Cal quartet auditions at NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis

No linebacker literally jumped out more at this week’s NFL scouting combine than Cal’s Teddye Buchanan, who had the top marks in the vertical and broad jumps to help his stock ahead of the April 24-26 draft.

Buchanan was part of Cal’s four-defender delegation in Indianapolis, the most Bears to audition there since No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff was joined by four teammates in 2016.

While Buchanan worked out Thursday, Friday’s drills featured Cal’s three other prospects: safety Craig Woodson and cornerbacks Nohl Williams and Marcus Harris.

Also participating at the combine was defensive end Oluwafemi Oladejo, who transferred from Cal to UCLA and tied for the fifth-best vertical jump (36 ½ inches). San Jose State’s Nick Nash and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor will be measured Saturday and eligible to work out with fellow wide receivers.

Here is a player-by-player look at Cal’s candidates who can make further impressions at the school’s March 20 pro day:

LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN

Buchanan (6-foot-2, 233 pounds) wasn’t among the faster linebackers (4.61-second 40-yard dash; 1.59-second 10-yard split), but no one was better in the jumping drills (40 inches vertical; 10 ½-feet broad) nor in the bench press (26 reps; tied with Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin).

Buchanan, a Palo Alto native and St. Ignatius High-San Francisco graduate who transferred to Cal after three years at UC Davis. The Super Bowl-champion Eagles are among those who met with Cal’s leading tackler last season (114 tackles, third in the ACC).

“I think I have a lot of strengths, but I’d just say my speed,” Buchanan told reporters in Indianapolis about his greatest assets. “I’m able to run sideline to sideline. It helps me in coverage, helps me run with faster backs on the perimeter.”

CB NOHL WILLIAMS

After leading the nation with seven interceptions last season, Williams checked in at 6-foot, 199 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds (1.54-second split after 10 yards), and he took part in the vertical jump (33 ½ inches) and broad jump (10 feet).

Williams, a 2023 transfer from UNLV, credited Cal for his growth and that included his eye discipline in pass coverage. “It’s about controlling your eyes, having zone eyes at times, man eyes at times. It’s a good mix-up for QBs,” Williams said. “Man eyes (means) just locked on the person in front of you. Zone eyes (is) cluing the QB or just reading the formation.”

CB MARCUS HARRIS

He was the fastest-clocked Cal player, running the 40 in 4.45 seconds (13th among 24 cornerbacks) with a 1.52-second split after 10 yards. Harris (5-11, 189) began his collegiate career at Oregon State (2019-20) and Idaho (2021-23) before recording two interceptions in his first three games last season for Cal.

Harris faced likely first-round quarterback Cam Ward both when at Idaho and Cal, to which Harris said: “It taught me to stay disciplined, knowing I was going against an NFL-caliber quarterback. Trusting my technique, trusting myself.”

S CRAIG WOODSON

The 6-foot, 200-pound Woodson ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, to which NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah proclaimed himself president of the Woodson fan club. It was tied for the fourth fastest time among the safeties. Woodson also placed top 10 in the vertical jump (36 inches; eighth) and broad jump (10 feet, 7 inches; sixth).

Woodson said he’s patterned his game after former Cal teammate Cam Bynum, a 2021 fourth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings. “He’s a good guy, gets the ball, knows how to make tackles, come up in run support, and cover,” Woodson said. “So I think I’m the type of person who kind of models my game after him.”

Woodson, 24, spent six seasons at Cal and played every game the past three years. That included a pick-six in 2022 against UC Davis, nine tackles and a forced fumble against Auburn in 2023, plus seven tackles at Florida State last year before 10 tackles in the Big Game against Stanford.

Woodson is astutely aware that special teams might be his way onto an NFL roster, saying: “Special teams is everything, man. It’s an extension of the defense when it comes to kickoff, when it comes to punt, those type of plays that can change the game.”