David Bruton Dominates the Combine
David Bruton made me look pretty smart yesterday. For the last year or so I’ve said that Bruton would test off the charts and really improve his draft stock at the NFL Combine, and yesterday he did just that. Bruton, the lone Notre Dame representative at this year’s combine, checked in at the top of the pack in every drill he ran yesterday in Indy and likely helped himself out quite a bit.
Here are his numbers from yesterday:
- 40 Yard Dash : 4.46 – tops amongst safeties
- 60 Yard Shuttle: 10.96 – tops amongst safeties
- Broad Jump: 11″ – tops amongst safeties
- Vertical: 41.5′ – 2nd amongst safeties
- 3 Cone Drill: 6.60 – 2nd amongst safeties
I’d say those results prove that Bruton pretty much owned the combine. The 3 cone drill time surprised me some because he is a long strider and the 3 cone drill measures change of direction.
The Tampa Bay Bucs site Pewter Power said Bruton was the most impressive safety but still thinks he is a 5th or 6th round pick.
Bruton might have been the most impressive athlete out of the safety group on Tuesday. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash time, which was third in the defensive back group, posted a 6.60 3-cone drill time (second best out of the safeties) and led the safeties in the vertical (41.5 inches) and broad jump (11’0″). Bruton posted seven interceptions at Notre Dame, including four picks in 2008. He helped his stock tremendously at the combine, but Bruton, who was inconsistent in college, still is projected to be a fifth or sixth round selection.
Sorry, but there is NO way a team with a need at safety lets Bruton out of the 4th round after the numbers he posted at the combine. The only thing holding back Bruton from being a very high selection is his tackling. He missed quite a few tackles over the last two seasons as a starter.
My beloved Eagles will likely be looking for a replacement for Brian Dawkins (assuming they resign him) in this draft and I would be thrilled if they could pick up Bruton in the 4th.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
I play high school ball with David. He will deff. make an impact in the NFL. He is the type of guy that will prove the doubters wrong.
How about playing WITH Dawkins?
David Bruton could exactly be a Day 1 pick, thus being said, his tackling skills is what is keeping him out of it and into the 3rd and 4th rd possibilities.
As a canadian, I would be thrilled if he landed with the bills, since they might move to Toronto in like 5 years.
Although, he sometimes misses tackles, the ones he doesn’t, and bone crunching!!
Good luck bruton, ND will miss ya
[…] As we know from our little study (or from just following the Irish at all), in 2007, the Irish only won 3 games while having 4 eventual 2008 NFL draftees on the roster (3 of them in the first 3 rounds). Pretty pathetic. And now in 2008, ND managed 6 regular season wins and 7 wins in total with only 1 likely 2009 NFL draftee on the roster (David Bruton, projected anywhere from the 2nd to 5th round). […]
Actually Bruton finished second in the 40 yard dash. Chris Clemons from Clemson ran a 4.41. That being said, I still wouldn’t mind seeing Bruton on the Jets or Giants.
He fits with the Packers well, Hope they get him.
This kid was an absolute joy to watch at ND. I only wish him the best wherever he ends up. Even if it is in philly.
Love Bruton!!!! Still scratching my head on how he missed those 2 tackles for TD’s in the Bowl game though. I’m Gonna miss seeing him fly down the field on special teams. Best of luck David.