Offensive linemen were the first of the position groups to take the field at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Offensive linemen, running backs and specialists all participated in on-field drills Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. They are part of more than 300 draft-eligible prospects being evaluated by all 32 NFL teams.
Draft prospects partake in a variety of drills that include: 40-yard dash, 225-pound bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill. Some also do the 60-yard shuttle.
The 40-yard dash measures pure straight-line speed and is an opportunity for skill positions such as running backs, wide receivers and cornerbacks to shine the brightest.
Agility drills such as the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drills help gauge linebackers and safeties. The 225-pound bench press and broad jump can help with assessments of offensive and defensive linemen to measure strength and explosiveness.
Utah guard Isaac Asiata came in as the top performer in the bench press when he hit 35 reps. Isaac is a cousin of Vikings running back Matt Asiata, and at the Senior Bowl in January, he told Vikings.com that Matt's journey to the NFL **has been an inspiration to him**.
Another Vikings connection in the offensive line class is Conor McDermott, the **younger brother of Vikings long snapper** Kevin McDermott. Conor placed in the top five of the 3-cone drill (7.52 seconds) and of the 20-yard shuttle (4.58 seconds).
TCU offensive tackle Aviante Collins impressed during his on-field drills. Collins ran a 4.81 in the 40, easily beating last year's best offensive line time of 4.94. Speed is in Collins' DNA; his father, Bill, is in the TCU Lettermen's Hall of Fame as a legendary sprinter for the Horned Frogs.
Collins also came in just behind Asiata with 34 reps in the bench press.
Western Kentucky guard Forrest Lamp, who's been spoken highly of by experts, performed in the top five in each of his events. He tied for second place with 34 reps in the bench press and tied for third place in the broad jump with a distance of 9 feet, 3 inches. Lamp tied for fourth in the 3-cone shuttle run with a time of 7.55 seconds and came in fifth-fastest in the 40, clocking in at 4.99 seconds.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman has said a focus of this offseason is to strengthen the offensive line, whether that plays out **through free agency moves or the draft**. While a number of experts have said the class of tackles isn't particularly strong in this year's draft, there are some intriguing guards in the group.
Here were the top performers for offensive linemen at the combine:
40-yard dash
Combine position record: Terron Armstead (T), Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 4.71 seconds in 2013
- Aviante Collins, T, TCU, 4.81 seconds
- Danny Isidora, G, Miami, 4.91
- Garett Bolles, T, Utah, 4.95
- Jessamen Dunker, G, Tennessee State, 4.98
- Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky, 4.99
Bench press (225 pounds)
Combine position record: Mitch Petrus, Arkansas, 45 reps in 2013
- Isaac Asiata, G, Utah, 35 reps
- Aviante Collins, T, TCU, 34
(tied) Jermaine Eluemunor, OL, Texas A&M, 34
(tied) Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky, 34
- Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State, 28
- J.J. Dielman, C, Utah, 27
- Ethan Cooper, OL, Indiana (PA), 26
(tied) Dion Dawkins, G, Temple, 26
(tied) Dan Feeney, G, Indiana, 26
(tied) Sean Harlow, G, Oregon State, 26
(tied) Danny Isidora, G, Miami, 26
(tied) Corey Levin, OL, Tennessee-Chattanooga, 26
(tied) Ethan Pocic, C, LSU, 26
View images from the first day of player workouts Friday at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
Broad jump
Combine position record: Lane Johnson (T), Oklahoma, 9 feet, 10 inches in 2013
- Garett Bolles, T, Indiana, 9 feet, 7 inches
- Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh, 9-6
- Will Holden, T, Vanderbilt, 9-3
(tied) Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky, 9-3
- Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State, 9-2
- Taylor Moton, G, Western Michigan, 9-1
Vertical jump
Combine position record: Travis Bright (OL), BYU, 35.5 in 2009
1. Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State, 32 inches
2. Antonio Garcia, T, Troy, 31
3. Sean Harlow, G, Oregon State, 30.5
(tied) Taylor Moton, G, Western Michigan, 30.5
4. Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh, 30
5. Adam Bisnowaty, T, Pittsburgh, 29.5
3-cone drill
Combine position record: Lydon Murtha (T), Nebraska, 7.06 seconds in 2009
- Garett Bolles, T, Utah, 7.29 seconds
- Dion Dawkins, G, Temple, 7.30
- Dan Feeney, G, Indiana, 7.52
(tied) Conor McDermott, G, UCLA, 7.52
- Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky, 7.55
(tied) Corey Levin, OL, Tennessee-Chattanooga, 7.55
- Julién Davenport, T, Bucknell, 7.57
20-yard shuttle
Combine position record: Jason Kelce (OL), Cincinnati, 4.14 seconds in 2011
- Chase Roullier, C, Wyoming, 4.47 seconds
- Garett Bolles, T, Utah, 4.55
- Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State, 4.56
- Conor McDermott, T, UCLA, 4.58
(tied) Taylor Moton, G, Western Michigan, 4.58
- Sam Tevi, T, Utah, 4.60
