Falcons' draft board: Five questions with Charleston DE John Cominsky

The NFL draft is set for April 25 through 27 in Nashville, Tenn. and each morning we’ll take a look at a player on the Falcons’ draft board.

Today we’ll look at Charleston defensive end John Cominsky, who’s a projected fourth-round pick, who’s had a Senior Bowl meeting with the Falcons.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said defensive end is one of the team’s draft priorities.

The Cominsky file: 

Height: 6-foot, 5-inches

Weight: 286 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds

Bench: 225 pounds 22 times.

Vertical: 33.5 inches

10-yard split: 1.67 seconds

20-yard: 2.78 seconds

3-Cone Drill: 7.03 seconds

Broad Jump: 6-feet, 8-inches

Five questions with Cominsky 

Cominsky weighed 215 pounds when he graduated from Barberton (OH) High School.

He played quarterback his senior year and was moved to defensive line as a freshman at Charleston.

Q: What do you think about making the big jump to NFL competition for the University of Charleston?

A: "Prior to the Senior Bowl I would have told you you're going to have wait to see. Before the Senior Bowl, I didn't have much of an answer other than I'm going to have to show you that I can handle the competition, I'm big and fast enough."

Q: How well did the Senior Bowl go for you?

A: "After the Senior Bowl, now if I'm asked that question I can just point to the film. Just go check out the Senior Bowl. Check me out in practice. Check me out

in the game. It's evident I can handle this and I can make plays against these guys.”

Q: Can you pick one defensive line position that you like best?

A: "I really can't, I played in a sophisticated 3-3-5 scheme in college. I think (West Virginia) is the only other team thatruns that. So this whole 4-3, 3-4 that's all over the NFL, I'm all new to that."

Q: Do you have to prove that you can step up? 

A: "I can look at it that way for sure. I kind of harp on my negatives a little too much. But I can definitely use that to keep moving forward and keep bettering myself."

Q: How much confidence do you get from small school guys who've done well like (S.C. State’s) Darius Leonard and (Kent State’s) Kareem Hunt?

A: "I look at some of those guys. There's a guy Akiem Hicks who's playing for the Bears now. He's an interior (defensive) lineman. He was I believe like from a D-3 school in Canada, so hearing that story is awesome. I use that as motivation, certainly."