Temple University Athletics
Temple Rocks the NFL Combine
2.26.19 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple will be represented at this week's 2019 NFL Combine by running back Ryquell Armstead and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network provides exclusive coverage of the NFL's next generation of talent with live coverage of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. NFL Network provides an up-close look at the prospects looking to take the next step in their football careers.
Tentative Combine workout schedule:
» Friday, Mar 1: PK, ST, OL, RB (Armstead)
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WO, TE
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB
» Monday, Mar 4: DB (Ya-Sin)
Both Armstead and Ya-Sin played in the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl on January 26, and impressed scouts during practice on in the game. Each have been evaluated thoroughly and here are tidbits from their evaluations on NFL.com:
Ryquell Armstead
Overview
Face-first runner who doesn't appear to care that brakes come standard with the vehicle. Armstead's feet fire like pistons from the beginning of the snap all the way through his physical finishes. While he's not classically elusive, he does find his own yards by slithering through tight quarters or stacking yards after contact. His size, decisiveness and effort in pass protection should land him work as a backup, but his play traits could help him find more carries than expected as a pro.
Strengths
Rock Ya-Sin
Overview
Body-beautiful cornerback with good size and potential, but just one year of FBS football experience. Ya-Sin needs technique work across the board, but the ability to handle the duties of the position are all in place and waiting to be unlocked. He has the strength, toughness and feet to go from shadowing presence to a more disruptive one as a press-man corner. His lack of technique allows for some pitch-and-catch moments in coverage, but he has moldable traits to become a future starter with more experience and coaching.
Strengths
Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:
40-yard dash - the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.
Bench press - a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.
Vertical jump - all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.
Broad jump - like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.
3 cone drill - tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.
Shuttle run - the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodes out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.
Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network provides exclusive coverage of the NFL's next generation of talent with live coverage of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. NFL Network provides an up-close look at the prospects looking to take the next step in their football careers.
Tentative Combine workout schedule:
» Friday, Mar 1: PK, ST, OL, RB (Armstead)
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WO, TE
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB
» Monday, Mar 4: DB (Ya-Sin)
Both Armstead and Ya-Sin played in the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl on January 26, and impressed scouts during practice on in the game. Each have been evaluated thoroughly and here are tidbits from their evaluations on NFL.com:
Ryquell Armstead
Overview
Face-first runner who doesn't appear to care that brakes come standard with the vehicle. Armstead's feet fire like pistons from the beginning of the snap all the way through his physical finishes. While he's not classically elusive, he does find his own yards by slithering through tight quarters or stacking yards after contact. His size, decisiveness and effort in pass protection should land him work as a backup, but his play traits could help him find more carries than expected as a pro.
Strengths
- Good size with NFL thickness through his thighs
- Known for competitive nature
- Decisive and fearless
- Downhill locomotive with ability to alter rush track without tapping the brakes
- Needs no point of entry as inside runner and gets it in
- Good feel for hugging contours of the gap and squeezing through
- Feet are in constant state of chop, allowing for additional balance through contact
- Runs with low pads and forward lean
- Drives through contact to break tackles or finish falling forward
- Possesses mindset and play strength for "gotta have it" short-yardage spots
- Sifts to find his responsibility as pass protector
- Willing to mirror and square blitzers with adequate effort
Rock Ya-Sin
Overview
Body-beautiful cornerback with good size and potential, but just one year of FBS football experience. Ya-Sin needs technique work across the board, but the ability to handle the duties of the position are all in place and waiting to be unlocked. He has the strength, toughness and feet to go from shadowing presence to a more disruptive one as a press-man corner. His lack of technique allows for some pitch-and-catch moments in coverage, but he has moldable traits to become a future starter with more experience and coaching.
Strengths
- Really long with carved up physique
- Coaches loved him after just a couple months in program
- Given single-digit number representing Temple's nine toughest players
- Light in his backpedal
- Possesses foot quickness for extended mirroring of release
- Has potential for extended mirroring
- Upper body strength to improve pop in his jam
- Has traits for press-man or off-man
- Decent closing burst to attack throws
- Plays into catch-point with aggressive hands
- Has ability to stick and drive from bail coverage
- Willing in run support
- Impressive upside with more technique work
Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:
40-yard dash - the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.
Bench press - a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.
Vertical jump - all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.
Broad jump - like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.
3 cone drill - tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.
Shuttle run - the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodes out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.
Players Mentioned
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