Media by Associated Press – Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The NFL Draft has become a megaevent to the point that the NFL Draft Combine and workouts relating to it will be over-scrutinized by fans and media alike. In the long run, it will be difficult to determine which prospects will have lengthy, successful careers. Here’s a look at some winners and losers from the early part of the combine.
Winners
Calijah Kancey lives up to legacy
Pitt product Calijah Kancey, who is the reigning ACC Defensive player of the year, turned heads Thursday by running the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds. Kancey broke fellow Pitt alum Aaron Donald’s record for the fastest 40-yard dash by a defensive lineman. Since Kancey weighs 281 pounds, which is also a record for players over 280 pounds.
Kancey, who projects as a late first-round or second-round choice, is undersized for the position but flashed immense potential at Pitt by finishing with 27.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks over his final two seasons.
Nolan Smith gets his name out there
Georgia Nolan Smith, who tore his pec in November of his senior season and missed this past year’s College Football Playoffs, shined. Smith, who projects as a linebacker, ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, which is faster than some top wide receivers and running backs.
McDonald’s got the fever
Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald was able to put up impressive numbers during his workout, despite having a 104-degree temperature at the time. McDonald had a broad jump of 11 feet and a 36-inch vertical leap. McDonald’s broad jump was tied for best among defensive ends at this year’s combine and third best since 2009.
Losers
Jalen Carter has much to worry about
There’s nothing to make light of with the Georgia product’s situation. He finds himself in legal trouble for misleading police after a drag racing incident between two cars led to the death of a fellow Bulldogs player and a member of the recruiting staff. Carter was informed he would be charged in the incident this week.
Carter, a potential top-10 pick, is now being swarmed by rumors that he could fall down the draft boards.
Mike Morris struggles with speed
Michigan edge rusher Mike Morris didn’t quite keep up with the crowd Thursday. Morris finished with a 5.04 time in the 40 and a 25-½ inch leap in the vertical. He was toward the bottom of his position in each category. Teams want explosiveness off the edge, and Morris didn’t acquaint himself with that very well.
Andre Carter stumbles toward the draft
Attending Army is already a challenge for football players because they have to maintain their weight to a certain number throughout the season. Carter, who scouts say was unimpressive in the Senior Bowl, didn’t have good numbers in the vertical or broad jump, landing in the bottom 26 percentile of both categories.
Carter didn’t run the 40-yard dash, which alarmed teams that wanted to see how fast he could potentially come off the edge.
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