Cardale Jones injured running 40-yard dash

By Marla Ridenour and Nate Ulrich

Akron Beacon Journal (TNS)

INDIANAPOLIS

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones appeared to pull his hamstring during his second 40-yard dash Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine and was forced to withdraw from drills at Lucas Oil Stadium before the throwing portion began.

Standing 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, Jones posted an unofficial time of 4.83 seconds in his first attempt. He grimaced as he was finishing his second, unofficially 4.85. His official time was 4.81, which ranked 10th among 17 quarterbacks.

NFL Network reported he was done for the day. He was shown sitting on the bench icing his right hamstring.

Earlier in the workout, Jones turned in a 36-inch vertical jump, which tied with Memphis’ Paxton Lynch for best among quarterbacks.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had predicted a big day for Jones, a Cleveland native and Glenville High School graduate.

“He’s 11-0 as a starter. He’s a national champion. He’s got as strong as arm as anybody that’s out here. I think he’s going to kill it today,” Meyer told NFL Network. “I’ve already talked to a handful of GMs and scouts that interviewed him so far, and it wasn’t an excuse.

“He was a starter for us and eventually got beaten out, and he didn’t make excuses. But I think he’ll have a great showing, and I think this is going to be his day. I think he’s going to move up in the draft today, and that’s coming from people that have told me that.”

Ohio State’s pro day is March 11, which doesn’t give Jones much time for rehab. With 14 Buckeyes invited to the combine, tied for the second most in the event’s history, and a few more considered draft prospects, Meyer predicted on national signing day that the Buckeyes’ pro day would be the biggest in the history of college football.

Jones’ injury will only add to its draw.

Projected to go as high as the second round in the April 28-30 NFL draft, Jones went 11-0 as a starter before being supplanted by J.T. Barrett last season. Jones was 3-0 in leading OSU to the 2014 national championship after Braxton Miller and Barrett were injured.