Former Gopher Cashman impresses at NFL Combine

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - University of Minnesota senior linebacker Blake Cashman opted to skip the Gophers’ 34-10 win over Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl to prepare for a possible future in the NFL.

The move appears to have paid off after an impressive weekend at the NFL Combine. One NFL Draft analyst says Cashman is the best linebacker in the draft that nobody is talking about.

He finished third in the broad jump among linebackers at 124 inches, a little more than 10 feet. He was also fourth in the 40-yard dash (4.50), and the 20-yard shuttle (4.12). Cashman tied for fifth in the vertical jump at 37.5 inches, and tied for seventh in the three-cone drill.

Cashman played 48 games in his Gophers career and had 183 tackles, including 31 tackles for a loss and 12sacks. He was a walk-on before getting a scholarship from PJ Fleck before his junior season.

Last year, he led Minnesota with 104 tackles, had 15 tackles for a loss, five pass break-ups and a forced fumble, which he returned for a touchdown.