Georgia’s Nolan Smith Headlines Defense At 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith is the biggest riser so far from this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Who else has stood out on defense from the first two days?

Despite the lack of production at Georgia and injury concerns, Nolan Smith made his presence known at the Scouting Combine with his insane athletic testing. He was just one of the standouts of the front seven group that showed off their athleticism on the first day of the Scouting Combine.

Due to a torn pectoral, Smith missed half of the season last year, as he was playing behind first-round starters the year before in a heavy rotation as an edge player. Due to the lack of playing time as a starter for the Bulldogs, his production isn’t special (at 12.5 sacks in four seasons) but with his testing, the senior definitely made some heads turn on the first day of the Scouting Combine.

2023 NFL Scouting Combine Standouts On Defense

At 6’2″ and 238 pounds, the edge rusher from Georgia led his position or was in the top three for all the events that were recorded, including the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump. His 40-yard dash and vertical were historic, as his 4.39 was the 2nd fastest ever, and his 41.50″ was the highest ever. His 1.52 10-yard split (top five ever) and his 10’8″ broad (top nine ever) were also off the charts, at least since 2003.

Prior to Smith jumping out of the gym and running at a blazing time, there was another highlight of the first day of the Scouting Combine, as this defensive tackle surely raised his draft stock to a potential round one player. One that has seen comps to Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald for more reasons than one.

Defensive Tackle

Calijah Kancey was the other star of the show. The Pitt defensive tackle made history, running a 4.67 40-yard dash, which is the fastest for a defensive tackle ever since 2003. This is only a second faster than Donald (who also shares a similar size to the redshirt junior as a former Pitt Panther). His arm length is an outlier, however, at 30 5/8″ arms. Kancey didn’t do some of the other testing drills so the comparisons are still far apart compared to what Donald did at the Scouting Combine or what we have on record so far (not even taking into account his play on the field).

At 6’1″ and 281 lbs., Kancey has the production to match as an undersized interior defensive lineman (with 16 sacks in three seasons). His other testing metric was top of the line as well, with his 10-yard split (top of the class at 1.64 seconds and top five all-time).

Jalen Carter (Georgia) was the debatable top defender in the draft before his legal situation (arrest warrant) popped up right before the Scouting Combine, so it will be interesting if he falls due to off-the-field concerns or not. Talent-wise, he is a top-ten pick in this draft so I don’t envision him sliding past the top five unless he doesn’t convince teams of his big off-field red flag.

Mazi Smith (Michigan) and Siaki Ika (Baylor) could be potential late day-one to early day-two picks if teams want the big interior nose tackles to help stop the run. The Michigan defensive tackle displayed his strength with the most reps on the bench press at 34 reps.

Siaki Ika Scouting Report

Jalen Redmond (Oklahoma), Zacch Pickens (South Carolina), Dante Stills (West Virginia), and Gervon Dexter Sr. (Florida) also stood out for their size/speed combo and their athletic testing results. Jaquelin Roy (LSU) didn’t run or do some of the other testing events but his strength showed with his bench (with 30 reps, second out of the defensive tackles).

Hunter Haas also scouted Wisconsin’s Keeanu Benton at defensive tackle and edge rusher Nick Herbig. Both could be targeted on day two for teams looking for front-seven players with experience, production, and versatility.

Other than Nolan Smith, here are a few other notable pass rushers off the edge that made a splash on the first day of the Scouting Combine.

Edge Rusher

Other edge rushers that stood out include Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama), Byron Young (Tennessee), and Adetomiwa Adebawore (Northwestern). They either made some money with their testing, like Young, or confirmed their status at the top of the position, like the “Terminator” aka Will Anderson Jr. certainly did.

At 6’3″ and 253 lbs., Anderson should be a top-five pick, with the size and production (34.5 sacks) to match the profile of a potential top pass rusher the NFL covets. His testing wasn’t flashy at a bulked-up weight with his measurables (ran a 4.6 at the 40-yard dash). It still was good enough to cement his status as the best or one of the best defensive players in this draft. During the drills, he was up and down but the Alabama junior is one of the most polished players in this draft.

