Ollie Gordon II at the NFL Combine, Position Drills Topped Testing for the OSU RB

Ollie Gordon II was asked on Friday what he would be shooting for on Saturday (march 1) in his testing? Gordon II answered quickly and plainly he was looking for a 4.5. Gordon II talking about the forty-yard-dash, a major test for the running back position. He didn’t hit it as Gordon II clocked officially a 4.61. Gordon, overall didn’t test I’m sure as well as he would have liked, but he did well in the position drills des[ite some poor throws on his reps.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Gordon on the forty.

The NFL Network broadcast had him at 4.61 on his first rep and then a 4.62 onhis second time. Overall, the running back position was very fast with Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten throwing down a recored setting (for running backs) time of 4.32 and then Texas running back Jaydon Blue also going sub 4.4 with a 4.39.

Overall, the NFL Network crew felt this was one of the best groups of running backs that they had ever seen at the NFL Combine.

Gordon did not rank among the leaders in any of the Saturday testing as he was 23^rd in the forty, and was 19^th in the vertical jump, and tied for 14^th in the broad jump. I will expect Gordon II to be among the leaders in the bench press, which the running backs will test in before leaving and checking out of the NFL Combine on Sunday. Gordon measured 6-1 3/5ths and weighed in at 226 pounds. His arm lenght measured 32 3/4ths and his hand was 9 1/2”. That last measurement showing his prowess in throwing the football, which he did at Oklahoma State and for a touchdown in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. 

Here are the leaders in the testing among the runningbacks. It was an excellent group when you stack them next to other years in the Combine.

From the testing the running backs moved on to the position drills and Gordon looked strong and did well in the drills with really one exception. 

On the bag drill, Gordon took the handoff smooth and then high stepped his way without touching a bag. he flew on that part of the drill and then made the right cut on the bag at the end of the drill.

The next drill called the “Duece Staley drill” is designed to show quick feet in a “phone booth” type situation as you are asked to navigate corners created by bags in an X-shape. Gordon did a great job with his feet and moved well, but in the vision part of the drill where you read three big bags and the movement. He took the wrong path. The people on the bags all went one way signifying Gordon to go outside, he took an inside path bulling his way through. 

Two NFL Network analysts, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah, who were both also at the Senior Bowl, commented on how Gordon’s value is as a “big back” and he has good take off and reaction. They both liked the way he dropped his shoulder pads into contact at the end of his runs in the Senior Bowl game. 

“Yeah, I still feel like I’m being underrated, but the people that are underrating me I don’t really pay attention to because who cares,” Gordon said to media at the Combine on Friday. “If they want you they are going to the deal. I think they people that are tearing me down are forgetting me as a downhill runner. I’m a strong, powerful runner and I think people are downplaying that. I’ve got to prove that.”

Exactly what Davis and Jeremiah were saying.

In the pass receiving drills, Gordon was let down some on throws, particularly from Gavin Hardison and as he and Frank Corral were two former NFL quarterbacks brought back to throw in the combine. Both are trying to get back in with a team.

Gordon on the flat route caught a low pass that caused him to stumble slightly. He gathered himself and took off to finish the drill. He got another low throw going the opposite way. On the stutter-step route, he looked good and gathered in yet another low throw.

Finally, on the wheel route he got out there and justmissed catching up to a throw from Corral. Gordon showed good hands. On Friday, he had talked about how Oklahoma State prepared him as a receiver out of the backfield.

“Honestly, it’s just going to practice everyday, getting on the Juggs (machine) and catching 100 balls a week,” Gordon II said of his pass catching skills. “I might do that twice a week. At Oklahoma State they definitely enstill in us, if you’re not on special teams then you’re going to be doing somethign during that period (in practice). I was on the Juggs heavy, shout out to Coach Woz (John Wozniak) and Coach Dunn (Kasey Dunn) for that.” 

Again, running backs will do the bench press on Sunday before leaving and that is a testing category that Gordon II should do very well in.