Josh Paschal jumps ahead of the competition at the NFL Combine

It’s difficult to stand out among a crowd of talented defensive ends. The most gifted athletes on a football field, it’s not unusual for a 260-pounder to sprint as fast as a 190-pound wide receiver. Ahead of a draft with edge talent ready to go off the board at the top of the first round, Josh Paschal still stood out at the NFL Combine.

The former Kentucky defensive end ran through field workouts Saturday night. Paschal jumped his way up draft boards. He posted the fifth-best vertical leap (37.5″) and eighth-best broad jump (10’3″) among all defensive ends. After taking a few giant leaps, the 6-foot-3, 268 pound former Wildcat ran a 4.77 40-yard dash.

#BBN speed: @JPaschalx 4.77 40.

📺 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ikBK3tOLwJ

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) March 6, 2022

I never took physics; not a big science guy. Even if I did, my mind can’t comprehend how he can get those tree trunks moving that fast. Remarkable.

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‘A Dream Come True’ for Josh Paschal

Ahead of the event, the NFL promoted the Combine by sharing Josh Paschal’s story. He was one of only a few players that starred in one-minute Instagram videos ahead of the event in Indianapolis. Paschal was shocked when he first saw it, but proud to shine a light on the BBN.

“It means a lot. At Kentucky, we represent the state, we represent Lexington, the Bluegrass,” Paschal told KSR. “For us, we represent hard work, that blue collar work ethic in Kentucky and being here representing with seven of us here, we’re just thankful to be here. It took a lot to be here. We poured a lot into this. This senior class we came together last season and we had a goal to set. We went through the season with high standards and to come here and for all of those dreams to come true. We still have a lot to do because we want to have a long career in the NFL. But to be on this stage is a blessing.”

It’s the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to fulfilling his dream, one he’s been chasing since he was a young child.

“I’ve been having this dream since I was five years old,” he said. “When I was little trying to make weight for little league it would be 11 o’clock at night. My sister’s two years older than me. So I’d go downstairs in the basement and get on the treadmill. I’d get my sister to come down there because I was afraid of the dark.”

Paschal added, “I’ve had that vision ever since then.”

After an exceptional performance at the NFL Combine, that vision will become a reality in April at the 2022 NFL Draft.