Prospects to watch at combine: | | | | | The NFL runs Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis, and it brings together 323 of the nation's most draftable players and numerous front-office representatives and scouts from each NFL team. A big portion of the combine is the individual events, such as the 40-yard dash, the bench pre s and the vertical jump. This is Part 5 of our position-by-position look at the combine, on defensive linemen. We look at six prospects who will be scrutinized this year and also look at noteworthy event performances in the past five combines (some of the players listed at end for the combine became outside linebackers, just as Adam Fox Jersey some players listed as ends this season will move to outside linebacker in the NFL). We'll also look at how notable current players performed at their combine events. Six to watch DL , Oregon: His size (6-foot-8, 290 pounds) and physical tools make you drool. But he wasn't dominant at Oregon and didn't really play up to the hype until this season; he then left school a year early. His athleticism has been touted, so his combine performance will be worth watching. He played defensive end in the Ducks' 3-4, and that looks to be his best scheme fit. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has in the draft. DT , Iowa: Iowa generally wants its defensive tackles to take on blocks, which in turn frees up the linebackers to make plays. Thus, Davis' tackle stats aren't all that impre sive. But Davis (6-5, 315) did impre s at the , when he basically was turned loose and showed an ability to get upfield. A strong combine would increase his chances of going late in the first round; Zierlein already has Davis' size is impre sive, and he will be looking to show off his athleticism in the drills. Iowa OT is seen as a first-round lock; Iowa hasn't had two first-rounders in the same draft since 1997, with DB Tom Knight and G Ro s Verba. DE , Florida: Fowler (6-3, 260) should test extremely well at the combine. He was used in a variety of roles by Florida coaches and lined up in different spots, and his versatility is a positive. His best fit in the NFL might be as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he did do a nice job against the run while an end at Florida. NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein believes Fowler "has a ceiling with double-digit sack potential." His combine numbers should feed right into that thought proce s. DT , Florida State: Goldman is a large man (6-4, 314) who moves well, and he definitely will get first-round consideration because of his strong work against the run. Strong combine numbers obviously will strengthen his case to be a first-rounder -- and potentially be the second pure tackle taken, behind only Washington's . Goldman's pa s-rush skills basically come down to a bull rush and Zierlein says Goldman's "lack of pa s-rushing prowe s could limit just how high he rises on draft boards." Showing off his athleticism at the combine is a must for Goldman. NT , Oklahoma: Phillips (6-6, 334) had two seasons of eligibility remaining at OU when he decided to turn pro; at the same time, he already had been at Oklahoma for four years. While he was a fulltime starter this season, he redshirted as a true freshman in 2011, was a backup in '12 and played in just four games in 2013 before receiving a medical redshirt for a back injury that eventually required surgery. His medical charts will receive a thorough going-over from teams looking to add a big body in the middle. And Phillips is huge. It also will be interesting to see how Phillips fares in the drills. Zierlein notes that Phillips is "athletic with nimble feet and (the) pursuit speed of a man much lighter." Zierlein and fellow analyst Bucky Brooks in their first mock drafts of the year, and a strong combine performance certainly would not hurt. DL , USC: More than a few folks think he is the draft's No. 1 prospect; Williams (6-5, 300) played