The biggest potential freak in terms of size and speed could be Northwestern’s Adebawore, the 6’2″, 282-pound defensive lineman that ran a 4.49 40-yard dash (also excelling at the other athletic drills). The senior is raw and lacks production, but can be molded into an explosive pass rusher if he gets the right development. As a later-round prospect, a team may jump on him earlier than expected just cause of his testing, even if he is a tweener at the position.

Tennessee’s Young also made some money, as he was right behind or ahead of Smith and Adebawore in terms of testing. As an older prospect at 25 years old, Young had the same amount of sacks in two years (12.5) as Adebawore in four seasons (12.5).

Other notable names that could be picked from days two and three of the draft that helped themselves with their testing include Will McDonald IV (Iowa State), Derrick Hall (Auburn), Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame), Lonnie Phelps (Kansas), Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan), Robert Beal Jr. (Georgia), and YaYa Diaby (Louisville).

Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech) and Myles Murphy (Clemson) are the other names that will be taken early in round one to rush the passer. The other Clemson defensive lineman, Bryan Bresee, at defensive tackle had a good showing with his testing and should also be a potential first-rounder.

The medicals will be key for these guys, as some are recovering from an injury or need to prove they are worth the risk with their talent, despite their injury history.

Another player on defense from Clemson that potentially raised his draft stock is the do-it-all speedy linebacker, Trenton Simpson, in a weaker linebacker class compared to most years.

Linebackers

For off-ball linebackers, Trenton Simpson (Clemson), with his 40-yard dash (4.43 seconds) and bench press (25 reps), and Drew Sanders (Arkansas) are the top two at the position.

Simpson showed enough athleticism to be able to run and chase ball carriers, cover the middle of the field, and get after opposing passers. With that versatility at his disposal, it is no wonder why is touted as a potential three-down linebacker that can also spy quarterbacks.

A later-round potential prospect like Owen Pappoe (Auburn) should have his name on draft boards rise due to testing alone (especially with a 4.39 40-yard dash and 29 reps on the bench press). Daiyan Henley (Washington State), DeMarvion Overshown (Texas), and Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) are all potential day-two prospects that had good outings at the Scouting Combine.

Peter Jurich, of NFL Mocks, scouted Oregon linebacker, Noah Sewell, as he belongs in the tier right below the other linebackers mentioned as a potential round-two or three selection.

Hunter Haas scouted both Iowa prospects Lukas Van Ness (EDGE) and Jack Campbell (linebacker), both showing out at the Scouting Combine with their athletic scores and both should be potential first-round picks.

Jack Campbell has traditional linebacker size, listing at 6’5″ and 249 lbs. The senior was a tackle machine at Iowa as an inside linebacker, as he almost accumulated over 300 total tackles in three seasons (299 and started two seasons). His 4.65 40-yard dash was fine for his size, but his other testing stats stood out, like his vertical (top three with a 37.5″), broad (2nd at the position with a 10’8″), and first in the class at the 3-cone (6.74 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.24 seconds).

Lukas Van Ness is less experienced as a prospect as a pass rusher off the edge, however, as he was used more as a backup or situational pass rusher with the tools. The redshirt sophomore “Hercules” has solid arm length (34″) and possesses good size at 6’5″, 272 lbs. He didn’t start any games but in the two years he did play, Van Ness did show up on the stat sheet with 13 sacks as a bench player for Iowa. His 40-yard dash at 4.58 is good for his size and had the second best 3-cone (7.02 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.32 seconds).

Iowa does have other draftable players on defense, but one in particular in the secondary that is notable at cornerback and when that happens, it will be the first time since 2018 (in the past five drafts) it has happened.

Cornerbacks

Even though he didn’t run the fastest 40-yard dash out of all the cornerbacks, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez shouldn’t escape the top ten of this year’s draft. At 6’1″ and 197 lbs. (with 32″ arms), the junior ran the seventh fastest 40 (at 4.38 seconds) along with the third best vertical (at 41.5″) and a top five broad jump (11’1″), showing fluidity during the drills. Gonzalez led the Ducks last season with four interceptions and seven pass deflections as a starting boundary corner. He played at Colorado for two years and then transferred to Oregon to follow his cornerback’s coach, where he started and had his breakout season.

