WATCH: Georgia Bulldogs react to Nolan Smith 40-yard dash
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Georgia linebackers Nolan Smith and Robert Beal were impressive in their showings at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, and their teammates in Athens took notice. Marvin Jones Jr. posted to his social media a reaction video of the Bulldogs watching Smith run his unofficial 4.44 40-yard dash, a time that came in officially at 4.39.
Smith’s 40 wasn’t the only impressive thing he did in Indy however. His 41.5″ vertical jump was best among his position group by far, surpassing totals posted by players at positions you might expect to jump higher than an outside linebacker.
For comparison purposes, former Georgia wide receiver George Pickens jumped 33″ last year while Chris Conley jumped 45″ in 2015. Hasaan Reddick, who Daniel Jeremiah compared him to recently, had a 36 1/2″ vertical in 2017. As for his 40, NFL Network showed a side-by-side of Smith running with wide receivers Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins, both of whom he ran faster than.
Smith’s action on the field was his return from injury. He suffered a torn right pectoral muscle in late October and missed the final seven games of the season.
“I’m going to do on-field drills here and I’m going to do some at the Pro Day. I play football. That’s why I’m here,” Smith told reporters during his availability at the Combine. “I haven’t done anything in a long time. I can’t wait to showcase my talents. Everyone thought I died and all this stuff. I turned off the mock drafts, I turned off my phone, and I picked up a book. You can’t hurt me. I just wanted to create an iron mind, a mindset that no one can hurt me. No matter what you say about me, I’m just going to work.”
Teammate Robert Beal also wowed with his 40 time of 4.53 on second attempt. He ran a 4.58 on first attempt which was already considered to be speedy. His official time came in at 4.48.
Georgia has 12 players at the Combine, second most of any college program in the country. Defensive linemen and linebackers (Beal, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter) take the field on Thursday (3:00 p.m.) before defensive backs and kickers (Smith, Kelee Ringo, Jack Podlesny) do so on Friday at the same time. Then, offensive players (Stetson Bennett, Kenny McIntosh, Kearis Jackson, Darnell Washington, Broderick Jones, Warren McClendon) own the weekend (QB, WR, TE: Saturday 1:00 p.m. / RB, OL: Sunday 1:00 p.m.). All on-field workouts can be seen on NFL Network.
