The most important job interview process in the NFL wrapped up with several defensive prospects impressing coaches, scouts and executives in Indianapolis, where the event has been held annually since 1987 — at the RCA Dome until this year, when the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Stadium hosted the Combine for the first time.

To put the importance of the NFL Scouting Combine in perspective, since 2000 there have been only 14 players selected in the first three rounds who did not attend the Combine. Although not all players choose to work out, every invited prospect is put under the microscope during team interviews, medical examinations and weigh-ins.

This year’s Combine has come and gone faster than Rich Eisen’s 40-yard dash, but there was plenty of action on the field turf in Indy.

Fifth-Year Phenom

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry backed up his reputation as the “safest” pick in this year’s NFL Draft with a dominant performance at the Combine. The fifth-year senior from Fayetteville, N.C., ran a 4.56 in the 40, which proved to be the fastest time among linebackers. In fact, Curry’s quick 40 time would have tied for the eighth-best time among this year’s running backs.

Unlike most prospects, Curry seemed to thrive under the heat lamp of the Combine spotlight, smiling as soon as he crossed the finish line and nearly pulling a Deion by running at least 20 yards past the line at half-speed.

The urban myth of Deion Sanders’ 40-yard-dash is a debated time (didn’t he run a 3.9?) with an agreed-upon ending, as Deion ran his 40 and kept running — through the tunnel and out the door, where a car was waiting for him in the parking lot. Coming full circle, the former Florida State two-sport star trained prospects for the Combine this year at what he dubbed “Prime U.”

Curry, however, did not have a getaway car or staged chase scene ending to his workout. The Butkus Award winner ripped 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, soared for a linebacker-best 37” vertical and ‘backer-best 10’4” broad jump. Overall, Curry had arguably the best showing of any prospect at this year’s Combine.

With no clear-cut No. 1 overall prospect at the top of this year’s draft class, the Detroit Lions will entertain the idea of drafting Curry, who broke bread with the team’s management while in Indy. After an 0–16 season, the Lions just need to add a great player, regardless of position.

Trojan Hosses

The pride of Pete Carroll’s defense, the Trojans’ linebacking corps — Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Kaluka Maiava — looked the part of NFL studs and lived up to the reputation that preceded them at the Combine. Former Bucs coach turned NFL Network commentator Jon Gruden even joked that he was glad “USC wasn’t in the NFC South” this past season.

Although Maualuga entered Indianapolis as the top-rated Trojan linebacker, he had by far the worst showing at Lucas Oil Stadium. After Gruden said he “dislocated his shoulder watching tape” of the heavy-hitting Maualuga, the coach’s favorite prospect re-injured his left hamstring after running a slower than expected 40 in the 4.8 range.

“I didn’t want to come out here and use my hamstring as an excuse,” said Maualuga. “I just wanted to come out here and compete with the very best. I wanted to show the coaches and scouts I could do everything.”

Unfortunately, the top inside linebacker in the draft was unable to do anything, putting his sweatpants and hoodie on and shutting himself down following the disappointing injury. After proving himself as a wrecking ball on the field, the majority of questions surrounding Maualuga are concerning his possible status as a “two-down” linebacker who lacks pass coverage skills and discipline.

Maualuga may not have been able to capitalize during workouts, but his Trojan teammates Cushing, Matthews and Maiava put on a show for scouts in Indy.

The self-described “meathead” Cushing had 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press — tying Maiava and Ohio State’s Marcus Freeman for the most reps among linebackers — along with a quick 4.74 in the 40, an explosive 35” vertical and 10’0” broad jump. Cushing further established himself as a blue-collar Jersey workout warrior who lives in the weight room. And after starting his career at USC as a defensive end before moving to linebacker (where he can play outside or inside), Cushing’s versatility is just one of the reasons his stock is on the rise.

There may not be a prospect in the entire draft, however, whose stock is moving up as fast as the blue-blood thoroughbred Matthews, whose father Clay Matthews Jr., uncle Bruce Matthews and grandfather Clay Matthews Sr. all played in the NFL. Coming from “good stock” as Warren Sapp said, Clay Jr. (1978-96) and Bruce (1983-2001) each played two decades in the NFL. So, there is something in the blood, or tendons, of the Matthews clan.

Clay III was originally a walk-on at USC before working his way on the field as a defensive end, rush linebacker hybrid “Elephant” who was arguably the Trojans’ best pass rusher this season. Before that, Matthews was USC’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

At the Combine, Matthews burned the turf with a 4.67 in the 40, jumped out of the stadium with a 35.5” vertical and a 10’1” broad jump. Now, it looks like young Clay could join his dad and uncle as a first round pick in the NFL Draft.

Stock Watch

• Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji weighed in at 6’1”, 334 pounds, which made him look especially funny wearing T.O.-style black tights and especially fast while running a sub-5.2 in the 40. The self-proclaimed “game-changer” also had 33 reps of 225 on the bench press, aided by 32” arms which were the third-shortest among his peers at the defensive tackle spot.

• Texas defensive end, linebacker prospect Brian Orakpo looked like a high first round pick — with 31 reps on the bench press and an impressive 39.5” vertical — before pulling up lame with a hamstring injury after running a 4.70 in the 40. Much like Maualuga before him, Orakpo’s injury status should not hurt his draft stock too much; but it can’t help, either.

• Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins and Illinois’ Vontae Davis entered Indy in a head-to-head fight for the top spot among cornerbacks. But after the Combine, it may be easier to distinguish between the two. Jenkins did not run as well as expected and had many people talking of a potential position switch to safety — similar to a move that Cardinals ball-hawk Antrel Rolle successfully made this season.

• Speaking of Davis, the younger brother of 49ers tight end and Combine legend Vernon Davis did not catch up to his older brother’s lofty numbers. Before running, Vontae said he wanted to run “anything better than 4.38,” which was the time Vernon ran in 2006. But Vontae could only manage a 4.49 in the 40 — the second-fastest time among corners — to go along with a cornerback-best 25 reps on the bench press.

• Cornerbacks ran slower this year than in recent years, which may or may not have anything to do with the new field turf surface at Lucas Oil Stadium. But they jumped higher, which is a good thing considering the lack of size among this year’s potential first-rounders like Vanderbilt’s D.J. Moore and Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith. The most explosive leaper was Ohio State’s Donald Washington, who had an eye-popping 45” vertical and 11’3” broad jump.

• Ohio State inside linebacker James Laurinaitis won the Butkus Award as a junior before deciding to return to Columbus for his senior season. As a result, the “Animal” may fall farther in the draft this year than he would have last year. A 40 time in the high 4.8 range did not help his stock, which could be falling due to overexposure.

• NFL scouts don’t know where Cincinnati defensive end, tight end, outside linebacker prospect Connor Barwin will play but they know he’s an athlete. The 6’4”, 256-pound Bearcat ran a 4.66 in the 40, ripped 21 reps on the bench press and posted the best jumps among defensive lineman — with a 40.5” vertical and 10’8” broad.

The 2009 NFL Scouting Combine may be over, but the workouts have just started. The Pro Day season starts the first week of March and goes strong until the unofficial end on April 1, when a circus atmosphere surrounds USC's top prospects. After all of the running, jumping, lifting and testing, Commissioner Roger Goodell will take the stage at the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25.

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