2022 NFL Draft: 5 Storylines From the NFL Combine
By Evan Bruner
4. Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III’s Domination
For as much uncertainty as there has been at the quarterback position for the 2022 NFL Draft, the running backs haven’t had that problem. The consensus running backs coming into the combine were Breece Hall of Iowa State and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, and both made strong claims for RB1 status.
Both players were supposed to test well, but just how well wasn’t quite clear. Hall had a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash to go with a 40 inch vertical and 10 1/2 broad jump. This is especially impressive for a 5’11 220 pound running back. Walker, on the other hand, ran a 4.38 in the 40 with a 34 inch vertical and 10 feet two-inch broad jump. Both players showed exemplary burst and explosion to go with their elite college production.
Running backs don’t always need great athletic testing scores to go high. For example, Josh Jacobs ran in the 4.6s for his 40 and went in the first round back in 2019. But jaw-dropping combine numbers certainly don’t hurt and will only add to Hall and Walker’s hype going into the draft.