Playing in a big shadow

INDIANAPOLIS - It's tough to mention Iowa offensive lineman Andrew Donnal without throwing Brandon Scherff into the conversation, too.

The 2010 Hawkeye recruits have been inseparable since suffering season-ending injuries in the same game against Penn State two seasons ago, and both are at Lucas Oil Stadium this week for the NFL Scouting Combine trying to boost their NFL prospects.

But Donnal and Scherff are by no means equal. The latter is an All-American who will likely be a top-10 pick in May. Donnal - who was more heavily recruited out of high school - will be happy just to be drafted.

The former four-star recruit from Whitehouse, Ohio, took what seemed like forever to find his place as a leader, but he played well enough in 2014 to earn All-Big Ten honors and spots on several draft analysts' boards.

It's surprising to some that he didn't try to transfer when he failed to land a starting job during his junior year.

'I was never close to leaving,” he told reporters Wednesday. 'I had too much respect for the program and my players to let them down doing that. When you have to wait, sometimes things can get a little frustrating. But I kept my nose down and stayed the course. I knew what was best for me and the team, and I just kept at it. It landed me some success.”

Donnal rebuffed his childhood school - Ohio State - for one reason coming out of high school: Playing offensive line for Kirk Ferentz at Iowa was a steppingstone toward greatness.

'A lot of times, Iowa doesn't get the four- or five-star recruits,” he said. 'But what they do a really good job of is developing players and making that them fundamentally sound students of the game. A lot of the guys at Iowa don't have the tangibles - height, weight, strength - but they're sound technicians and know the game inside and out.”

Many analysts project Donnal to be on the outside looking in when the draft wraps up. But that doesn't mean teams won't be willing to spend a pick on the 6-foot-5 lineman.

'He's a player that needs to be talked about more,” CBS draft expert Dane Brugler said. 'He's been overshadowed by Scherff. He kind of waited his turn and did a nice job while he was in the shadows; getting bigger, filling out his frame, improving where he could, even though he didn't get consistent reps.

'And then once he was on the field, he played well.”

BIBBS STILL HEALING

Iowa State tight end E.J. Bibbs is still nursing a knee injury that forced him to miss the end of the season and the Senior Bowl. But he sees the combine as a chance to prove he's going to be fine by the time summer rolls around.

'I need to show my hands off and show how fast I am,” he said. 'I'm basically just going out there and having fun.”

The son of two police officers, the Chicago-area athlete transferred to Iowa State from Arizona Western before the 2013 season. Ten touchdowns later, he's happy he picked the Cyclones over other suitors.

'I think it was the best choice for me,” he said. 'It got me here. Coach Rhodes was a great coach. When I got there, he told me everything I needed to do to be the best tight end.”

Bibbs is projected by CBS Sports as a fifth- or sixth-round pick.

‘STRAIGHT-LINE FAST'

Brugler also had positive things to say about Arkansas tight end A.J. Derby, who played for Iowa City High.

Derby began his career as a quarterback at Iowa but transferred to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College when he couldn't find playing time. He moved to Arkansas before the 2013 season and accepted a role as tight end.

'He was a lot more athletic than I thought he'd be,” Brugler said. 'And not just fast; straight-line fast. He showed some fluidity. He showed that he could run some routes. Obviously, he's still very raw as a route runner. But more only having one year experience, he was impressive.”

The 23-year-old is not expected to be drafted, but he's in Indianapolis with a chance to impress scouts and coaches.