Florida Gators at 2016 NFL Combine: Vernon Hargreaves III, Keanu Neal on Monday

By Adam Silverstein
February 29, 2016

For the seventh-straight year, OnlyGators.com concludes our coverage of the eight former Florida Gators participating in the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 23-29, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to a major job interview for these athletes to participate in ahead of the start of the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28.

COMPLETED

RB Kelvin Taylor (Group: 3 | Camp: RB23)
Check out Taylor’s completed combine.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson* (Group 5 | WO33)
Check out Robinson’s completed combine.

Tight end Jake McGee (Group 6 | TE12)
Check out McGee’s completed combine.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard (Group 7 | DL08)
Check out Bullard’s completed combine.

Defensive end Alex McCalister^ (Group 8 | DL37)
Check out McCalister’s completed combine.

Linebacker Antonio Morrison (Group 9 | LB27)
Morrison did not show up to the NFL Combine and has given no explanation for his absence. There has been no information provided at this time.

DAY FOUR PARTICIPANTS

Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III* (Group 10 | DB23)
Height: 5’10” | Weight: 204 lbs.
Arm length: 30 5/8″ | Hand size: 8 3/4″

Bench press: 15 reps of 225 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds

Vertical jump: 39.0 inches | Broad jump: 130.0 inches
Fourth-highest among defensive backs | Third-longest among DBs

Notes: As I wrote on Twitter, Hargreaves has been training for this combine – both on and off the field – his entire life, and those efforts absolutely showed over the weekend. Hargreaves is every bit the NFL professional (and has been for years), a fact further displayed by his interviews (with media and teams) and on-field drills. Hargreaves is explosive and athletic. His quick-twitch ability and disciplined feet allow him to mirror receivers and keep his eye on the ball. An impressive vertical makes up for his smaller stature (5-foot-10) and lets him go up and reach the ball at its highest point, though it may still be an issue against some of the league’s biggest receivers. Combine all of that with superior instincts, top-notch competitiveness and a high football IQ, and you have a potential top-10 pick in the draft, though he may not even be the first defensive back taken.

#Gators CB Vernon Hargreaves III just two inches shorter than S Keanu Neal on the broad jump – https://t.co/fxFfCcA98L

— Only Gators .com (@onlygators) February 29, 2016

Safety Keanu Neal* (Group 11 | DB39)
Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 211 lbs.
Arm length: 32 3/4″ | Hand size: 10 5/8″

Bench press: 17 reps of 225 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds

Vertical jump: 38.0 inches | Broad jump: 132.0 inches
Third-highest among safeties | Longest among safeties

Notes: Neal’s incredible athleticism undoubtedly impressed those in attendance at the combine, and he most certainly upped his draft stock. In fact, he may even be a late first-round pick, though chances are he goes early on the second day. Explosive and aggressive, Neal looked to be a potential impact player who can make a difference not only in the defensive backfield but up at the line of scrimmage, too. There are some questions about his overall coverage but that is a learned skill that he can pick up over time.