Path to the Draft: Saxton's speedy day nothing new for Indians at the Combine
Former ICC tight end Wes Saxton turned a lot of heads with his performance in the 40-yard dash during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday.
Path to the Draft: Saxton's speedy day nothing new for Indians at the Combine
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – Former ICC tight end Wes Saxton turned a lot of heads with his performance in the 40-yard dash during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday.
Saxton clocked an official time of 4.65 seconds, second-best to Southern Illinois tight end Mycole Pruitt's 4.58 >>> NFL.com video of Saxton's 40-yard dash.
The Birmingham, AL native finished third with a 36-inch vertical jump and third in the broad jump with a leap covering 9 feet and 11 inches - earning comparisons to current Detroit Lions' tight end Eric Ebron.
Saxton spent one season with the Indians in 2011 where he finished his freshman campaign with 10 receptions for 137 yards and one touchdown to earn second-team MACJC All-State honors. Despite having offers from Mississippi State and Southern Miss, he elected to transfer to South Alabama due to their offensive schemes and their multiple use of the tight end positions.
The move was a good one for the Hueytown (AL) High School graduate.
As a sophomore, Saxton played in every game for the Jaguars and finished the season with 26 receptions for 336 yards in 2012.
Saxton jump on drafts boards after finishing his junior season with 50 catches for 635 yards while starting all 12 games. He ranked in the nation's top five for tight ends in receptions and receiving yards and earned All-Sun Belt first-team honors.
He was named to the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation's top tight end, watch list in July of his senior season joining the likes of Ole Miss' Evan Engram, Alabama's OJ Howard, Mississippi State's Malcolm Johnson, Notre Dame's Ben Koyack, and eventual award-winner Nick O'Leary of Florida State.
Saxton finished his final year at South Alabama with 20 catches for 155 yards in a season hampered by injuries, but was still earned a spot in the East-West Shrine Game and became the first Jaguar ever to receive an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Speed: Nothing new for former Indians at the NFL Scouting Combines
Saxton isn't the first former Indian to grab attention of NFL scouts with his speed.
Former Indian Darius Slay recorded a combine-best 40-yard dash with a time 4.36 seconds during the 2013 Combine and immediately rocketed up the draft board.
Originally thought to be a late-fourth or early-fifth round pick, the Brunswick, GA native was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round as the 36th overall pick and was the fifth cornerback taken behind Dee Milliner, DJ Jayden, Desmond Trufant, and Xavier Rhodes.
Slay has recorded 90 tackles, 20 pass deflections and two interceptions - his first coming against the New York Jets when he stepped in front of a pass from Geno Smith in September of 2014.
For more information on ICC football, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).