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Biggest winner at NFL Combine? Step right up, KC Concepcion | Opinion
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- Biggest winner at NFL Combine? Step right up, KC Concepcion | Opinion
Maybe he's not a top-10 pick. And during what ranks as the fastest combine in history at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis , he didn't bother to get timed in the 40-yard dash.
Yet in some regards there was no bigger winner at the NFL scouting combine than Kevin "KC" Concepcion .
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This isn't about the 40, the 3-cone drill, the 225-pound bench press of any other measurables. It is about intangibles, like class and courage, heart and smarts.
The former Texas A&M receiver , a projected first-round pick, was skewered on social media by some dingbats who mocked his speech impediment, which was on full display as he stuttered during his Feb. 27 media session .
Concepcion's response to the negativity is why he should be rising on all of our boards as the process for the upcoming NFL draft ramps up.
He dropped the mic with this post on Instagram :
"I just wanna say something if you have a speech impediment there is nothing wrong with us. I have had this stutter since I can remember talking is apart of me this is who I am I cannot control this. I wanna be a role model for those who may be scared to speak up ... and not confident in yourself. I stand with you.
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"This weekend taught me a lot about myself and people out here in this world. I appreciate everyone who supports me and has reached out to me after these interviews. Don't let a outside person thoughts, opinions get in the way you being great, of you achieving something in life. I am blessed to be in the position that I am in and I want to help give back to those who are scared to speak up who aren't as confident.
"I stand with you, I will always stand with you. We are different for a reason. God has blessed my life in a way I couldn't even imagine in this past year. I love y'all and support y'all as we climb this mountain together."
So there. The explosive Concepcion (5-foot-11 ½, 196 pounds), who also returns punts and earned All-America honors as an all-purpose selection, used the spotlight of the combine to turn a negative into a positive.
And you can believe that NFL teams noticed.
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"Absolutely enjoyed my meeting with this kid over the weekend," Reggie Wayne, the Hall of Fame finalist and Indianapolis Colts receiver, posted on X. "He had the most confidence of anybody in the building when we talked football."
And now Concepcion, 21, has attracted a legion of fans who undoubtedly find him so relatable for humanizing his issue for a greater good.
Ryan Clark, the ESPN analyst and former NFL safety, called it "inspiring" as he posted a message on X for Concepcion.
"Love what you represented, how you spoke and never shrunk," Clark wrote. "Any goofy with something to say is just that … GOOFY! Blessings, young man and can't wait to see where you end up. Always a fan!"
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Other combine takeaways:
Speed kills in a combine where even the offensive linemen are fast
So much for a slow track. According to Pro Football Talk, the average 40-yard dash was the fastest ever in seven of the eight position groups at this year's combine. Wide receivers and defensive backs averaged 4.44 seconds in the 40, while running backs averaged 4.45.
And here's to the big fellas: The five fastest offensive linemen – tackles Spencer Fano (Utah, 311 pounds), Monroe Freeling (Georgia, 315) and Max Iheanachor (Arizona State, 321), guard Jalen Farmer (Kentucky, 320) and center Logan Jones (Iowa, 302) – all clocked under 5 seconds in the 40.
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Then there was the notable brother act. A day after Ohio State middle linebacker Sonny Styles put on a Thursday night show that included a 4.46 time in the 40, his older brother, Lorenzo, Jr., posted the best time by a defensive back at 4.28.
Face time matters? Rams , Jags bosses skip the combine
Rams coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead continued their tradition of not showing up at the combine, reasoning that they still have access to all of the measurements and video from the workouts, while scouts and other staff on hand conduct interviews with prospects. They aren't alone in the approach. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone (who came off the McVay/Snead tree) and San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan (again) were among notable powerbrokers skipping the combine.
Of course, there are competing schools of thought.
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Rookie Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady pumped up the value of having contact and getting to know players during the combine setting, seeking clues from routine situations.
"See them talking football, see them around," Brady said. "I watch how guys walk with their groups at the combine. Who's the guy that's on his phone just sitting in the back? Who's the guy that's kind of hyping his boys while they're running the 40? All those things are important, and when you're bringing in people in our locker room, you can't overlook all those things. And so, I think anytime that we can have the interaction, be able to talk with them and just see them in these settings, I don't know why you wouldn't take advantage of that."
Rulebook sausage: No traction for tush push ban
Someone asked Sean Payton why he came back to serve again on the NFL's competition committee.
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"I love the pain," the Denver Broncos replied, chuckling.
No doubt, including Payton's passionate voice among the coaches on the rule-making committee is good thing, given his rep as a straight shooter.
Asked about the tush push, the signature Philadelphia Eagles quarterback sneak that isn't on the agenda after a proposal last year failed, Payton said:
"I think if that ever goes away, it's not a health and safety thing. We discussed that last year for two hours and we just adopted (a revised rule in 2025 that resulted in) a thousand more kick returns. Which play do you think is more of a health risk?"
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In other words, Payton doesn't buy arguments that the tush push needed to be banned in the name of safety.
"So, every once in a while," he added, "your b.s. meter goes up."
The potential tweak gaining the most traction for a vote by owners later in March involves expanding instant replay assist to allow for flags to be thrown for obvious penalties missed. Stay tuned. The debate is heating up.
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: KC Concepcion's stutter drew out the trolls. Then the Texas A&M star shined
