At the NFL Combine this year, hundreds of college athletes will once again be putting themselves on display and trying to consolidate or increase their chances of being placed high in the draft. On day one on Thursday, the men from the defensive front started the spectacle in the Indianapolis Colts. One in particular drew attention.
Egde rusher Chop Robinson increased his market value primarily through his outstanding performances in the 40-yard dash. Robinson ran his first attempt at the 40 yards in 4.48 seconds. His 10-yard split was particularly impressive at 1.54 seconds.
As “ESPN Stats & Information” researched, since 2003 only three athletes who weighed more than 250 pounds (113 kg) have achieved a better split. Robinson, who appeared to have gained some weight before the Combine, was weighed in at 254 pounds.
With his performance in Indianapolis, Robinson may have finally made his way into the first round. His qualities as a pass rush specialist coupled with his enormous speed will be interesting for some teams.
NFL: Top prospects consolidate their status
There is no exceptional talent in the category of Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa in this year’s draft class, but some interesting players still showed up at the combine.
The top candidates Dallas Turner (Alabama), Jared verses (Florida State) and Laiatu Latu (UCLA) all performed well and cemented their status as clear first-round picks.
Dallas Turner is a slightly slimmer pass rusher at 247 pounds, but has an impressive wingspan of 2.10 m and was able to impress in both the long jump (3.22 m) and the 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds).
Jared Verse, who finished his season with 6.5 sacks in the last five games, weighs slightly more (254 pounds) and showed strong hands in pass-rush drills. His long jump (also 3.22 m) and his 4.59 seconds in the 40 yards demonstrated his explosiveness.
Laiatu Latu had 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons at UCLA and excelled in the 40-yard dash (4.64 with 1.62 seconds in the 10-yard split) despite his 261 pounds. Latu, who retired from Washington for medical reasons in 2020 but returned to UCLA in 2022, appears ready for the NFL.