Georgia RB Todd Gurley’s knee condition remains a mystery at NFL combine

NFL teams at the scouting combine won’t get a look at former Georgia running back Todd Gurley’s physical skills because of a knee injury.

They also won’t get a chance to examine that left knee there, according to NFL.com.

Gurley has opted to put off medical evaluations from teams until a later date, likely before the 2015 NFL draft.

No running back has been selected in the first round since 2012, though Gurley, at one point a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, could change that in April.

“I want to be the No. 1 pick,” Gurley said at the combine, according to Yahoo. “I’m not here to be No. 5 overall, or a second-round pick. I know what I can do, and I feel that I can help a team.”

No. 1 overall or not, any team that selects him will need to remain patient as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in a game Nov. 15.

The recovery process is expected to take six to nine months, putting him potentially back on the field by training camp.

Gurley rushed for 773 yards with eight touchdowns throughout the Bulldogs’ first five games last season before he was suspended four games for selling autographed memorabilia.

On Nov. 15, his first game back from the ban, Gurley rushed for 138 more yards and another score before he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

Despite having one more year of eligibility left, he opted to make himself available for the draft.

“I’ve been doing light jogging and a little ladder work -- a lot of strengthening for the quad and hamstring,” Gurley said. “Hamstring curls, single-leg squats and all that.”

For now, teams will just have to take his word on that because he also likely won’t be ready to demonstrate his abilities at Georgia’s pro day on March 18.

The NFL draft is April 30-May 2 in Chicago.

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme