2017 NFL Combine: 10 Players to watch from Big Ten

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:24 p.m. ET

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According to The Sporting News, there are 15 quarterbacks, more than 30 running backs, 50 plus receivers, at least 20 tight ends and over 100 linemen participating in the 2017 NFL Draft Combine.

That's not even taking into consideration the more than 200 players on the defensive side of the ball and the "specialists" attending the combine.

Trying to wrap your head around that many football players is enough to make the brain spin of any football fan.

What's the best way to know which players to track? Here's a list of 10 players from the Big Ten you should keep an eye on and track at the 2017 NFL Draft Combine.

It's a collection of players who could be drafted in the first round, players coming off of injuries and freak athletes who could see their draft stock soar after a strong showing at the combine.

Oct 3, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive end Dawuane Smoot (91) sacks Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini won 14 – 13. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

10. Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois

There's a bunch of great information on Dawuane Smoot in his NFL.com Draft Combine Profile.

Besides learning that he participated in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics – a great example of his freak athleticism – there's also this great quote from an NFC regional scout.

"He had a better year (in 2015). I think you have to take last year's tape into account when you study him. He was lighter this year, which took some of his power away, I thought. He was coached by Lovie (Smith) and that will give him a head-start."

So, to summarize, Smoot is a freak athlete who has been coached by former NFL coach and defensive guru Lovie Smith? Those are two things that will make scouts drool over Smoot.

Even though Smith isn't loved as a college coach, he has a wealth of experience after playing in the NFL and coaching in the league for nearly two decades. You can be assured that Smith has prepped Smoot over the past season on how to be a great pro in the NFL.

There's a whole lot to like about Smooth, but it's up to him to prove he can be a standout NFL player as he didn't always do that in college. Standing out at the NFL Combine is the first step for Smoot to start showing he's worthy of being a high draft pick.

9. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan

Jake Butt is a player who saw his stock soar under Jim Harbaugh, only to see that stock take a bit of a hit when he injured his ACL during the Orange Bowl. The injury might have cost him the chance to be a high draft pick and the combine won't be the first chance for scouts to see how Butt has recovered. It will give scouts a glimpse into how Butt's recovery is coming along, but it's questionable if Butt will be healthy by the time training camps get rolling.

It has to be put into consideration that Butt injured his ACL less than three months ago, so even though Butt is listed as a participant, he won't be going through many – if any – of drills at the combine. I'm assuming he'll just be at the combine to interview with NFL teams and possibly meet with team doctors for NFL teams to see how his knee has progressed after surgery.

His resume speaks for itself, though. Butt is coming off back-to-back second-team Associated Press All-American seasons.

According to the AFC's director of scouting, despite the injury, Butt is poised to have a long and solid NFL career.

"He's going to be a good pro. Everyone wants Kelce, Olsen or Gronk but those are elite players. Butt is dependable and will make first downs. They all get better as blockers once they get up here."

As things stand now, Butt looks to be a late round draft choice. However, if meeting with team doctors go well he could see his stock bounce back up.

Keep an eye on reports coming out of the combine as to how Butt does while meeting with medical teams and during interviews with NFL teams. I know this isn't nearly as interesting as watching players work out and do drills, but it's important to where how Butt will be drafted as he's poised to be a steal for any NFL team that gets him late in the draft.

8. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin

Confession: Last season I watched Corey Clement rip apart Purdue for 112 yards rushing on 27 carries. After the game, I was part of a media scrum that got to talk with Clement and I walked away impressed with him as a young man that had a great work ethic, elite physical tools and a player who was a tremendous teammate.

The challenge for Clement at the NFL Combine will be convincing NFL teams of the same thing.

That game wasn't even Clement's best of the season as he went off for 164 yards against Ohio State early in the season and 164 yards against Penn State late in the season. So it's not like Clement just gashed a weak Purdue defense.

According to his bio on Wisconsin's player profile for him, Clement was named First-team All-Big Ten (coaches), second-team All-Big Ten (media). Heady accomplishments that will be sure to catch the attention of scouts of NFL front office personnel.

Clement was pegged as the heir apparent to Melvin Gordon, but a sports hernia limited him to four games his junior season.Some scouts are still worried about that as shown by this quote from an NFC North scout:

"He checked out mentally on the entire 2015 season and wasn't very well liked inside that program. Then you add durability concerns and that's a problem."

While the injury and his junior season, in general, combined to make that season a frustrating setback, Clement bounced back in a big way his senior season for WHAT yards rushing. Dealing with being the big man on campus after Melvin Gordon left took some time, but last season showed that Clement figured things out.

Performing well on the field and in interviews will be huge for Clement's draft stock.

