Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Scouting Combine: 5 biggest winners in 2018 so far

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: USC running back Ronald Jones II runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: USC running back Ronald Jones II runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
FORT WORTH, TX – DECEMBER 23: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs scores a touchdown against the Army Black Knights in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – DECEMBER 23: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs scores a touchdown against the Army Black Knights in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Running Back Rashaad Penny, San Diego State

The 2018 draft class at running back is expected to be pretty deep, and one of the risers this offseason has been San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny.

Penny had been seen as a third- or fourth-round addition, probably based a lot off his small-school pedigree. Yet he’s risen up draft boards, and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein now has him going in either Rounds 2 or 3.

Not a bad climb.

More from Niner Noise

Things got better at the NFL Scouting Combine, though. Penny, who led all of college football in rushing yards last season (2,248), ran a 4.43 40-yard dash time during his exercise, which puts him at No. 3 among all tailbacks participating.

Initially a 4.47 time, the number since dropped:

Penny had only 13 reps on the bench press, though, so teams may view him more as an elusive-type back.

Still, that speed is enough to warrant strong consideration for the win.