The 2009 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up Tuesday, and those looking for a big ending were largely disappointed. Much was made of defensive backs holding seven of the 10 fastest 40 times this decade, but this year’s crop was, in a word, slow. Clemson’s Chris Clemons posted the best time among all defensive backs, but his 4.41 clocking wouldn’t have cracked the top five wideouts. Worse, Clemons isn’t even a corner; he’s a safety, and one projected to go on Day Two at that.
Let’s start with the corners. Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins, the top cornerback on most boards, did little to quell talk that he’ll need to move to safety at the pro level. His unofficial 4.53 was slower than expected and may knock him out of the Top 10 despite his body of work with the Buckeyes. Illinois’ Vontae Davis couldn’t match brother Vernon’s 40 time, but at least his 4.49 cracked the top five at his position.
That wasn’t the case for Vanderbilt’s D.J. Moore, who at 5-9 probably needed a time faster than his unofficial 4.54 to ensure a spot in the first round. The same can be said for Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith, whose unofficial 4.50 was a bit faster but, again, might not be enough to offset the widely-held view that 5-9 is too short for a first-round corner.
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