NFL draft diary: TCU's Paul Dawson explains combine struggles Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports 5:53 p.m. EDT March 19, 2015
(Photo: Julio Cortez, AP)USA TODAY Sports has assembled a talented team of prospects to chronicle their paths to the NFL draft. Today's entry is from TCU linebacker Paul Dawson, who led the Horned Frogs with 136 tackles (81 solo, 20 for loss) as a senior in 2014 and is a potential first-round draft pick.I should've gone easy on myself at the combine. I had a tweak in my hamstring in my first 40-yard dash. I felt it the last 10 yards or so. I should've just sat it down from there. But I wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep competing against everybody. I thought I could stretch it and do some other stuff to it before my next 40. It was still pretty tight on me. I still ran anyway.The combine is just like the game. You treat it just like the game. Everybody is out there competing. In the game, I'm not going to sit down just because my hamstrings are tight or whatever. I'm going to keep competing, so that's what I decided to do. It turned out not too good. But my pro day will be much better.The toughest question I heard at the combine was, what's the most negative thing I've done in my life? I was thinking like, 'Is this a trick question?' He just went on to the next one. Really, the interviews were probably the best thing to happen for me. I already knew the questions that were coming to me — off-the-field concerns, which aren't an issue at all. I didn't have any problems. Everything went well.I feel like everything will be answered before the draft. When the teams met with me, they see what type of person I am and personality I have. I've got visits already planned with the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.I'm planning on redoing everything at my pro day with my fellow classmates and teammates, just going out there, having fun and competing. I've been working out down here in Tampa with a dude named Yo Murphy, the former NFL receiver. Training is going well. I'm working on a lot more flexibility, getting the right technique to running, trying to get my form down and my 40 down. I'm still getting treatment for my hamstrings, but they should be ready for the pro day.Why should I be the first inside linebacker taken? First of all, no other linebacker had as many stats and numbers as I did this year. I'm just overall the best, most instinctive linebacker in this draft. And I'm not going to stop working. I plan on continuing to work to be the best linebacker I can be. I feel like I have the ability to be an all-pro, Hall of Fame linebacker. You're going to see those same players and opponents that you played against in college. I feel like they didn't stop me then, so they won't be able to stop me in the future.I'm not an NFL player until I get drafted, though. I know where I am at this point in my life, and I know what I need to do to get it done. Everything is out ahead of me.***Follow Paul Dawson on Twitter at @PjDawson47