The fastest 40-yard dash, for corners and so far overall, goes to DJ Turner II at 4.26. The Michigan Wolverine posted an elite 10-yard split at 1.47 seconds, leading the position as he projects more as a slot corner due to his size at 5’11” and 178 lbs. The redshirt junior had 17 pass deflections and three interceptions in the two seasons he played.

Speaking of lighter cornerbacks, Emmanuel Forbes is the definition of rail thin with his 6’1″ height but weighing 166 lbs. The Mississippi State corner did run a 4.35,  which was tied for third, and his 1.48 10-yard split was tied for second at the position. The junior corner with 32 1/4″ arms was a ball hawk in his three seasons as a Bulldog, catching 14 picks and bringing six of them to the house (with six pass deflections). It is rare for a corner to have more interceptions than pass deflections in a college career.

Other potential first-round corners who had pretty good testing, other than Gonzalez, include Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State) and Kelee Ringo (Georgia). Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) would be on the list but he didn’t test due to an injury (hamstring).

Witherspoon, at 5’11” and 181 lbs. (with 31 1/3″ arms), is a feisty cover corner that seems like the opposite of Forbes (statistically). The senior amassed 25 pass deflections and five interceptions in his four years at Illinois.

Both Porter Jr. and Ringo are both listed at around 6’2″ but are slightly different in measurables. The Penn State corner (193 lbs.) is about ten lbs. lighter and a 1/2 inch taller than the Georgia corner (207 lbs.) and Porter Jr. has the arm length advantage, with 34″ arms. Ringo is faster, running a 4.36 40-yard dash in comparison to Porter’s 4.46 40-yard dash.

The Georgia redshirt sophomore possesses 31 1/4″ arms and both he and the Penn State redshirt junior project on the boundary if teams are looking for a press-man corner in the first round.

Statistically, Ringo has the advantage on a better defense, with four interceptions and 15 pass deflections in the two years he started. Porter Jr. has only one career interception in his four years at Penn State, but 20 pass deflections, as he also only started for two years.

The Maryland cornerbacks blazed through the Scouting Combine, as they were among the fastest groups at the position. Jakorian Bennett (at 4.3 seconds) and Deonte Banks (at 4.35 seconds) had the second and third fastest 40-yard dash times for corners. Both Bennett and Banks had upper-echelon athletic scores for basically all the other testing events, as the redshirt junior Banks does project a bit better at the next level due to size, even if the senior Bennett is faster and has more production.

The South Carolina cornerbacks didn’t disappoint, however, as Cam Smith should be a late first or early second-round selection with his athletic score and Darius Rush is no slouch himself as a potential day-two pick. Rush ran the sixth fastest 40-yard dash (at 4.36) and Smith was just outside the top ten (running a 4.43) as the 11th fastest at the position, which is more than manageable for their size. Smith had a top-three score in the broad jump (11’2″) and is slightly more productive, while Rush is the faster and bigger corner out of the two.

Another big corner that jumped out of the gym is Kansas State’s, Julius Brents. He is second all-time in the broad jump (11’6″) and is top ten all-time in the vertical jump, even if others from this draft class were close or ahead of his mark of 41.5″. Regardless, the 6’3″ redshirt senior had elite ratings for the other athletic testing metrics, while running a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at 198 lbs. with 34″ arms at his size.

Other mid-round prospects at cornerback that did well in their testing include Kei’Trel Clark (Louisville), Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU), Cameron Mitchell (Northwestern), and Clark Phillips III (Utah). Both of them are for sure slot corners with their size and offer quick twitch, along with toughness and aggression at the position to make plays.

The senior at 6’1″ and 193 lbs. is a better overall prospect than Apke, despite not being as fast as him, and Moss also has safety versatility if a team thinks he fits there better, similar to Apke. Still, a 4.45 40-yard dash for Moss is plenty fast, totaling 11 interceptions and 26 pass deflections in five seasons but started the last two years at Iowa.

This secondary class this year has more depth and talent at the corner compared to safety. So I included Alabama’s Brian Branch in the safety group, even though he is considered a slot cornerback by many but regardless, he is a highly touted and instinctual defensive back in this year’s draft class.

However, there is another safety that has the versatility to play corner, who excelled in athletic testing at the Scouting Combine.

