Memphis DT Dontari Poe is strongman of NFL combine

The strongman of the NFL scouting combine?

It’s Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, who bench-pressed 225 pounds 44 times, the most repetitions of any player.

“I think I’m explosive, very explosive,” Poe said. “That’s probably my biggest strength. Most people think just because I’m big I do nothing but power... I try to use my quickness to my advantage.”

This draft class is deep in interior defensive linemen, and the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock ranks Poe as the third-best defensive tackle in the group.

Poe said he models his game on that of Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton.

“He’s aggressive,” Poe said. “He’s one of the more aggressive defensive tackles this league has seen. His hand strength, once he gets his hands on you, he kind of controls you. That’s probably what I admire most about him.”

The combine record of 49 reps was set last year by Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea, a second-round pick of Chicago.

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