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) in action during the game against the Western Michigan Broncos in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

7. T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconson

Don't be tempted to compare T.J. Watt with his older brother, J.J. Watt. The youngest Watt, T.J., struggled to find his way onto the field for Wisconsin and had to redshirt as a freshman, and then he lost the following season due to a knee injury.

T.J. then injured his left knee during spring practice in 2015 and required surgery.

When Watt finally returned to the field, he did so as a linebacker, instead of as a tight end. The move worked out well as he won a starting job earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors.

T.J. finished last season – his first college season – with 63 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks. Not bad for a player with limited college football experience and newly converted to the defensive side of the ball.

His athleticism will be on full display during drills at the NFL Combine, but where Watt will leave his mark or see his stock fall is how he does in interviews with teams and scouts. It will be interesting to see how T.J. Watt does at reading NFL offenses when shown game tapes.

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

6. Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State

Is it fair to say that Curtis Samuel underperformed last season? I'm going to sound like I'm being overly critical, but Samuel didn't perform as an elite receiver or back last season. His rushing total (771 yards and averaged 7.1 yards each time he ran the ball) is averaged and his receiving totals (865 yards receiving and averaged 11.7 yards per catch) are average, too.

Despite his elite speed, he's still only 5-foot-11 and 197 pounds so it's tough to see how he'll project in the NFL. The fact he averaged 7.1 yards each time he ran the ball is impressive, but due to his size and weight, there's no way he can endure the pounding an NFL running back endures during the course of a season, let alone a game.

His height also limits what kind of ways NFL teams can use him as a receiver, too. He'll likely grade out to being a slot receiver, so his 40-yard times will impact where he gets drafted.

An East regional scout for an AFC team has concerns about how NFL teams can use Samuel.

"It's kind of like with Jalin Marshall last year. How do you use him? He's not a running back and his routes and hands really aren't that good. Marshall went undrafted. Samuel is a better athlete but they are about the same size and give you the same concerns with how to use them."

Would an NFL team burn a high draft pick on a special teams player or a player who they'll have trouble giving a consistent role in their offensive sets? That's debatable.

It will be up to Samuel to dazzle teams during his workouts at the combine if he has any chance of being a high draft pick.

5. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

Mark Dantonio isn't the only person in East Lansing that had a tough season.

Malik McDowell went into his junior season with a ton of buzz surrounding him, only to see his chances of being a first-round pick take a big hit. An ankle injury last season limited what he did on the field as he finished with seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

McDowell left high school as a consensus top-fifty player in the country. Despite his family urging him to leave Detroit, McDowell elected to stay close to him and sign with Michigan State. Things didn't go well for McDowell in East Lansing as he saw limited time as a freshman,

According to an NFC North area scout, the term "lazy" has been pegged on McDowell which is something that will hurt his draft stock.

"He has a chance to be a dominant player in our league. I mean dominant. It hasn't turned on for him all the way yet but if it does, he could be like Mario Williams. He's just a little lazy and I worry about whether he is going to be a self-starter."

McDowell needs to show up at the combine with a huge chip on his shoulder and with the attitude that he has something to prove. He has to forget that he got a lot of buzz as a high school player and realize that people are now starting to look at his pro prospects a lot more critically than when he arrived in East Lansing.

Showing up to the combine with a chip on his shoulder and a great work ethic will do wonders for his draft stock.

Nov 19, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Zander Diamont (12) is sacked by Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Jabrill Peppers, LB, Michigan

Something I've admired for the past two seasons is the heart and intensity Jabrill Peppers plays with every time he steps onto the field. Doing some prep for this article, I learned that his passion and energy on the football field is fueled by the fact his father was in jail for most of his childhood and his brother was shot and killed when he was in high school.

The culmination of those two events have helped football become Peppers' place to get rid of his anger and hurt and he channeled it into a Heisman-worth campaign last season.

Peppers was also named the 2013 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year, he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award in 2015 and last season he was the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year.

Peppers' NFL Draft Combine page had this to say about his strengths:

Athletic and fluid in space with desired change of direction talent. Moves with the changing flow of a play. Willing to sacrifice body to honor contain against run. Jack of all trades. Can play slot, safety or linebacker in sub-packages in any given game. Won't hesitate to race downhill once he diagnoses run. Hits with as much force as he can muster. Has big closing burst. Runs plays down from sideline to sideline. Able to knife into gaps and make tackles for losses or disrupt runs. Has man cover talent and is physical enough to handle most tight ends. Has enough quickness to match receivers. Aggressively re-routes receivers. Capable blitzer who buzzes in from all angles. Electric return man with ability to charge up crowd and his own sideline with big kick or punt return. Has experience carrying and catching the ball and as wildcat quarterback. Could offer red-zone flexibility on offense.

