Updates from Vitale and Lowry at the NFL Combine
As Vitale and Lowry complete more drills at the combine, we’ll keep this post updated with their results.
This year, two Northwestern Wildcats, Dan Vitale and Dean Lowry, will participate in drills at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Last season, Ibraheim Campbell was the only Wildcat to participate in the combine.
Currently, CBSSports.com has Vitale rated as the No. 2 fullback and the 216th overall prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft, behind Washington’s Glenn Gronkowski. Vitale is projected to be a 6th round pick.
On the other side of the ball, Lowry is ranked as the No. 24 defensive end, and the 274th overall prospect, projected to be a 7th round pick or undrafted free agent.
Vitale began individual drills on Thursday with the bench press, posting 30 reps, which tied Nebraska’s Andy Janovich for the best among running backs.
We call him SUPERback for a reason. 💪🏽#B1GCats #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/qNDJMEOja1
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) February 25, 2016
Further, Vitale’s 30 reps are tied for fifth among all combine participants.
Vitale continued to dominate the individual drills on Friday.
In his first 40-yard dash, Vitale ran a 4.62, unofficially, and a 1.65 10-yard split. In his second try, Vitale ran 0.04 seconds quicker, posting an unofficial mark of 4.58.
— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) February 26, 2016
Vitale’s first unofficial time was 0.09 seconds fast than Gronkowski’s, the top rated fullback in this year’s draft class.
In the vertical jump, Vitale finished third among running backs, posting a 38.5 inch vertical jump. And in the board jump, Vitale finished tied for fifth among running backs, with a 10’3” (123 inch) broad jump.
Rounding out his individual drills, Vitale posted a 7.12 in the three cone drill, good for ninth among running backs, a 4.12 in the 20-yard shuttle, best among running backs and a 11.36 in the 60-yard shuttle, third among running backs.
Overall, Vitale finished among the Top 10 RBs in all but one drill, the 40-yard dash.
As Vitale continues to dominate at the combine, his draft stock is certainly on the rise, and a number of teams may come calling. He’s performed better than the No. 1 ranked fullback on most draft analysts boards so he could even be the first fullback draft.
Fellow Northwestern Wildcat Dean Lowry began his individual drills at the combine on Saturday with the bench press. Lowry tied Vitale on the bench press, finishing with 30 reps, tied for fifth among defensive lineman.
Continuing his combine drills on Sunday, Lowry ran the 40-yard dash in 4.87 seconds, posted a vertical jump of 32.5 inches and a broad jump of 114.0 inches.
In the three cone drill, Lowry finished the 3-cone drill in 7.26 seconds, tied for 11th among defensive lineman and in the 20-yard shuttle, Lowry also finished tied for 11th among defensive lineman with a time of 4.38 seconds.