Locked On NFL Draft - Daily Podcast On The NFL Draft, College Football & The NFL · Locked On Podcast Network, Damian Parson, Keith Sanchez

2026 NFL Draft WR/RB Scouting Combine Preview: Makai Lemon's Speed In Question?

·22 min·2 clips

USC's Makai Lemon is skipping the 40-yard dash, risking his draft stock over speed concerns.

Host Damian Parsons, an NFL Draft analyst for Bleacher Report, previews the wide receiver and running back workouts at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. He focuses on prospects who are choosing to test or skip certain drills and the potential impact on their draft stock. USC wide receiver Makai Lemon is opting out of all athletic testing, including the 40-yard dash, and will only participate in on-field drills. Parsons believes Lemon's route-running, hip fluidity, and performance in drills like the gauntlet will be strong, but skipping testing raises questions about his speed and explosiveness. Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love plans to complete all athletic testing, and Parsons is keen to see his 40-time and vertical jump, given his hurdling ability on tape. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate will run the 40-yard dash but skip on-field drills, aiming to directly answer questions about his top-end speed. Parsons highlights several other prospects to watch, including Washington's big receiver Denzel Boston, Mississippi State's speedster Brendan Thompson, and Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr., who needs a strong testing performance. He notes that for running backs like Nebraska's Emmett Johnson, testing speed is crucial despite other tape positives. Parsons identifies sleepers who could shine, such as vertical threat Bryce Lance (Trey Lance's brother), Iowa's versatile return specialist Caden Weichin, and Wake Forest's potentially fastest running back, Demond Claiborn. The analyst stresses that for some players, like Baylor's Josh Cameron or USC's Jacoby Lane, a good combine is essential to confirm athleticism or rebound from prior events. The episode maintains an energetic, conversational tone focused on insider evaluation and immediate draft implications. Listeners who enjoy daily prospect analysis and pre-draft process minutiae will find this episode valuable. Those seeking finished player evaluations or broader NFL news might prefer to skip it.

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