For the first time in quite awhile, Kentucky football fans actually have a reason to follow the NFL Combine, as six Wildcat players will participate in the NFL’s extensive job interview. We will profile each player separately, starting with TE Jacob Tamme.Tamme officially measured in at 6’4”, 232 pounds and ran his 40 yard dash in 4.60 seconds, the second fastest time in the TE group. His vertical jump was measured at 30.0 inches, which was the eight best of the group and finished the Three Cone Drill with a time of 6.99, good for fifth best.

In the 20 yard shuttle, which is designed to test a player’s lateral speed and ability to accelerate out of their stance, Tamme finished with the fifth best time of 4.27 second. In the 60 yard shuttle, a longer version of the same event, Tamme scored the second best time of the group, 11.51.

So, what is the overall assessment of Tamme? Most scouts see him as a player with the ability to be effective as an H-Back and compare him with Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels. They like his ability to catch the ball, especially when it’s away from his body, and they recognize that he can be best utilized when lined up in the slot, allowing for him to use his acceleration to separate from defenders.

The knocks on Tamme, outside of his history of shoulder injuries, mostly are based in his status as a “tweener” - the same reason they like him. He lacks the size to play physically as a tight end and most scouts think that if he is able to gain weight (they question his thin frame), he will have trouble keeping his speed. Another concern is his ability to go across the middle or make a play in traffic.

But, like the old cliché says, it only takes one team to fall in love with your skills for you to find a home in the NFL. If a team, most likely one that is already a playoff contender, thinks they can use Tamme in passing formations or in third down situations, Tamme can find himself a niche and a home in the NFL. He is projected as a late first day or early second day pick.