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The Defensive Lineman and Linebackers took the field on the first day of the televised portion of the Combine. The Minnesota Vikings fans and hopefully scouts were particularly interested in the big guys on the DL. Digesting the information from a distance, there were a few performances that stuck out to me.
James Pearce Jr
Pearce Jr ran a 4.47s 40-yard dash. He had 19 ½ sacks at Tennessee and was already considered to be a late first round pick. The talk is he launched himself into the top half of the first round with the production on tape now lining up with measurable speed.
Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr. (4.47u) clocked a FASTER 40 time than:
Christian McCaffrey (4.48)
Derrick Henry (4.54)
CeeDee Lamb (4.50)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (4.51)Pearce Jr. is 6-5, 245lbs ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/CJNzNsuSmy
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) February 27, 2025
Kain Medrano
Medrano also impressed with his 4.46 40 time, fastest amongst the linebackers. His 38-inch vertical and 10’5” broad jump aren’t too shabby either. He’s 6’3” and 222 lbs. with running back speed. Medrano isn’t considered a top prospect, but his performance likely ensures he’s drafted.
Kain Medrano is the fastest of the LBs
: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/4WRfv4Rw3B— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2025
Shemar Stewart
Stewart impressed more with his athleticism than his speed. His 40-inch vertical and 10’11” broad jump might be enough to make him a top 10 selection in April.
Zeek Biggers
I have to give a shoutout to a guy from my alma mater. The 6’5” 321 lb. big man from GA Tech was 3rd among DTs with a 34.5-inch vertical. Hoping he hears his name called in April.
6-foot-6 ✔️
320 lbs ✔️
Big hops ✔️(There’s a reason he blocked 4 kicks the last three seasons )
@ZeekBiggers at the #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork #ProJackets x #StingEm pic.twitter.com/2jVEd34MtA
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) February 27, 2025
Honorable Mentions
Landon Jackson – his 40.5-inch vertical was highest among edge rushers.
Ty Robinson – had the fastest interior DL time with a 4.83s 40.