Will Howard and Cody Simon are among five Ohio State players who could see their NFL Draft stock rise with a strong showing at the NFL Combine this week.

The NFL Scouting Combine has a lore to it that may seem far from intriguing to those outside the league’s circle and the media covering it. A week of people standing in front of microphones, eating shrimp cocktails and running in — to be frank — underwear doesn’t seem like the ideal setting for determining the best prospects in football.