2014 NFL Combine Top Performers: Al Davis Memorial All-Defensive Freak Team

We now move to the defensive side of the ball for the Al Davis Memorial All-Combine Freak Team. And since Al Davis always did love his defensive backs, we'll start there.

Cornerback: Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State

Perhaps no position did Al Davis put more emphasis on a 40-yard dash time than cornerback. The Raiders have always played man-cover defense with their corners so the focus was on the 40. Gilbert led all defensive backs at the combine with a 4.37 40. It isn't quite Al Davis level speed ala Fabian Washington (4.29), Stanford Routt (4.29), DeMarcus Van Dyke (4.28), but it's the fastest on that field. Gilbert was also third among cornerbacks with 20 reps on the bench press.

Cornerback: Jason Verrett, TCU

Just .01 slower than Gilbert in the 40-yard dash but was far superior in most every other event. Verrett was in the top five in every single event he participated. He had the best 20-yard shuttle (4.00), was second in the 40-yard dash (4.38), third in the vertical jump (39.0), third in the broad jump (10.8), and third in the 3-cone (6.69).

Strong Safety: Deone Bucannon, Washington State

There were only two events at the 2014 combine that Deone Bucannon wasn't among the top three among safeties - 20 and 60-yard shuttles. He had the third best 40-yard dash (4.49), third most reps on the bench press (19), third highest vertical jump (36.5), second longest broad jump (10'5"), and third fastest 3-cone (6.96).

Free safety: Brock Vereen, Minnesota

While Deone Bucannon was the jack of all trades, Vereen was the master of nearly all of them. He had the second fastest 40-yard dash (4.47), the most reps on the bench press (25), the second fastest 3-cone (6.90). and the second fastest 20-yard shuttle (4.07).

Inside linebacker: Avery Williamson, Kentucky

Generally speaking, inside linebackers are told to stay inside for a reason - because they're not as athletic. What that means is sifting through a lot of outside linebackers to find the most athletic inside linebacker in the combine. And Avery Williamson can hang with the best of them. He had the best broad jump (10'0") and 20-yard shuttle (4.07) among inside linebackers, the second fastest 40-yard dash among ILB (4.66) which was good for sixth among all linebackers, his 25 reps on the bench press was fifth among ILB and 8th among all linebackers, and he had the fourth best 3-cone among ILB (7.11).

Outside linebacker: Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston College

Not only did he have the best 40-yard dash time (4.51) all linebackers in this year's combine, but his time puts him in the top five linebackers over the past six years. But he doesn't just have raw speed, he is a complete athlete. He was third in the bench press (28), third in vertical jump (39.0), second in broad jump (10'8"), and second in the 20-yard shuttle (4.02).

Outside linebacker: Tyler Starr, North Dakota

The one important drill in which Pierre-Louis wasn't elite, Tyler Starr very much was - the 3-cone drill. His 6.64 time in the 3-cone is the second best time among linebackers since at least 2006 when the NFL began tracking it. Nailing the 3-cone drill shows great agility and lateral movement which is key for a linebacker. That alone is enough to earn him a spot here. Outside of that, he was fourth in the 20-yard shuttle (4.15) and his 24 reps on the bench press had him crack the top ten.

Defensive end: Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

Of course he would make this team. He has rare speed for a defensive end. He showed it by topping the field with a 4.53 40-yard dash. He was also second in both the vertical jump (37.5) and broad jump (10.4). Just think if he actually applied himself.

Defensive end: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas

Al Davis scored the last time he drafted a defensive end out of Texas (Lamarr Houston). Though Houston never had the kind of athleticism Jackson Jeffcoat has. He was second in the all-important 3-cone drill (6.97), fourth in the broad jump (10'3"), and fourth in the 40-yard dash (4.63).

Defensive tackle: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh

Quite a specimen this 6-1, 285 pound defensive lineman is. He had the best 40-yard dash among defensive tackles (4.68) by a long shot. It was good for fifth among all defensive linemen and was the only defensive tackle in the top 15. But lest you think he is destined for a position change, he had the most reps on the bench press among defensive tackles as well (35). He also had the best broad jump (9'8"), and 3-cone (7.11). That is one athletic big man.

Defensive tackle: Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota

He outweighs Donald by 25 pounds and yet is comparable in many ways with regards to athleticism. He was third in reps on the bench press (32) but then again, you would expect a man his size to be able to lift. What you don't expect is for him to lift his 310 pound frame 35.5 inches in the air. That's what he did and it was the best vertical leap among defensive tackles. He also had the second best broad jump among DT's (9'6") right behind Donald.

See the Al Davis Memorial All-Combine Freak Team: Offense

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