Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Combine kicked off on Friday with defensive backs and tight ends, meaning former Missouri cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw and Kris Abrams-Draine got to participate along with safety Jaylon Carlies.
They're three of eight Mizzou players invited to Indianapolis for the event.
Rakestraw started in 10 games as a true freshman in 2020, before only suiting up in four games in 2021 due to a torn ACL. He came back better than ever in 2022, when he ranked among the top three in pass deflections with 12 to go along with 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
In 2023, he was limited to nine games due to a nagging groin injury, but he still managed to rack up 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and four pass deflections.
The 5-foot-11, 183-pound corner ran a 4.51 40-yard dash and had a 10-foot broad jump.
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network had Rakestraw going 22nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in their latest mock draft. Rakestraw averaged out to a mid-to-late second-round pick after simulating three mock drafts using the Pro Football Network, going as high as 48th overall and as low as 59th overall.
Rakestraw was hampered by a groin injury this week in Indianapolis and will run again at Mizzou's pro day in three weeks, according to reports from the Combine.
The last Mizzou player to be drafted in the first round was Charles Harris, who was selected 22nd overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Abrams-Draine started his career as a wide receiver in 2020 but made the switch to cornerback the following season. In his first year in the secondary, he racked up 37 tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, seven pass deflections and three interceptions.
He'd go on to have his best season statistically in 2022, finishing second in the Southeastern Conference in pass deflections with 14 to go with 48 tackles.
This past season, he recorded 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 13 pass deflections, four interceptions and a forced fumble.
The 5-foot-11, 183-pound corner ran a 4.44 40-yard dash. His second effort came in at 4.50. Abrams-Draine also had a 33.5-inch vertical jump.
Abrams-Draine averaged out to a mid-third-round pick, going as high as 74th overall and as low as 94th overall.
The pair will have another chance to show off their physical abilities on March 22 when Missouri hosts its Pro Day.
The third Missouri defensive back to work out on Friday was safety Jaylon Carlies. Carlies piled up 220 tackles, nine interceptions, nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles in his four years in Columbia. Carlies had a career-best five passes defended as a senior in 2023. He played 38 39 games in his final three seasons.
Carlies turned heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl when he weighed in at 231 pounds. He checked in at 227 in Indianapolis and ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash.
Carlies checked in at 10-foot-5 in the broad jump, which was tied for fifth best among all safeties. There is a thought that Carlies could play linebacker in the NFL, if not full-time at least in certain situations.
The NFL Draft will take place in Detroit from April 25-27.
PowerMizzou will keep you updated with Missouri-related combine results.
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