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Eli Apple right size for NFL cornerback

INDIANAPOLIS - Just three years after leaving Eastern Regional High School for Ohio State, Eli Apple is now a potential first-round NFL draft pick.

INDIANAPOLIS - Just three years after leaving Eastern Regional High School for Ohio State, Eli Apple is now a potential first-round NFL draft pick.

The Voorhees native is one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft. He played only two seasons of college football, but he started both years for the Buckeyes, and his 6-foot-1, 199-pound frame fits the prototype for a press-coverage cornerback in the NFL.

"That's something in the NFL that's really important, to be a physical guy at the line of scrimmage and be able to take receivers off their path," Apple said. "And that's something I do better than anybody, in my opinion. My press technique is, to me, better than everybody out there."

Apple said it took him about a week to decide to leave Ohio State after playing two seasons, but it was a "confident decision." He would be the second Eastern alumnus drafted in four seasons, after Logan Ryan went in the third round in 2013. There's a defensive back tradition at the school that includes Chris Canty and Adam Taliaferro.

Apple is not the only early-entry cornerback with a big frame and area roots. West Virginia's Daryl Worley, a Penn Charter alumnus, will draw interest in part because of his 6-1, 204-pound frame. He left school early after making first-team all-Big 12 last season and intercepting six passes.

"I weighed the pros and cons, and I really felt as though I accomplished what I wanted to at West Virginia," said Worley, who is from North Philadelphia. "It was a very hard decision for me at the end of the day. . . . I felt this was an opportunity for me to basically take some weight off [my parents'] shoulders and repay them for all the hard work they did for me."

Nassib and Matakevich

Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib, a Malvern Prep graduate, is being evaluated for "multiple positions" along the defensive line after measuring at 6-7 and 277 pounds. Nassib walked on at Penn State and was not considered a major pro prospect before bursting onto the scene as a senior with a nation-leading 151/2 sacks.

"Every day I went out and tried to make the best of it," Nassib said. ". . . My mentality changed. I knew I was going to be in a leadership role. I took full responsibility of that. I had people counting on me to step up."

Another decorated local player was Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who won the Bronco Nagurski Trophy. He had 493 tackles during his career with the Owls, but he won't tantalize at the combine at 6 feet and 238 pounds.

"I may not be the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but I'll beat you in the film room," Matakevich told reporters.

Fast Fuller

Earlier in the week, Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller said he hoped to run a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. The Philadelphian beat that mark.

Fuller, a Roman Catholic graduate, ran a 4.33. That was the fastest among all wide receivers at the combine. It was the second-fastest time at any position after Georgia running back Keith Marshall.

Quarterback Paxton Lynch, a potential Eagles target, was a top performer among quarterbacks in the vertical jump and broad jump. He measured 6-7 and 244 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds.