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Former Ohio State defensive back, Doran Grant was the last Buckeye to make it through the 2015 NFL Combine. As one of only four Buckeyes invited to participate in the grueling four-day try out for the pros, he was able to prove he is fast and strong enough to compete at the next level.
Grant's senior campaign included 64 total tackles, of which 50 were solo tackles, 5 interceptions returned for 106 yards and 8 defended passes. His on-field stats were secondary to the level of leadership and dedication he showed Ohio State's coaching staff. Coach Ash has lauded him as the go-to-guy for the young Buckeye secondary and is often the first to help them practice.
There are a lot of NFL teams in need of a younger secondary and despite his smaller size, Grant has already garnered some positive attention. He already met with the San Francisco 49ers and several other teams (including the Lions, Panthers and Saints) already noted their interest.
Measurements
Height: 5'10
Weight: 200 lbs
Arms: 30 1/4"
Hands: 9 3/8"
Media Interviews
One of the bigger storylines to come out of Grant's interview session was the back story of learning he and Devin Smith were in fact distant cousins. Two of the four Ohio State representatives at the combine found out just a couple years ago that they were family even though they've known each other for the better part of a decade.
When asked what his biggest strengths were, Grant specifically noted, "coverage skills and being able come up and rush support as a physical corner...and being able to be a great leader. I know that NFL teams like more leadership,they want grown men on their team, and I think I can provide that also."
He knew going into the combine that he had a lot to prove; analysts and fans familiar with Grant's resume knows he can be a stand-out at the next level. He was sure not to let those naysayers get into his head, "...it's only a matter of time. That's why I'm not really nervous about anything, I'm just going to do what I can do and the future will come."
Workouts
Bench press: 21 reps with 225-pounds; Grant finished as the second-best in the defensive back class, coming in 5 short of tying for first place.
40-yard dash: First attempt: 4.44 seconds, second attempt: 4.46 seconds and 10-yard split: 1.55. His official 4.44 time was good enough to finish in a four-way tie for 3rd best among defensive backs specifically.
Vertical jump: 33.0"
Broad jump: 116.0"
Position drills: DBs have the most position drills than any other combine group with 6 different skill tests. Grant specifically had a great gauntlet, which is a new drill for DBs, but he was able to maintain a high speed while catching all seven passes from both directions.
20-yard shuttle: 4.33 seconds
You can get a better idea for how Grant did by watching his video here:
Ohio State University defensive back Doran Grant runs the 40
Projection
With even Mike Mayock declaring that Grant was undervalued going into the on-field workouts, Grant's draft stock should have improved by quite a bit after the combine. Worst case scenario Grant should get picked up by the third or fourth round, but the chances of him going in the second round improved throughout the weekend. He is currently ranked as an NFL back-up or special teams player, but after the combine he could work his way into a starting line-up relatively quickly.