By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Here are five prospects that either moved up the boards, or solidified themselves as draft-worthy assets.

Here are five prospects that either moved up the boards, or solidified themselves as draft-worthy assets, due to their combine performances. While guys like Shaq Lawson, Jalen Ramsey, and Derrick Henry also had solid combines, their stock is already so high that it is near impossible for any of them to move as much as the following players.

Keith Marshall, Georgia, Running Back
Headed into the combine, Marshall was on the bubble of even being drafted. I would have placed him in the 7th round to undrafted free agent category. His 4.31 40-yard dash was tops amongst all players and a full tenth of a second faster than the next best running back. His 25 bench press reps also put him at 4th for his position, and first for traditional tailbacks. With numbers like that, especially given his prototype frame, Marshall ensured that his name will be called, although still probably in one of the last three rounds.

Justin Simmons, Boston College, Safety
Simmons was another guy, like Marshall, that was at risk of going undrafted. He was probably a late 6th round to 7th rounder, but a bad combine could have seen him slip off of most boards. He showed off his upper echelon change of direction skills with the number one overall time in both the 20 and 60-yard shuttle runs, and the second fastest three cone drill. Amongst safeties, he had the highest vertical jump, a top five broad jump, and was in the top seven in both the bench press and 40-yard dash. Simmons combine numbers removed any doubt about whether or not he would be drafted.

Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
Pre-Combine, Nicolas graded out as a middle-round prospect. He has all the skill, but not the size to be a first round defensive end prospect. The scouts needed to see if he had the athleticism to cut it as a 3-4 outside linebacker. The number that has people picking their jaws up off the floor is 41. Thats how many inches he jumped straight up into the air. That puts him in a four way tie for third amongst all combine participants. For some perspective, there wasnt another player at his position in the top 45 for vertical jump. Coupled with both the sixth fastest 40-yard dash and three cone drill, for his position, and you get a guy that might just sneak into the latter part of the second round.

Alex McCalister, Florida, Defensive End
If Nicolas was blessed with McCalisters height, he would be a surefire first-rounder. Then again, if I was smarter and had real life applicable skills, I wouldnt be a sportswriter. Like Nicolas, McCalister graded out as a mid-round choice, although closer to the late fourth or early fifth round than the third. However, after a top 8 positional 40 time, the best positional broad jump, and the sixth best overall three cone drill, McCalister might find himself in the tail end of the third round or the beginning of the fourth.

TJ Green, Clemson, Safety
TJ Green entered the combine in the shadow of fellow Clemson safety Jayron Kearse, but the roles may now be reversed. Many scouts vastly underestimated Greens athleticism, prior to the Combine. With a 4.34 40-yard dash, a 35.5 inch vertical, and the second furthest positional broad jump, I wouldnt shocked if Green made his way into the early part of the third round, if not the second round.