While a lot of mock drafts have him as being a fringe first round pick, he seems like a natural fit on a team like the New England Patriots who can use his heart, athleticism, and high football IQ.

Look for Peppers to wow teams with his athleticism during drills and to secure himself as a first round pick.

3. Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

While Taco Charlton's teammate, Jabrill Peppers, stole most of the headlines last season, it's Charlton who looks to be a higher draft pick. He's 6-foot-6 and 272 pounds with elite athleticism, so it's Charlton that looks to be a high first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

One thing that might scare NFL teams is that Charlton wasn't able to earn significant playing until his senior season. While Charlton had a monster senior season that saw him named first-team All-Big Ten honors after leading Michigan with 9.5 sacks among his 13 tackles for loss, the fact he struggled to see the field his first three seasons may cause some NFL teams to question how he'll adapt at the next level.

According to Lance Zierlien on Charlton's NFL Draft Combine profile, the talented DE has to prove that he can be more consistent.

"Inconsistent" has been the buzzword that has followed Charlton since coming to Michigan, but he began the process of shaking it during his senior season. Charlton is an ascending prospect with the size, length, athleticism and pass-rushing potential that NFL general managers dream of. What you see today might not be what you get. While his production coming out of college will be modest, he could become a substantially better player as a pro if he's committed to the weight room and willing to absorb coaching. High-impact defensive end with all-pro potential is his ceiling. His floor is solid starter.

The question is if NFL teams want to invest a first round pick on a "solid" starter or if they want to roll the dice on a player with star potential.

Sep 17, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) dives for but cannot make an interception past Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver A.D. Miller (13) during the second half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

2. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Marshon Lattimore is widely considered to be a first-round lock, so the reason to watch him at the draft combine is to see how he fares during workouts and drills.

Lattimore had surgery on his hamstrings his freshman season and was limited to seven games as a sophomore due to hamstring injuries. Last season he made a lot of big plays – four picks and nine pass break-ups – and looked like an elite corner. The question for NFL teams is if they want to use a first round pick on a player with big injury concerns.

Performing well at the draft combine will help to squash some of those concerns.

Despite my concerns over Lattimore's injury history, it appears that most NFL teams aren't nearly as worried. A pro personnel director for AFC team raved about Lattimore for his Draft Combine profile.

"I've studied the top cornerbacks coming out and he's the best I've seen. He's so athletic that he can just post up under the receiver's chin and shadow him all over the field. And he's tough, too. He'll be one of the top cornerbacks pretty quickly."

It will be interesting to see what Lattimore's 40-yard time at the combine is and how he does in coverage drills.

Also, if I'm an NFL team looking at drafting Lattimore, I'm having my medical staff going over his medical history closely and having the medical team look at those hamstrings closely.

1. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Malik Hooker can play for my team any day. Football or basketball team.

Hooker had some scholarship offers to play Division I basketball after he led New Castle High to a state title as a senior. Despite only playing two seasons of high school football, Hooker was an all-state pick as a defensive back.

Something that helped Hooker's development is he redshirted in 2013 to get acclimated to college football. He was a reserve in 2015 and then was named first-team All-American and All-Big Ten accolades last season. Hooked made 74 tackles (5.5 for loss) and picked off seven passes (tied for second nationally).

According to his Draft Combine page, Hooker is still raw, but he has great football instincts.

Outstanding instincts help him work ahead of the play despite average speed. Always probing quarterback's eyes for clues. Quick to process and is decisive in action. Flows hard to where his instincts lead him. Has fluid movement of a basketball player in space. Leans and bends into his turns for greater body control. Always active and in constant on-field search for optimal positioning. Hyper-aware of incoming targets to his area. Just as comfortable from "robber" spot as high safety. Mirrors quarterback?s eyes to challenge the passing lane. Very rarely takes a false step. Has loose hips for sudden stop-start to cover in space. Great ball skills. Earned most of his seven interceptions in 2016. Can range over the top to challenge the deep ball. Chooses path to the football over path to the man. Strong hands at the catch point lead to takeaways. Can disguise coverage and hustle back into position. Will strike receivers with some force to jar throws loose.

According to a Personnel director for AFC team, Hooker will likely have a rough rookie season, but by this third NFL season, he'll likely be a star.

"Hook(er) is still so raw and you see him making all of those plays. He's a player who will come in and look bad his first year and then be an all-pro by his third year. I think that's his arc. No short-cut for experience."

Don't be surprised if Hooker underperforms or looks lost at the combine – and even during his rookie season – only to regroup and turn out to be a star in the NFL.