UConn’s Branch grows his NFL hopes

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, February 27, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Connecticut Huskies
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As it turned out, Tyvon Branch's best event at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine wasn't his 40 time -- although that was the second-best of the week -- but the long jump. As in, a long jump up the draft board.

Coming in, the former University of Connecticut cornerback had been mentioned as a probable third- or fourth-round pick. Now, thanks in large part to his blistering 4.31 clocking in the 40 (second only to East Carolina running back Chris Johnson at 4.28), he's being projected to go in Round 2.

Branch also placed fifth among cornerbacks with 19 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.

South Florida's Mike Jenkins, picked by many as the top corner in this year's draft crop, didn't hurt himself in Indianapolis, either. He ran a 4.38 40, hoisted 18 bench-press reps and did well in the agility drills. Plus, he was one of the bigger corners at close to 6 feet and 200 pounds, with long arms that make him seem any bigger.

Jenkins confessed to a reporter from Philly.com that the weeklong combine grind wore him out.

"It's definitely something I understand, because they're going to invest a lot of money in you," he said. "But it's been pretty rough. They wake you up early in the morning."

The other Big East DB competing, Jenkins' teammate Trae Williams, ran a surprisingly slow 4.51 40. He has been clocked as low as 4.4.

Note to Syracuse fans: Tyvon Branch was one of three athletes at the combine -- Boston College LB JoLon Dunbar and Michigan RB Mike Hart being the others -- who played high school football in Syracuse but decided to attend college elsewhere.
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