Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Logan Bowles/NFL
Spartan NFL Combine Report: Friday
3/1/2019 3:29:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State running back LJ Scott performed on-field testing in front of NFL coaches and scouts on Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium on the fourth day of the NFL Combine.
Scott, who measured in at 6-feet, 227 pounds, was one of the top performers in the bench press on Thursday. He put up 225 pounds 21 times, which ranked tied for 10th among the 28 running backs at the combine.
On Friday, Scott recorded a vertical jump of 33 inches and a broad jump of 120 inches (10'0"), the 13th-longest among the RBs. Although he did not run the 40-yard dash, the Youngstown, Ohio, native did participate in the 3-cone drill (10th at 7.27 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (12th at 4.34 seconds).
During Scott's live televised workouts on NFL Network, Rich Eisen remarked that Scott "is a tough runner." Scott also drew praise from analyst Charles Davis for his work catching the ball during pass drills.
Scott played in 43 career games at Michigan State, including 23 starts, and led the Spartans in rushing in 2015 (699 yards and 11 TDs), 2016 (994 yards and six TDs) and 2017 (898 yards and 8 TDs). He finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in rushing yards (ninth with 2,855 yards), carries (ninth with 610) and rushing touchdowns (12th with 25). His skillset has drawn comparisons to former Spartan and All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell.
"A lot of people say we're similar in ways," Scott said when he met with the media on Thursday in Indianapolis. "I see it as well, so hopefully I'll be able to play like him as well too one day. (We're both) patient runners, that kind of 'dead leg' kind of run, being able to run someone over, and shift as well.
"I like being in the trenches. I'm a physical runner, a downhill runner, a power runner; obviously, no running back wants to get hit, but it's part of the game."
Scott said he has recovered from an ankle injury he suffered in the second game of the season at Arizona State that limited him to just five games his senior season. He also had to miss the Senior Bowl in late January.
Playing in just his fifth game of the 2018 season due to injuries, Scott tied his season high with 84 yards on a season-high 24 carries in the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 31 vs. Oregon in his final collegiate game. The Youngstown, Ohio, native started the first two games of the year vs. Utah State (Aug. 31) and Arizona State (Sept. 8), but suffered an ankle injury at ASU. After missing four straight games, he returned to the starting lineup against Michigan (Oct. 20) and Purdue (Oct. 27), but left the Purdue game early with an injury. He finished the season with 79 carries for 264 yards (3.3 avg.; 52.8 ypg.).
Scott had nine career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2017 (career-high 194 yards at Minnesota on Oct. 14; 147 vs. Maryland on Nov. 18; 110 vs. Washington State on Dec. 28). He rushed for a career-high 994 yards as a sophomore to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors, including a season-best 160 yards on 19 carries vs. No. 2 Ohio State. As a freshman in 2015, Scott scored the game-winning touchdown in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 4 Iowa with just 27 seconds remaining to send MSU to the College Football Playoff. He was named to the ESPN.com All-Freshman Team after leading the Spartans in rushing (699 yards), carries (146) and rushing touchdowns (11).
UP NEXT:
Wide receiver Felton Davis III is currently rehabbing from an Achilles injury he suffered on Oct. 20. Although he won't be able to take part in testing and position drills on Saturday, Davis still attended the NFL Combine to meet with NFL personnel. He measured in at 6-foot-3, 211 pounds and had 21 reps on the bench press on Friday, fourth most among the receivers. His hand size of 10 1/4 tied for the fourth largest in the WR group. On Monday, cornerback Justin Layne and safety Khari Willis will perform on-field testing.
Scott, who measured in at 6-feet, 227 pounds, was one of the top performers in the bench press on Thursday. He put up 225 pounds 21 times, which ranked tied for 10th among the 28 running backs at the combine.
On Friday, Scott recorded a vertical jump of 33 inches and a broad jump of 120 inches (10'0"), the 13th-longest among the RBs. Although he did not run the 40-yard dash, the Youngstown, Ohio, native did participate in the 3-cone drill (10th at 7.27 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (12th at 4.34 seconds).
During Scott's live televised workouts on NFL Network, Rich Eisen remarked that Scott "is a tough runner." Scott also drew praise from analyst Charles Davis for his work catching the ball during pass drills.
Scott played in 43 career games at Michigan State, including 23 starts, and led the Spartans in rushing in 2015 (699 yards and 11 TDs), 2016 (994 yards and six TDs) and 2017 (898 yards and 8 TDs). He finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in rushing yards (ninth with 2,855 yards), carries (ninth with 610) and rushing touchdowns (12th with 25). His skillset has drawn comparisons to former Spartan and All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell.
"A lot of people say we're similar in ways," Scott said when he met with the media on Thursday in Indianapolis. "I see it as well, so hopefully I'll be able to play like him as well too one day. (We're both) patient runners, that kind of 'dead leg' kind of run, being able to run someone over, and shift as well.
"I like being in the trenches. I'm a physical runner, a downhill runner, a power runner; obviously, no running back wants to get hit, but it's part of the game."
Scott said he has recovered from an ankle injury he suffered in the second game of the season at Arizona State that limited him to just five games his senior season. He also had to miss the Senior Bowl in late January.
Playing in just his fifth game of the 2018 season due to injuries, Scott tied his season high with 84 yards on a season-high 24 carries in the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 31 vs. Oregon in his final collegiate game. The Youngstown, Ohio, native started the first two games of the year vs. Utah State (Aug. 31) and Arizona State (Sept. 8), but suffered an ankle injury at ASU. After missing four straight games, he returned to the starting lineup against Michigan (Oct. 20) and Purdue (Oct. 27), but left the Purdue game early with an injury. He finished the season with 79 carries for 264 yards (3.3 avg.; 52.8 ypg.).
Scott had nine career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2017 (career-high 194 yards at Minnesota on Oct. 14; 147 vs. Maryland on Nov. 18; 110 vs. Washington State on Dec. 28). He rushed for a career-high 994 yards as a sophomore to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors, including a season-best 160 yards on 19 carries vs. No. 2 Ohio State. As a freshman in 2015, Scott scored the game-winning touchdown in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 4 Iowa with just 27 seconds remaining to send MSU to the College Football Playoff. He was named to the ESPN.com All-Freshman Team after leading the Spartans in rushing (699 yards), carries (146) and rushing touchdowns (11).
UP NEXT:
Wide receiver Felton Davis III is currently rehabbing from an Achilles injury he suffered on Oct. 20. Although he won't be able to take part in testing and position drills on Saturday, Davis still attended the NFL Combine to meet with NFL personnel. He measured in at 6-foot-3, 211 pounds and had 21 reps on the bench press on Friday, fourth most among the receivers. His hand size of 10 1/4 tied for the fourth largest in the WR group. On Monday, cornerback Justin Layne and safety Khari Willis will perform on-field testing.
Players Mentioned
Monday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Thursday, September 24
Monday, September 21