Every draft junkie's favorite week has come and gone, and as always, there have been some incredible displays of athleticism throughout the RCA Dome.  There were no Maurice Clarett's this year, as there were no bad surprises, but there was a good share of players who boosted their stock significantly over the weekend.  Here is a brief list of some of the draft's fastest risers based on bowl performances, all-star games, and of course the scouting combine.

Vernon Davis, TE Maryland: the standout of the combine, who put on a freakish show of speed, power, and agility.  At 6'3", 256 lbs, Davis ripped off a 4.38/40 which was one of the top-10 40 times of the weekend.  Yes, he did that at 256 lbs.  Added to that, Davis had the top vertical of the combine at 42 inches which was 5 more than the 2nd best TE and his 10'8" broad jump was 10 inches farther than the 2nd best TE.  Essentially, Davis solidified his billing as one of the best TE prospects in HISTORY and should join the likes of Tony Gonzales, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow II, and Ricky Dudley as the only top-15 TE selections in the last 10 years.

Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt: Cutler had already had the scouts eye before the 2005 season, but the last 2-3 months have seen Cutler become white hot.  To start it off, his ability to lead the Commodores to a win against Tennessee showed that he has the ability to make those around him better.  Then came Senior Bowl week where he separated himself from the 2nd-tier QBs in the draft, and in some draft experts' opinions, catapulted himself past Vince Young and even Matt Leinart.  At the combine, Cutler welcomed the challenge of competing against other players and impressed with his bravado as well as his athleticism.  First, Cutler did the unthinkable by doing the bench press, which traditionally QBs avoid.  23 reps at 225 pounds was better than every QB and every RB except for one.  Add to that the fact he ran a 4.77/40 and had the second most velocity on his throws (60 mph), and you can see why scouts are falling in love with Cutler.  He now stands the chance to be drafted before Young and maybe Leinart.

Manny Lawson, DE/LB N.C. State: at 6'4.5" 250 lbs, Lawson is viewed as a tweener prospect who can play both DE in the 4-3 and possibly outside linebacker in the 3-4.  Lawson has matched his much heralded teammate Mario Williams in production over their college careers, and at the combine, he did him one better.  Lawson ran the 40 yard dash in a Dwight Freeney-like 4.43, had a 39.5" vertical, and beat all of the other defensive line prospects in the 20 and 60 yard shuttles and the 3 cone drill.  With the success in the NFL of Freeney who himself is an undersized defensive end and the monster rookie year of Shawne Merriman, look for Lawson to be off the board by the mid-20s as he brings the same set of skills as those players do.

Chad Jackson, WR, Florida: Jackson is a big target at 6'3, 215lbs.  He is also a very fast target, as he rocketed himself into the 1st round by tearing off a 4.32/40 and showing amazing agility in the short shuttle.  Jackson's appeal to the NFL Draft Committee to see where he might be drafted came back with a 4th round grade.  Here is betting Jackson won't make it to the second round.  His good college production and sticky hands all help his draft stock as well.  Jackson actually had the fastest 40 of the week until Tye Hill and Jonathan Joseph ran a 4.3 and 4.31 respectively.

Brad Smith, QB/WR(?) Mizzou: Smith is trying his hand at everything in hopes to improve draftability.  Smith did everything asked of him at the combine and impressed, running a 4.46/40, having a 55 mph release, 39.5" vertical, and a 10'8" broad jump.  Scouts already knew of this athletic ability, but I am sure these numbers were still a pleasant surprise.  Smith maintains that he is a NFL-caliber QB and only time will tell, but one thing is for sure and that is that he is moving up draft boards considerably.  Think Adrian McPherson in 2005.

Eric Winston, OT Miami (Fl): at 6'8" 320 lbs, Winston showed why he was regarded as one of the best TE prospects in the nation coming out of high school.  First he ran a 4.94/40 then had a 29" vertical and showed amazing agility for a man his size by completing his 20 yard shuttle in 4.44 seconds.  All of this while running on a surgically repaired knee.  Rumor has it that pre-ACL tear, Winston was clocked in the 4.7 range.  Prior to his injury, Winston was viewed as a lock top-15 pick, but the knee injury combined with an up and down senior campaign lowered his stock to that of a 2nd round pick.  With his performance at the combine, Winston has moved himself back up into the 1st round.

A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio State: Hawk was already a top-10 lock in the draft, however his decision to complete all of the drills when he had no obligation to clearly surprised teams on hand and may have made his stock rise even higher if that was at all possible.  After running a 4.46 last spring, Hawk ran a 4.56 at the combine.  However, he had a 3.96 short shuttle, 40" vertical, and a 11.06 long shuttle, which was tops among LBs.  Hawk was a top commodity pre-2005 and after a season filled with dominance and a Fiesta Bowl in which he terrorized his future brother-in-law (Brady Quinn), Hawk is clearly the top defensive prospect in the draft.

Jason Allen, CB/S Tennessee: Allen was regarded as one of the top DBs eligible for the 2006 draft before the 2005 season.  However, a dislocated hip sidelined him for the better part of the season, and as such, his stock plummeted.  This weekend reversed his fortunes, as Allen showed his is back to full strength after running a 4.39/40, showing good fluidity in his hips by posting the top short shuttle time, and showed explosiveness as evidenced by his 39.5" vertical and 10'11" broad jump.  Allen should not slip past the 2nd round.

There were many other great performances over the weekend ranging from Ohio State's Mike Kudla benching 225 lbs a combine record 45 times, Sinorice Moss' 4.38/40, Reggie McNeal's 4.35/40, and then entire Group 11, which included most of the top DB prospects in the draft (Mike Huff, Tye Hill, Allen, Kelly Jennings, Antonio Cromartie, Jonathan Joseph) who all turned in blistering 40 times and showed amazing explosiveness.  This combine was one of the fastest in recent memory and turned in some performances that will echo in the bowels of the RCA Dome for years to come.  Only 2 more months...