The Sports Xchange

The NFL scouting combine is a significant part of the NFL Draft process for several reasons, maybe most importantly for the medical evaluations.

Each prospect is put through a thorough exam by doctors and trainers at the annual February event, and those tests can include detailed MRI exams and X-rays when deemed necessary.

Several prospects aren’t able to be full participants because of a fresh injury or recent surgery, which makes the NFL combine re-checks crucial for the projection of several players.

This year’s combine re-check is scheduled for this Saturday in Indianapolis.

Georgia running back Todd Gurley tore his ACL last November and created some news when he refused to allow the combine doctors to examine his surgically repaired knee in February. While that grabbed headlines, it was a shrewd move on Gurley’s part because with a tender knee, there was no reason for doctors to probe the injury knowing they would learn more about his rehab and recovery from the re-check in April.

According to reports, Gurley’s rehab has gone well and he is expected to be near 100 percent health by the start of the 2015 NFL season. And if that holds true after his re-check this weekend, Gurley’s first-round status will be etched in stone.

Besides Gurley, here are 10 other prospects who will significantly benefit from positive news at the combine re-checks:

Neiron Ball, OLB, Florida

One of the most fascinating prospects in this class, Ball returned to football after he was diagnosed with a congenital condition called arteriovenous malformation in 2011, which caused one of the blood vessels in his brain to rupture. He started seven games as a senior in 2014 before a season-ending knee injury that required microfracture surgery. Ball has early-round talent, but the medical reports are the key to his next-level evaluation.

Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana

Coleman suffered a toe injury last October and played through the pain, but needed postseason tendon surgery that knocked him out of the combine. He is scheduled to have his personal pro day this week and his medical reports will be crucial.

Ryan Delaire, DE, Towson

After arthroscopic knee surgery last December, Delaire was limited at the combine and ran a 4.97 40-yard dash whil also dealing with a right groin issue. He is near 100 percent health now and the re-check in Indianapolis will help confirm that.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

After starting 40 straight games in his Oregon career, the projected first-round pick suffered a significant left knee injury during practice before the Rose Bowl in December. Ekpre-Olomu’s draft status hinges largely on the rehab of that knee.

Hroniss Grasu, OC, Oregon

Grasu started 52 games in his career for the Ducks, but left ankle surgery plagued him toward the end of his senior season. He did a partial workout at Oregon’s pro day, but NFL teams will want an update on the injury before drafting him.

Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut

Jones has a history of shoulder issues, including missing the second half of 2014 with a separated left shoulder that required surgery. He has first-round talent but the long-term prognosis on his shoulder is a legitimate concern for some teams.

Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

A prospect many projected to be a high first-round pick during the season, Ogbuehi suffered a torn right ACL during the bowl game. Ironically, one of the main concerns with NFL scouts was that he played too conservative and “not to get hurt” as a senior.

Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

A possible top-10 pick, Ray didn’t work out at the combine because of a right foot injury. He was able to go through every drill at Missouri’s pro day, but any team thinking about drafting him in the draft’s first 10 picks will want to know how the foot has healed.

DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech

After retiring from baseball due to shoulder issues, Smelter picked up football in 2013 and flashed intriguing traits that have scouts excited about his NFL potential. But he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in November, shelving him for the pre-draft process.

Davis Tull, OLB, Tennessee-Chattanooga

Although he played in every game of his career, Tull has some durability issues due to a left hamstring issue that limited him at the East-West Shrine Game and the combine. He did a partial workout at his pro day, but underwent labrum surgery to repair his right shoulder a few days later.

Others who were unable to work out at the NFL combine who could be part of the re-check process: Connor Halliday, QB, Washington State; Tyler Varga, RB, Yale; Dres Anderson, WR, Utah; Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida; Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State; Cedric Reed, DE, Texas; Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State; Christian Covington, DT, Rice; Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona State; Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming; Detrick Bonner, S, Virginia Tech; Anthony Harris, S, Virginia; Derron Smith, S, Fresno State

–Dane Brugler is analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, owned and distributed by The Sports Xchange in cooperation with CBSSports.com.