Safety

In terms of athletic testing, for safeties, it probably matters less than at another defensive position just in general. So things like the 40-yard dash are less significant but having said that, this safety class is slower than most years and not one safety ran under a 4.4 and only five safeties ran under 4.5. It is mostly instincts or how they excel in the role they are given within the defense or if they are versatile to make plays wherever they are lined up on the field. That being said, it does help if you have both the mental football intellect and enough physical attributes on the field.

Even though he is classified as a potential first-round corner, Brian Branch was a safety prospect that started there before playing more snaps at nickel corner at Alabama. His testing was average to below average (other than his broad, which would’ve been top five as a safety at 10’5″), but the 6’0″ junior defensive back’s game is more instinctive, as that does sometimes translate more than the physical attributes. Branch, weighing in at 190 lbs. with 30 3/4″ arms, had three interceptions and 23 pass deflections in the three seasons he played for the Crimson Tide as a versatile defensive back.

The other safety at Alabama, Jordan Battle can be seen as “the jack of all trades, master of none,” even more than Branch. The senior safety is listed at 6’1″ and 209 lbs. with 32″ arms but had less production compared to Branch (six interceptions and ten pass deflections in four seasons). Battle does have the size advantage as a traditional cover safety, and running a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash is good enough for that spot.

Speaking of size, JL Skinner out of Boise State is massive at 6’4″ and 209 lbs. with 32″ arms. However, he was injured during training prior to the Scouting Combine and is out with a torn pec that needs surgery.

Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M), Anthony Johnson Jr. (Iowa State), and Jammie Robinson (Florida State) all ran under 4.6 in the 40-yard dash but were underwhelming in the other athletic tests (besides Johnson Jr. who tested well as a former cornerback that converted to safety).

The Iowa State senior defensive back lists at 6’0″ and 205 lbs. with 31 1/4″ arms, while the Florida State senior defensive back offers versatility as well despite being more undersized in comparison. Robinson is 5’11” and weighs 191 lbs., but his short arms at 29 5/8″ arms might suit him better in the slot as a corner, which he has the capability to do.

The Texas A&M junior safety is built with a size that screams box safety. At 6’2″ and 198 lbs. with 32 1/8″ arms, Johnson possesses just enough speed to cover while filling in for run support, despite not testing that well other than the 40-yard dash.

Other potential box safeties or versatile safeties that line up near the line of scrimmage include Christopher Smith II (Georgia) and Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State). Both didn’t run super well at the 40-yard dash (over 4.6 seconds) and didn’t stand out in the other athletic testing measures (or were average to below average at some events).

However, both possess good enough size and production that reflect potential instincts that can occur at the next level. Smith, at 5’11” and 192 lbs. with 31 1/8″ arms, had six interceptions and nine pass deflections in the two years he started (as a senior) for the Georgia Bulldogs. Brown is similar, as the senior weighs in at 203 lbs. at 5’11” with 31 1/4″ arms. The Penn State safety picked off ten passes (with nine pass deflections) in the two seasons he started for the Nittany Lions.

Safeties that profile as day two or three picks that showed their athleticism at the Scouting Combine include Brandon Hill (Pitt), Jason Taylor II (Oklahoma State), Chamarri Connor (Virginia Tech), and Daniel Scott (Cal).

The Illinois safeties were the highlight for this position, as Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown had notable testing scores at a position that underwhelmed overall.

They were either top three or top five for each category, as Martin led the group with his vertical and broad jump at 44″ (tied for the all-time record) and 11’1″. Martin also tied for the 3rd best 10-yard split ever (at 1.47), with Brown right behind or ahead of him on certain metrics.

Sydney also displays versatility, as the senior at 5’10” and 211 lbs. with 31 1/2″ arms had 16 pass deflections and ten interceptions in his five-year career, playing snaps at traditional safety and slot cornerback. While Sydney is a better downhill defender, Martin is more versatile playing more slot corner and deep safety, showing the range as a smooth athlete with clean transitions in coverage.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. defensive back with 31 1/8″ arms picked the ball off seven times, with 22 pass deflections in his five-year college career. The senior could be taken on day two of the draft, along with his teammate, as both were key pieces in leading a defense that was one of the best in college football this past season at Illinois.