Feb. 26, 2016
Indianapolis, Ind.----- When Tyler Ervin played for the San Jose State University football team during the 2011 through 2015 seasons, he was an all-purpose, multi-talented player. Once a defensive back, he added kickoff return, slot receiver, running back, punt returner and "wildcat" runner to his repertoire by the end of his record-setting Spartan career.
Ervin did more of the same showing off his speed and explosiveness during the running back drills on the first day of the 2016 National Football League (NFL) Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Among the 29 running backs invited to perform in front of coaches, scouts, and team executives from the NFL's 32 teams, the 5-foot-10, now 192-pound two-time all-conference selection recorded the second fastest 40-yard dash, second best vertical leap and tied for the second best standing broad jump.
Ervin was clocked officially in 4.41 in the 40. Only Georgia's Keith Marshall at 4.31 was faster among the running backs. Ervin's 40 time matched that of former Spartan teammate Akeem King who posted his 4.41 at the 2015 NFL Combine before being selected in the seventh round by the Atlanta Falcons.
Ervin's 10-feet-10 in the broad jump matched 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry of Alabama. They were second to Cal's Daniel Lasco, who had a 11-feet-3 mark.
The Spartan running back's third second-place finish was in the vertical leap with a 39.0 mark -- the best ever by a San Jose State invitee to a NFL Combine.
Ervin bench-pressed 200 pounds 17 times, 17th best among running backs.
He did not participate in the 3-cone drill nor the 60-yard shuttle run.
Spartan defensive backs Jimmy Pruitt and Cleveland Wallace III were among the 37 cornerbacks going through their on-field drills, Monday, February 29. Pruitt tied for the third bench press set among the cornerbacks with 19 repetitions of 220 pounds. The San Diego native ran a 4.73 40-yard dash, had a 32-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-7 broad jump.
Wallace, III, was faster than Pruitt in the 40 at 4.68 seconds and was credited with a 35.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot-3 broad jump. The 2014 second-team All-Mountain West pick did not participate in the bench press.
| 40-yard dash | Bench press | Vertical leap | Broad jump | |
| Tyler Ervin | 4.41 | 17 | 39" | 10'10" |
| Jimmy Pruitt | 4.73 | 19 | 32" | 9'7" |
| Cleveland Wallace III | 4.68 | DNP | 35.5" | 10'3" |
San Jose State's Pro Timing Day is Wednesday, March 16, in the Koret Athletic Training Center and Spartan Stadium starting at 11:00 a.m. Spring football practice starts, Friday, March 11, and concludes Saturday, April 16.