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- Mar 19, 2019
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OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS
It was Isaiah Simmons' world on Saturday, and we were all just living in it. Like Tristan Wirfs the day before him, Simmons had one of the best Combine workouts ever for his position, measuring in at 6-4, 238 with over 33-inch arms, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and putting up a 39.0-inch vertical and 132.0-inch broad jump. According to NFL Research, Simmons is the first player since at least 2003 at the Combine to record a vertical of at least 38 inches, a broad jump of at least 11 feet, and a 40-yard dash of 4.4 seconds or less while weighing 230-plus pounds.
A pair of likely Day 2 linebackers, Malik Harrison and Willie Gay Jr., both showed up in a big way. Gay Jr. finished top five in the 40, bench press, vertical and broad jumps while also looking smooth as ever in drills. Harrison only finished top five in the three-cone, leading all linebackers and so far ranking third among all players at this year's Combine, but it was one of the best times among off-ball linebackers in the last 10 years. He also looked very polished in on-field drills.
While most people are familiar with the Temple and Wyoming football programs, both could be considered "mid-majors." Temple's Shaun Bradley and Wyoming's Logan Wilson represented well for the smaller programs, the pair both showing quality athletic scores and fluid movement and ball skills in on-field work. They'll be a couple of smaller-school names to keep an eye on in the middle rounds of the draft.
40-Yard Dash
- Isaiah Simmons, Clemson — 4.39
- Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State — 4.46
- Davion Taylor, Colorado — 4.49
- Patrick Queen, LSU — 4.50
- Shaun Bradley, Temple — 4.51
Bench Press
- Khaleke Hudson, Michigan — 30
- Joe Bachie, Michigan State — 26
- Zack Baun, Wisconsin — 24
- Shaquille Quarterman, Miami — 23
- Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State — 21
- Five others tied at 21
Vertical Jump
- Dante Olson, Montana — 42.0
- Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State — 39.5
- Jacob Phillips, LSU — 39.0
- Isaiah Simmons, Clemson — 39.0
- Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma — 38.0
Broad Jump
- Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State — 136.0
- Isaiah Simmons, Clemson — 132.0
- Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma — 129.0
- Davion Taylor, Colorado — 127.0
- Jacob Phillips, LSU — 126.0
Three-Cone Drill
- Malik Harrison, Ohio State — 6.83
- Cale Garrett, Missouri — 6.91
- Joe Bachie, Michigan State — 6.93
- Davion Taylor, Colorado — 6.96
- Zack Baun, Wisconsin — 7.00
- Dante Olson, Montana — 7.00
20-Yard Short Shuttle
- Cale Garrett, Missouri — 4.13
- Evan Weaver, California — 4.21
- Shaun Bradley, Temple — 4.24
- Mykal Walker, Fresno State — 4.25
- Davion Taylor, Colorado — 4.26
Notable players not performing due to injury/choice: Markus Bailey (knee), Akeem Davis-Gaither (foot), Troy Dye (knee), Kenneth Murray (hamstring, ran 40), Michael Pinckney (hip), Patrick Queen (hamstring, ran 40)