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Receivers Kendrick Bourne, Cooper Kupp and Gabe Marks impress at NFL combine

Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp impressed with his hands and route running at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday in Indianapolis. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
By Jacob Thorpe jacobt@spokesman.com(509) 710-8070

INDINAPOLIS – None of the Inland Northwest’s wide receivers were able to match the blazing speed of Washington’s John Ross but Gabe Marks of Washington State, and Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp and Kendrick Bourne all impressed scouts with their own strengths.

Former NFL receiver Steve Smith was wowed by Kupp, who ran a 4.62 40-yard dash, saying “This is my top guy. There isn’t a route he can’t run,” during the NFL Network’s broadcast of wide receiver drills.

Marks was the fastest of the local wideouts, running a 4.56 40-yard dash. Marks also impressed onlookers during drills, with one viewer positing that he could make a good slot receiver. If NFL teams feel the same way about Marks’ ability to play inside receiver it will greatly improve his perceived draft value.

Marks also had the best bench press with 11 reps of 225-pounds. Bourne had nine reps, while Kupp did not participate in the drill. Kupp and Marks jumped 31 inches and 29.5 inches, respectively.

Bourne was the slowest receiver from a regional school, running a 4.68 40-yard dash, but is the receiver for whom the drill carried the least importance due to his 6-foot-3 stature. ESPN reporter Josina Anderson also noted that Bourne’s starting stance was not conducive to a fast time.

But Bourne proved to be the Inland Northwest’s best leaper. He had the highest vertical jump of any local receiver, measuring in at 34 inches. He also had the furtheset broad jump at 127 inches, while Marks and Kupp finished with 117 and 116 inches, respectively.

Kupp proved to be the quickest of the trio, with a blazing 4.08 in the 20-yard-shuttle that tied with Ross for fifth-fastest among wide receivers. Ross broke the combine record in the 40-yard-dash earlier in the day with a 4.22, that broke Chris Johnson’s old record of 4.24.

Also in Indianapolis for the combine is former WSU safety Shalom Luani. While Luani will be measured in the 40-yard dash and other drills on Monday, some measurements are available now. Luani was officially measured at 5-foot-11, and weighed-in at 202 pounds.