, like, view you as a running back, just running powers and all that. When they see you have a set of skills in returning, I think that can go a long way because most teams need help in the special teams category. So when you get your chance on any return, or any touchdown, I think every coach would be happy.
  • [In this 2018 running back class] I definitely feel I’m in the top five. There’s a lot of great running backs in this draft, and I’m glad i was able to be a part of this class because it’s all about going out there and competing, and I think that’s the most important thing that a lot of guys see as well. Us going out there tomorrow and showing off our skill set, and just see where we rank among the best.

Frank Ragnow, University of Arkansas OL

Frank Ragnow

Photo Credit: Denny Medley/USA Today Sports

  •  It’s been good, been exciting. It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be interviewing with a bunch of teams and training at the NFL Combine
    so I’m really trying to soak it in. There’s some long days and a lot of medical stuff that goes with it, but overall it’s been a great experience. I want them to know that my ankle is alright. Personality wise, I want them to know I’m an intelligent football player with a high character. They all looked at the ankle but they all approved it, I guess.
  • Me personally, I feel like I can play all five (spots). Obviously in college I played center and guard, but I have the length and the footwork to be able to play tackle so I think that definitely helps me.

Connor Williams, University of Texas OL

  • Personally, if you asked me, I feel like I’m a tackle, but I’m willing to play anywhere a team needs me.
  • I weighed in at 297 pounds. I played this previous season at 315 pounds, the year before that 305 pounds. I felt better at 305 pounds, so looking
    for the range of 300-305 pounds. I guess I lost a pound or two in travel.
  • [Winning at the point of attack] is what you’re taught day one in the offensive line room. It’s about the punch, it’s about getting your hands inside and at the
    end of the day, you win with your hands.

Isaiah Wynn, University of Georgia OL

Isaiah

Photo Credit: Associated Press

  •  It’s very important. Nowadays, you’re getting more of the quicker guys. They’re not just powerful, they’re also quicker and able to work moves.
    I feel like they’re looking for guards who are more athletic than probably in previous years.
  • [Asked for one word to describe his game] I’ll give you two words. Relentless finisher. I feel like the more hits somebody takes or those little shoves after the play, or I’m taking you away from you chasing down the ball, that’s later going to add up during the game come third, fourth quarter.

Josh Klein on Twitter
Josh Klein
Editor-In-Chief at The Riot Report
Josh Klein is Editor-In-Chief of The Riot Report. His favorite Panther of all time is Chad Cota and he once AIM chatted with Kevin Greene. Follow Josh on Twitter @joshkleinrules.