Over the past week, nearly a dozen Oklahoma NFL Combine prospects from the 2025 Sooners showcased their skills in Indianapolis, aiming to boost their draft value ahead of the NFL Draft scheduled for late April in Pittsburgh. This group included notable players such as wide receiver Deion Burks and defensive tackle Gracen Halton, who delivered standout performances to capture the attention of scouts and executives.
Standout Performances from Oklahoma’s Receiving Talent
Deion Burks, known for his speed and agility on Oklahoma’s roster over the past two seasons, impressed at the combine with remarkable athletic metrics. Hailing from Inkster, Michigan, Burks posted an athleticism score of 93, ranking him second among all wide receivers participating. He demonstrated exceptional strength, completing 26 reps on the bench press, tying for the top mark among his position group with Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Burks also led wide receivers with a vertical leap of 42.5 inches and recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds, which placed him just behind his former teammate Brenen Thompson and LSU’s Zavion Thomas.
In addition to these metrics, Burks ranked fifth in the broad jump with a distance of 10 feet 11 inches. Across two seasons at Oklahoma, Burks caught 57 passes totaling 620 yards and scored four touchdowns. After beginning his collegiate career at Purdue, an injury sidelined him for eight games during his debut season at Oklahoma. Despite this setback, he climbed to the No. 94 spot on Pro Football Focus’s (PFF) NFL Draft Big Board.
Jaren Kanak’s Transition from Defense to Tight End Pays Off
After spending three seasons as a linebacker, Jaren Kanak switched to offense and quickly made his mark as a tight end. With only one year of offensive game tape, Kanak had to prove his athleticism in Indianapolis. He delivered a 40-yard dash time of 4.52 seconds, ranking fourth among tight ends and just a tenth of a second behind leaders Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt and RJ Maryland of SMU, who both ran 4.51 seconds.
Kanak complemented his speed with a 36-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 9 feet 11 inches. He finished the 2025 season as one of quarterback John Mateer’s preferred targets, hauling in 44 receptions for 533 yards. PFF currently ranks Kanak as the 272nd prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting his potential despite limited experience at the position.
Gracen Halton Shines Among Defensive Tackles
Defensive tackle Gracen Halton capped off an outstanding final college season by excelling at the combine. He led all defensive tackles with a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, surpassing the second-best mark held by Texas A&M’s Albert Regis by more than two inches. Halton also tied for third in the 40-yard dash among his peers, posting a time of 4.82 seconds, and secured the third-best broad jump of 9 feet 6 inches in his position group.
During his senior year in 2025, Halton set career highs with 33 tackles and seven tackles for loss. His impact extended to 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a defensive touchdown, and a forced fumble. These accomplishments positioned him as the 70th-ranked prospect on PFF’s Big Board, underscoring his rising draft stock.
Other Oklahoma Talent Competing for NFL Attention
Beyond Burks, Kanak, and Halton, Oklahoma’s combine contingent included wide receiver R Mason Thomas, defensive ends Marvin Jones Jr. and R Mason Thomas, defensive tackles Damonic Williams and Febechi Nwaiwu, linebackers Kendal Daniels and Owen Heinecke, and safety Robert Spears-Jennings. These players took advantage of the scouting event to demonstrate their capabilities to coaches and NFL executives, aiming to secure or improve their positions ahead of the draft.
The NFL Scouting Combine provides a crucial platform for college athletes, particularly those from programs like Oklahoma, to translate their collegiate success into professional opportunities. The performances from these Sooners suggest a promising outlook for their selections in the upcoming NFL Draft, with several prospects climbing draft boards thanks to their combine measurements and drills.
