Drills at the 2023 NFL combine got started on Thursday in Indianapolis, with the top defensive linemen and linebackers in the 2023 NFL draft class showcasing their skills in front of all 32 teams. Defensive backs and special teams follow on Friday (3 p.m. ET), quarterbacks and pass-catchers will be on Saturday (1 p.m. ET), and offensive lineman and running backs close things out on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).
Who ran well in the 40-yard dash? Who dominated in the rest of the on-field work? NFL draft experts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller recap Day 1 of the combine workouts, evaluating the top performances from each position, picking prospects who are rising (and potentially falling) and breaking down notable under-the-radar showings. Let’s get into it with a breakdown of all the action at Lucas Oil Stadium. And check out ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Friday at 3 p.m. ET for more.
DL/LB: Takeaways | Risers | Top players
DAY 1: DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, LINEBACKERS
Notables who did not work out: Jalen Carter, Myles Murphy, Tyree Wilson, Mazi Smith
What’s your biggest takeaway from Thursday’s workouts?
Miller: Get ready to hear the word “tweener” a lot following the Thursday night workouts. Two smaller-sized defensive linemen in Pitt’s Calijah Kancey and USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu were the talk of the town after turning in fantastic all-around workouts.
Kancey, a 6-foot-1, 281-pound interior rusher, ran a 4.67-second time in the 40-yard dash. He was super productive at Pitt with 14 sacks in the past two seasons. Tuipulotu was tied for the FCS lead with 13.5 sacks in 2022 but was thought too small to play defensive tackle in the NFL. He made that decision for the league by weighing in at 266 pounds, and he showed the speed and quickness that will make him a valuable NFL player with a fantastic on-field workout during positional drills. The interior pass-rusher is en vogue in the NFL right now, and Kancey and Tuipulotu could be next.
Reid: This defensive line class as a whole is fast! Throughout both groups, many prospects displayed their quick first step and long speed. It’s one of the deeper position groups in this draft class, and the burst throughout the entire position group was quite evident. Six defensive tackles ran faster than 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Biggest risers from Day 1
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson: Bresee had a tough 2022 season, dealing with injuries and the death of his sister. He had just 18 tackles and 3.5 sacks over 10 games. But from start to finish on Thursday, Bresee looked the best of the defensive tackle bunch. He posted great numbers, running a 4.86-second 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split. Then during the on-field workouts, Bresee looked fluid, and his change-of-direction skills appeared effortless. His hand strength and ability to redirect were also evident during both the run-the-hoop and run-and-club drills. He plays all positions along the interior but projects best as a 3-technique in the NFL. Right now, Bresee projects as a potential top-25 pick, and his stock is on the rise after an impressive showing. — Reid
Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia: Smith entered the 2022 college football season as a potential first-rounder and looked like one before tearing his right pectoral muscle in late October and missing the rest of the season. Just four months removed from the injury, Smith won me over by even participating in the combine. But his workout was outstanding on top of that. At 238 pounds, Smith jumped an incredible 41.5 inches in the vertical jump — a great number for a defensive back or wide receiver, let alone an edge rusher — a very respectable 10-foot-8 broad jump. Then he really stole the show with a 4.39-second run in the 40-yard dash. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, he’s the second-heaviest player to run a sub-4.4 40 and have a 40-plus-inch vertical at the combine since 2006, behind only 254-pound Vernon Davis. We knew Smith’s speed and first-step quickness were outstanding, and his performance confirmed it. My No. 20 overall player could very easily be the second linebacker off the board after Will Anderson Jr. — Miller
Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern: After a strong Senior Bowl performance, the Wildcats defensive lineman had one of the most eye-popping 40 times of the day, running a 4.49 at 282 pounds. That’s the fastest time for any 280-plus-pound player at the combine since 2006, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He’s a bit of a tweener and spent a lot of time both along the interior and off the edge, so NFL scouts will need to figure out where he fits into their defenses. But Adebawore showcased plenty of explosiveness on tape, posting five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022, and those solid traits stood out on Thursday. He added to the blazing 40 time with a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump. Although there are some questions about his position at the next level, he showed that he’s a talented player and should be a top-50 pick. — Reid
Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina: A Day 3 prospect at defensive tackle, Pickens made money on Thursday night with a fantastic on-field workout and solid testing times. It started with the weigh-in, where Pickens measured in at 6-4 and 291 pounds with a 34 ⅜-inch arm length — excellent size for a versatile interior defender. Pickens also impressed with his on-field positional skill drills, showing quickness, flexibility and balance in bag drills. A 4.89-second 40 time will only help make the case for Pickens as a Day 2 player in a thin defensive tackle class. — Miller
How other top prospects fared on Day 1
Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa: A 4.58-second run in the 40-yard dash started the day right for Van Ness. At 6-5 and 272 pounds, Van Ness flashed the speed that has made him a top-15 prospect despite not even starting at Iowa. With very strong on-field drill work — Van Ness dominated bag drills — it was a great workout for my No. 3 defensive end. Van Ness’ length is obvious watching him work in person, especially when he was whipping through the bags and demonstrating his bend. He also has power and burst in his lower body which make him a special pass-rush prospect. — Miller
Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama: Even though he’s a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick, Anderson still went out and competed. And in running a 4.60-second 40-yard dash, he didn’t do anything to hurt his draft stock. It’s a solid time for him, but what was most impressive about his workout was how fluid he looked in situations that he was seldom in at Alabama. That included dropping into coverage, flipping his hips and driving on the ball. Anderson proved that he can turn and run, which means he could fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. But he can also put his hand in the dirt for a 4-3 scheme and dominate off the edge. — Reid
Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State: Positional drills looked easy for McDonald, as he effortlessly navigated bag drills and change-of-direction exercises. McDonald is a smooth mover with excellent length (34 ⅞-inch arms), a great vertical of 36 inches and a group-leading broad jump of 11-feet. He has been a riser of late, with Mel Kiper Jr. slotting him No. 8 overall in his most recent mock draft. Despite his 34 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss over 55 career games, I was skeptical of that grade. But after watching him today, it’s easy to see him as a Round 1 player. — Miller
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh: Despite only running the 40-yard dash, Kancey wowed with a stellar time. He posted a 4.67-second 40-yard dash time, which gives him the fastest time of any defensive tackle since 2006. A bit undersized at 6-1 and 281 pounds, he wins with explosiveness off the line. And his timed speed matched the suddenness and quick first step that are littered throughout his 2022 film. Kancey has the potential to completely alter the interior pass-rush potential for an NFL team’s defensive front, and he looks like a mid-to-late Day 1 pick. — Reid
Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas: Sanders opted to not run a 40-yard dash but did take the field for position drills. He was highly impressive in a bag work drill that’s designed to show balance, flexibility, foot speed and bend. With 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in 2022, the Alabama transfer was among the most productive all-around linebackers in the class. He’s currently ranked at No. 34 overall on my board and is LB2. — Miller
Trenton Simpson, ILB, Clemson: He suffered a foot injury during the ACC Championship Game, but Simpson looked good in his workout. He ran a 4.43-second 40 time, showcasing the agility and burst that we’ve seen throughout his career. He played more inside linebacker last year compared to the past, when he was used more in various alignments, but evaluators love his versatility. NFL teams can use Simpson as a blitzer or in the slot to cover tight ends, and he could be a late-Round 1 or early-Round 2 selection. — Reid
Derick Hall, DE, Auburn: Hall followed up a very strong showing at the Senior Bowl with another really good day in both agility drills and the position-specific work at the combine. Hall’s 33.5-inch vertical jump is solid, but his 10-foot-7 broad jump was truly fantastic for his size (6-3, 254 pounds). Hall saved the best for last with a very good workout in the edge-rusher group. His hand power and bend were on display throughout the workout, and he showed easy movement skills working in space. — Miller
More notes, thoughts and things we heard and saw from Day 1 of workouts
Reid:
-
Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton quietly had a very productive workout. At 6-4 and 309 pounds, he ran a 5.08 40-yard dash but had an impressive 1.79-second 10-yard split. That type of initial burst is what his game is centered around. His power was also frequently seen on Thursday, as his best moments came during the on-field drills where he was able to display the strength in his hands and ability to turn the corner and finish. Currently my fifth-ranked interior defender, Benton carries a second-round grade and could eventually become a top-50 pick.
-
Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley really impressed me. Originally starting off as a wide receiver, he transitioned to safety and then finished his career as a linebacker. That diverse skill set and his movement skills were easy to see, as he looked the best of anyone during multiple change-of-direction drills that required him to drop into coverage. The savvy that he learned from playing on the back end has carried over to his new position. A strong Senior Bowl performance catapulted Henley into the third-round discussion, and after a strong showing today, it’s hard to imagine him getting out of Day 2.
Miller:
-
USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu was the first weigh-in surprise of the day, when he came in at 266 pounds after being listed at 290 pounds by the Trojans. Thought to be a tweener as a mixture of a defensive tackle and defensive end in college, it’s clear now that Tuipulotu intends to line up at end with a weight under 270 pounds. Regardless, he wowed with his quickness and footwork during positional drills and agility work. With 13.5 sacks — tied for most in the nation last season — Tuipulotu has movement ability to go with his production.
-
Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. opted to run just one 40-yard dash versus the two attempts players are allowed. As one of the top-ranked players in the class, Anderson made a statement by not backing out of his workout. That’s something NFL scouts love to see — a player who competes without fear. Anderson’s 40 time of 4.60 seconds was solid, and his willingness to participate will further cement his status with scouts.
Sponsored Content
Bet the World Cup in Wager.dm
