2022 NFL Combine Preview: Five Trojans head to Indianapolis

Five Trojans are ready to make their mark in Indianapolis this week at the 2022 NFL Combine. Wide receiver Drake London, running back Keaontay Ingram, defensive lineman Drake Jackson, and cornerbacks Chris Steele and Isaac Taylor-Stuart were invited to participate among 324 other draft-eligible prospects.

The combine takes place from March 1-7, but the on-field work begins on March 3 and is separated by position groups. The testing includes seven events: 40-yard dash, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump.

The testing schedule is as follows:

March 3: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends

March 4: Offensive linemen, running backs

March 5: Defensive linemen, linebackers

March 6: Defensive backs, place kickers

Here is an overview of the five Trojans in Indianapolis this week:

Drake London

Measurables:
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 210
- Age: 20
2021 Season:
- London was on his way to a historic season as a Trojan in 2021, but his year was unfortunately cut short due to a broken ankle suffered against the Arizona Wildcats in late October. Though he only competed in eight games, London still finished as USC's leading receiver last year with 1,084 yards on 88 receptions for seven touchdowns.
- The wide receiver was impressive enough to still be named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year by both the conference and Pro Football Focus. He also finished as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Since the season ended:
- Though Trojan fans would have loved to see more of the wide receiver at the college ranks, London declared for the 2022 NFL Draft shortly after USC's season ended in December. In a note posted to social media, London wrote, "I will forever be a Trojan and cannot wait to represent the best brotherhood in the NFL."
- The pass catcher's draft stock has only continued to climb since he declared in December. Many mock drafts predict that London will be the first wide receiver off the board come April.
- London will not compete in on-field drills this week in Indianapolis, but is scheduled to perform at USC's Pro Day.
Scout's Take on London:
- "Big, long possession receiver with the ability to play outside or from the slot … The game slows down for him when the ball comes out. London was a top-flight basketball player so angles to the ball, body positioning and high-pointing come very naturally to him, turning a 50-50 ball into a 70-30 advantage. While he has the size and skill to dominate the catch phase, his one-speed route-running and lack of separation burst means a career full of contested catches. London's pro career would benefit from playing with a diverse receiving corps that allows play-callers to play to London's strengths." -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Keaontay Ingram

Measurables
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 215
- Age: 23
2021 season:
- Ingram served as USC's main back last year and was a threat both on the ground and through the air. The Texas native finished the 2021 season with 911 yards on 156 carries with five touchdowns. Ingram fell shy of the thousand-yard mark due to an ankle injury he suffered at the end of the season that held him out of the Trojans' season finale against Cal. He did amass over a thousand total yards in 2021, however, with 154 yards on 22 receptions.
- Over the span of his four years as a collegiate running back at Texas and USC, Ingram rushed for 2,722 yards on 495 carries (5.5 average) and 16 touchdowns. He also recorded 89 catches for 669 yards and six touchdowns.
Since the season ended:
- Ingram was one of the last draft eligible Trojans on the 2021 roster to announce his plans for the future. In a letter to USC's fans he wrote, "I want to say thank you for the love and support! Playing in the Coliseum was a special moment for me and is something I will be able to tell my kids one day and cherish forever."
- The running back accepted an invitation to play in the Shrine Bowl in January and impressed scouts in attendance.
Scout's Take on Ingram:
- "Running back prospect with adequate size and quickness who leaves you wanting more. Ingram was noticeably quicker and more elusive at a lighter weight after transferring to USC from Texas. He sees the interior clearly but can be too content to bounce runs wide rather than continuing to probe between the tackles. He's a below-average run finisher but will create additional yardage with quick decision-making at times." -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Drake Jackson

Measurables:
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 250
- Age: 20
2021 season:
- A former four-star prospect, Jackson shined in his three years at USC under two defensive coordinators. He recorded eight tackles for loss, with five sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery in his final year as a Trojan.
- Jackson finished his collegiate career with 25 tackles for loss, with 12.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
Since the season ended:
- Jackson took to Instagram to announce his decision to USC fans. He wrote, "I am beyond blessed to be able to have had the opportunity to compete as a Trojan! There is nothing like wearing that Cardinal and gold."
Scout's Take on Jackson:
- "Jackson lacks play strength but has the frame to add muscle and mass. He's a loose-limbed, restless pass rusher with the activity level to find angles and openings in both his primary and secondary rush … He has developmental rush potential, but needs a major upgrade in grit and technique against the run." -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Chris Steele

Measurables:
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 190
- Age: 21
2021 season:
- Steele earned a starting spot on USC's defense for the third and final time in 2021. He recorded two interceptions, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
- The corner finished his collegiate career with 94 tackles, with three for a loss, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
Since the season ended:
- Shortly after USC's season came to an end, Steele declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. In a note to fans, the cornerback wrote, "These past three seasons at USC have been some of the best times of my life. I've made relationships and have memories within this family that will last a lifetime."
Scout's Take on Steele:
- "Decorated recruit coming into USC program … Steele offers adequate size and length as a perimeter corner, but had some distressing moments when his long speed was tested. He plays with clear eyes and decent instincts, but lacks ideal short-area burst to stay connected with long-form routes. Steele needs to run well to help boost his draft stock." -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Isaac Taylor-Stuart

Measurables:
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 200
- Age: 22
2021 season:
- Taylor-Stuart saw plenty of playing time as a true freshman and continued that trend into his final year as a Trojan in 2021. He started 11 games and recorded a career-high of 39 total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
- The cornerback finished his collegiate career with a total of 80 tackles, with one for a loss, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups.
Since the season ended:
- Taylor-Stuart declared for the 2022 NFL Draft on New Year Day in an announcement on Twitter. He wrote, "It's a true blessing to not only have donned the cardinal and gold, but also to receive my degree from such a prestigious university."
Scout's Take on Taylor-Stuart:
- "Taylor-Stuart has all the traits found with top corner backs in the league, but he was simply too lost in coverage for chunks of last season .. He will be an impressive tester and has the size and length to harass throws if he's in position. He lacks physicality as a run defender and is likely to be seen as a press-man corner. His traits make him worth a Day 3 flyer, but he won't become a factor until he can better utilize his physical gifts in coverage." -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Players Mentioned

Keaontay Ingram

Drake Jackson

Drake London

Chris Steele

Isaac Taylor-Stuart