2020 Combine Results: Fast 40 times lead to injuries for two top linebackers

While a few notable defensive linemen chose not to work out at the 2020 NFL Combine, all of the big-name linebackers intended to perform in all of the drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. Unfortunately for a few of the top options at the position, it was not meant to be.

Two of the draft’s best players at the position were unfortunately forced off the field by injuries when running their second attempts at the 40-yard dash. Those players were Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma and LSU’s Patrick Queen, two players who have been discussed widely by the media as possible targets for the Green Bay Packers with the 30th overall selection in the Draft.

Both players posted excellent times in their first attempts, however. Murray ran in 4.52 seconds, while Queen posted an even better time of 4.50 seconds a few minutes later. Both players also did well in explosiveness drills, with Murray coming out on top in both the vertical (39 inches vs. 35) and broad jumps (10-foot-9 vs. 10-foot-5).

Of the players who did go through the entire workout unscathed, there were a few particular standouts. The first was Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, who was expected to blow away testing drills in Indianapolis. He delivered, cracking the 4.4 barrier with a 4.39-second 40 at 238 pounds. Simmons did not perform in agility drills, but showed off his explosiveness with an excellent 39-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump.

Behind Simmons, a pair of Big Ten linebackers shared the spotlight. First is Wisconsin’s Zack Baun, who is likely moving off the ball from playing the edge in the Badgers’ 3-4 defense. Baun ran 4.65 in the 40, had a time of 7 seconds flat in the 3-cone drill, and posted a great 24-rep count on the bench press. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Malik Harrison kept pace, going for a 40 time of 4.66 seconds while besting Baun in the 3-cone drill (6.83) and the vertical (36 inches).

Finally, a surprise impressive workout came from Mississippi State’s Willie Gay, Jr. Gay played just five games in 2019 due to a violation of team rules. However, his workout in Indy was tremendous, as he posted a 4.46-second 40, 39.5-inch vertical, and 11-foot-4 broad jump. Gay projects as an early day three pick, but with that athletic upside he could be a great value should he put it together on the field.

Here’s a look at the complete list of linebacker workout numbers.