Fastest 40 times from LBs on Day 1 at the NFL Combine
As the last — and fastest — of the three defensive groups to work out at the 2023 NFL Combine on Thursday, the linebackers offered up a show in the 40-yard dash. Per the unofficial times, only one prospect cracked the 4.4 range.
A few notable prospects, like Arkansas‘ Drew Sanders, did not run. Alabama’s Will Anderson worked out with the linebackers and stood on his first 40 time of 4.69, reportedly happy with his result.
While no one quite flashed high-end speed, there was a strong group of players all in the 4.5 range.
The fastest LB 40 yard dashes from 2023 NFL Combine
Owen Pappoe, Auburn: 4.46 seconds
Trenton Simpson, Clemson: 4.50 seconds
Yasir Abdullah, Louisville: 4.53 seconds
Dorian Williams, Tulane: 4.54 seconds
D.J. Johnson, Oregon: 4.55
Derick Hall, Auburn: 4.57
Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech: 4.57 seconds
Shaka Heyward, Duke: 4.57 seconds
Dee Winters, TCU: 4.57 secondss
Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt: 4.58 seconds
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas: 4.59 seconds
Jeremy Banks, Tennessee: 4.59 seconds
All the other prospects working out with the linebackers either did not run or were in the 4.6 range or slower.
WATCH: Auburn’s Owen Pappoe celebrates running a stellar 40-yard-dash at NFL Combine
Owen Pappoe wowed us in college and is now wowing scouts at the NFL Combine.
The former Auburn linebacker ran a 4.46 unofficial 40-yard-dash Thursday evening at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, just adding another accolade to his stacked resume.
Check out the run, including his interesting celebration at the end:
He ended his college career with 256 tackles (15 for loss), eight sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles. Pappoe was one of the most dominant linebackers to ever suit up on The Plains and he’s got the stats to prove it. In 2022, he was named as one of 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award–given to the nation’s top linebacker.
Pappoe projects to be a second or third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which will begin on April 27.