Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Four former Arkansas Razorbacks and two former Arkansas State Red Wolves went through the rigors of speed, quickness, strength and jumping drills at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in the past four days, and former ASU linebacker Demario Davis has to feel good about his showing.

Davis was rate a "top performer" among linebackers in four of the seven skills tested: best in 40-yard dash (4.61 Oseconds), vertical jump (38.5 inches), broad jump (124 inches) and 60-yard shuttle (11.65 seconds). Davis' grade among NFL scouts was 51.2, which places him among draftable players, but not a first-day pick. Certainly some of the numbers Davis put up in the Combine may have the scouts rethinking some of Davis' value leading up to the NFL Draft in April.

Defensive end Jake Bequette and Arkansas' trio of senior receivers — Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs — all were combine invitees and didn't do anything to hurt their standing, it seems. Bequette, in fact, was a "top performer" among defensive line players in his group in two categories: the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuffle, both of which highlight quickness.

Hog wide receiver Jarius Wright ran a 20-yard shuttle time a among wideouts in 4.03 seconds that put him among the top performers.

ASU's Kelcie McCray had the best time among the cornerbacks tested in the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds.

Every player's performance is tracked at the NFL Combine's website.

One interesting note in scanning the scouting notes on Greg Childs, who overcame a torn patella tendon in 2010 to play in 2011, although his season was less than stellar compared to his first three years. Apparently, somebody believes Childs played for Alabama in the national championship game against LSU. To wit:

"Childs' career at Arkansas lacked consistency but showed enough that he should be considered worthy of a late-round pick to a team who can hope to tap into and develop the talent and ability he showed early on his career. Fortunately for Childs, he showed up as an effective playmaker in the last game of his career, the BCS National Championship Game, which could show teams he is capable of being the player he was early on at Arkansas. The single most influential play of Childs' college career was when he suffering a torn patella tendon injury during the 2010 season, which left him obviously uncomfortable when running routes throughout 2011. If Childs can convince teams he is the playmaker they saw in the final game of his career, he could continue to rise."

Here are the Combine results from the Arkansas and Arkansas State participants, including their measured height and weight and the assigned scouting grade:

Joe Adams, Arkansas
Wide Out
5-11, 179
40-Yard Dash: 4.55
Bench Press: DNP
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 123.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.09
20-Yard Shuttle: DNP
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Grade 82.5

What the Scouts say about Joe Adams: "Adams will look to contribute in many facets at the next level and should expect to be picked somewhere in the second round."

Jake Bequette
Defensive Line
6-5, 274
40-Yard Dash: 4.82 seconds
Bench Press: DNP
Vertical Jump: 34.0 inches
Broad Jump: 113.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.90 seconds*
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07 seconds*
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Grade: 53.7