Warren Runs Solid at NFL Combine
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State running back Jaylen Warren measured up slimmer and trimmer from his last game in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame but didn’t show the exact speed that he reportedly showed the first time he ran after arriving in Stillwater. Warren, who was listed at 5-8, 215-pounds before the season and reportedly weighed 218-pounds for the Fiesta Bowl. He measured 5-8 and a svelte 208-pounds in Indianapolis. He ran his first 40-yard sprint in 4.56, in the faster half of the running backs. Again, unofficially Warren ran a second 40 and the time was 4.59 seconds. He later was officially listed with a 4.55 seconds in the 40.
For a comparison here are some times in the 40-yard-sprint from some other Big 12 backs at the Combine.
Breece Hall, Iowa State, 4.44
Tristan Ebner, Baylor, 4.48
Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma, 4.59
The fastest unofficial time for the running backs was Pierre Strong Jr. of South Dakota State with a 4.39.
Warren was the first of the three Cowboys at the NFL Combine to hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, who measured 5-11, 227-pounds, will be on the field Saturday night, Safety Kolby Harvell-Peel will test and drill on Sunday afternoon.
Warren had a 29 7/8ths-inches arm measurement and a 9 ¼-inches on the hand measurement. Also in the testing, Warren had a 31.5-inches vertical jump and a 9’11” broad jump. Warren did not bench press and may be waiting to do that on his Pro Day at Oklahoma State on Thursday, March 24.
We had a chance to see Warren in the blast read drill and he broke off left and then came back right and showed good lateral movement and a burst at the finish. Warren was wearing bright gold shows with black trim from Adidas, so it would seem he has inked a deal through his agent with the shoe company.
Warren showed quick feet in the Duece Staley bag drill that features a back navigating a t-shape formation of bags and work through the intersection from every angle, forward and backward. I think Warren may have been most impressive in the pass receiving work as he caught the ball smooth and effortlessly. His one drop came on a wheel route and you could overhear the coach on the drill tell him he drifted away on the route.
Last season, Warren transferred to Oklahoma State from Utah State, and he lit it up with 218-yards rushing including a 75-yard touchdown run at Boise State. He took over the position and finished the season with 256 carries for 1,216-yards and 11 touchdowns. Warren had plenty of big runs and averaged 4.8-yards a carry. He also caught 25 passes for 225-yards. His pass protection is solid as well.
Warren is rated 5.94 by NFL.com and Pro Football Focus had a grade of 79.8, both grades have the expectation of a back-up running back in the National Football League. His draft projection by most is third day selection.