Boise State’s Hightower among fastest WRs at NFL combine; Cleveland impresses on bench
Editor’s note: Some testing results haven’t been finalized yet. This post will be updated when more information is available.
Former Boise State wide receiver John Hightower showed off his speed Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Hightower’s 4.43-second 40-yard dash tied for the third-fastest time in the first group of wide receivers on the field. He tied LSU’s Justin Jefferson and trailed Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool (4.42), Texas’ Devin Duvernay (4.39) and Memphis’ Antonio Gibson (4.39), who many draft analyst say projects as a running back in the NFL.
Overall, Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III blew away the field with a time of 4.27 seconds. Hightower tied for eighth.
On Wednesday, Hightower measured 6-foot-1 — an inch shorter than he was listed on the Boise State roster — but weighed in at 189 pounds, which is 17 pounds heavier than his listed weight.
The Landover, Maryland, native also posted a 38.5-inch vertical leap (tied for eighth) and a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump. He didn’t participate in the bench press, according to NFL.com. Last season, Hightower led Boise State with 943 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.
Former Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland turned heads in the bench press and led the first group of linemen with 30 reps at 225 pounds. As of Thursday evening, he was fifth behind Fresno State’s Netane Muti (44), Indiana’s Simon Stepaniak (37), Clemson’s John Simpson (34) and Oregon’s Jake Hanson (33).
John Molchon, who started 42 games on Boise State’s offensive line since 2016, posted 26 reps.
Cleveland and Molchon will have on-field drills Friday, while former Boise State pass rusher Curtis Weaver and the rest of the defensive linemen hit the bench press Friday and individual drills Saturday.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:10 PM.