tackle and end at USC, and depending upon who drafts him, he could play either spot in the NFL. He is a big-time athlete for a guy who is 300 pounds, and he should show off that athleticism at the combine. He is dealing with some shoulder i sues and has said he of the combine. Combine bests over past five years 40-YARD DASH 1. DE , Nevada Time: 4.44 in 2011 Draft status: 3rd round, 2. DE , West Virginia Time: 4.50 in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (15th overall), 3. DE , South Carolina Time: 4.53 in 2014 Draft status: 1st round (1st overall), 4. DE , Connecticut Time: 4.57 in 2013 Draft status: 4th round, 5t. DE , Bloomsburg (Pa.) Time: 4.58 in 2014 Draft status: 4th round, 5t. DE , LSU Time: 4.58 in 2013 Draft status: 1st round (6th overall), Notable players DL , Mi si sippi State: 4.79 seconds in 2012 DT , Pittsburgh: 4.68 seconds in 2014 DE Jevon Kearse, Florida: 4.58 seconds in 1999 DE , North Carolina State: 4.43 seconds in 2006 DE , Wisconsin: 4.84 seconds in 2011 20-YARD SHUTTLE 1. DE , West Virginia Time: 4.03 seconds in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (15th overall), 2. DE , Arkansas Time: 4.07 seconds in 2012 Draft status: 3rd round, 3. DE , Iowa Time: 4.13 seconds in 2011 Draft status: 1st round (20th overall), 4. DE , TCU Time: 4.15 seconds in 2010 Draft status: 1st round (31st overall), 5. DE , Stillman Time: 4.16 seconds in 2010 Draft status: Undrafted Notable players DE Ziggy Ansah, BYU: 4.26 seconds in 2013 DE , South Carolina: 4.43 seconds in 2014 DT , Pitt: 4.39 seconds in 2014 DT , Nebraska: 4.44 seconds in 2010 DE , Wisconsin: 4.21 seconds in 2011 VERTICAL JUMP 1. DE , Nevada Jump: 42 inches in 2011 Draft status: 3rd round, 2. DE , Shepherd (W.Va.) Jump: 40.5 inches in 2014 Draft status: Undrafted 3. DE , USC Jump: 38.5 inches in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (28th overall), 4t. DE , Connecticut Jump: 38 inches in 2013 Draft status: 4th round, 4t. DE Greg Middleton, Indiana Jump: 38 inches in 2010 Draft status: Undrafted 4t. DE , Utah Jump: 38 inches in 2010 Draft status: 2nd round, 4t. DE , Virginia Tech Jump: 38 inches in 2010 Draft status: 2nd round, 4t. DE , North Carolina State Jump: 38 inches in 2010 Draft status: 7th round, Notable players DE , Cincinnati: 40.5 inches in 2009 DE , South Carolina: 37.5 inches in 2014 DT , Oklahoma: 30.5 inches in 2010 DT , Nebraska: 35.5 inches in 2010 DE , Wisconsin: 37 inches in 2011 BENCH PRESS 1. DT , Oregon State Numbers: 49 reps in 2011 Draft status: 2nd round, 2t. DT Jeff Owens, Georgia Numbers: 44 reps in 2010 Draft status: 7th round, 2t. DT , Memphis Numbers: 44 reps in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (11th overall), 4. DT , East Carolina Numbers: 39 reps in 2010 Draft status: 2nd round, 5t. DT , North Carolina Numbers: 38 reps in 2011 Draft status: 2nd round, 5t. DE , SMU Numbers: 38 reps in 2013 Draft status: 2nd round, 5t. DT , Mi souri Southern Numbers: 38 reps in 2013 Draft status: 3rd round, Notable players DT , Georgia: 34 reps in 2010 DT , Oklahoma: 23 reps in 2010 DT , Oregon: 37 reps in 2006 DT , Nebraska: 32 reps in 2010 DT , Miami: 36 reps in 2004 3-CONE DRILL 1. DE , Texas Time: 6.69 seconds in 2011 Draft status: 4th round, 2. DE , West Virginia Time: 6.70 seconds in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (15th overall), 3t. DE , Mi souri Time: 6.83 seconds in 2014 Draft status: 2nd round, 3t. DE , South Carolina Time: 6.83 seconds in 2012 Draft status: 1st round (18th overall), 5t. DE Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State Time: 6.84 seconds in 2010 Draft status: 4th round, 5t. DE , LSU Time: 6.84 seconds in 2013 Draft status: 1st round (6th overall), Notable players DT , Pitt: 7.11 seconds in 2014 DT , Oklahoma: 7.32 seconds in 2010 DT , Nebraska: 7.21 seconds in 2010 DE , Wisconsin: 6.88 seconds in 2011 DE , North Carolina State: 7.19 seconds in 2006 Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter . Sergei Zubov Jersey