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Off-ball linebackers are getting smaller and faster as NFL offenses push harder and harder each season to challenge these players in pass coverage. That shift at the linebacker position was on clear display at the 2019 NFL Combine on Sunday, when the group took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for their Combine timing drills.
Two of the top options, Devin White of LSU and Devin Bush from Michigan, both ran exceptional times. White ran a 4.42-second time in the 40 after measuring 6 feet tall and 237 pounds; that came after Bush ran 4.43 at 5-foot-11 and 234. In other drills, however, Bush had a slight edge over White, with better numbers in the vertical, broad jump, and 3-cone.
The two players are arguably the two top linebackers in this class, and their draft position relative to one another will have to be based primarily on film study and team fit. With such similar athletic ability, scouts must look to the tape to determine which is the better NFL prospect.
A handful of edge rushers joined the linebacker group on Sunday as well, including likely top-five pick Josh Allen from Kentucky. Allen ran a great time in the 40 at 4.63 seconds, then had decent agility times after measuring 6-foot-4 and 262 pounds.
Here are all of the linebacker workout results from Sunday.
LBs - 2019 Combine
| Player | Position | College | Height | Weight | Arm | Hand | Bench | 40 | Vert | Broad | 3-Cone | 20 Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | College | Height | Weight | Arm | Hand | Bench | 40 | Vert | Broad | 3-Cone | 20 Shuttle |
| Alaka, Otaro | LB | Texas A&M | 6030 | 239 | 33 | 9 3/4 | 20 | 4.82 | 36 | 131 | -- | -- |
| Allen, Dakota | LB | Texas Tech | 6006 | 232 | 31 1/4 | 9 1/4 | 23 | 4.77 | 31.5 | 116 | 6.88 | 4.04 |
| Allen, Josh | LB | Kentucky | 6047 | 262 | 33 1/2 | 8 3/4 | 28 | 4.63 | -- | 118 | 7.15 | 4.23 |
| Allen-Williams, Bryson | LB | South Carolina | 6005 | 236 | 31 1/2 | 9 3/4 | 14 | 4.88 | -- | -- | 7.40 | -- |
| Allison, Jeff | LB | Fresno State | 5112 | 228 | 32 1/4 | 10 | 12 | 4.82 | 31 | 115 | 7.20 | 4.45 |
| Al-Shaair, Azeez | LB | Florida Atlantic | 6005 | 234 | 32 3/8 | 9 1/2 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Barton, Cody | LB | Utah | 6024 | 237 | 31 7/8 | 9 1/4 | 30 | 4.64 | 32.5 | 116 | 6.90 | 4.03 |
| Burr-Kirven, Ben | LB | Washington | 6000 | 230 | 31 7/8 | 8 7/8 | 21 | 4.56 | 34.5 | 121 | 6.85 | 4.09 |
| Bush, Devin | LB | Michigan | 5110 | 234 | 32 | 9 5/8 | 21 | 4.43 | 40.5 | 124 | 6.93 | 4.23 |
| Cashman, Blake | LB | Minnesota | 6011 | 237 | 30 1/8 | 8 3/4 | 18 | 4.50 | 37.5 | 124 | 6.95 | 4.12 |
| Coney, Te'von | LB | Notre Dame | 6007 | 234 | 32 7/8 | 9 1/2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Connelly, Ryan | LB | Wisconsin | 6021 | 242 | 30 7/8 | 9 3/8 | -- | 4.66 | 34.5 | 118 | 7.09 | 4.31 |
| Davis, Deshaun | LB | Auburn | 5113 | 234 | 31 1/4 | 10 | 25 | -- | 31 | 111 | -- | 4.38 |
| Dodson, Tyrel | LB | Texas A&M | 6003 | 237 | 31 3/4 | 9 1/8 | 24 | 4.60 | -- | 118 | -- | -- |
| Edwards, T.J. | LB | Wisconsin | 6003 | 230 | 31 1/4 | 9 3/8 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Egbule, Emeke | LB | Houston | 6020 | 245 | 33 | 9 1/4 | 20 | 4.65 | 33 | 119 | 7.38 | 4.38 |
| Giles-Harris, Joe | LB | Duke | 6016 | 234 | 31 1/4 | 8 1/2 | 17 | 4.75 | 29.5 | 111 | -- | -- |
| Greenlaw, Dre | LB | Arkansas | 5114 | 237 | 32 1/4 | 9 7/8 | 24 | -- | 33 | 117 | -- | -- |
| Gustin, Porter | LB | USC | 6044 | 255 | 33 | 10 | 31 | 4.69 | 35.5 | 119 | -- | -- |
| Hall, Nate | LB | Northwestern | 6024 | 225 | 32 1/4 | 9 3/8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Hall, Terez | LB | Missouri | 6011 | 230 | 33 1/2 | 10 3/8 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Hanks, Terrill | LB | New Mexico State | 6020 | 242 | 33 1/2 | 9 3/4 | 21 | 4.98 | 35.5 | 118 | -- | -- |
| Hansen, Chase | LB | Utah | 6027 | 222 | 30 1/2 | 9 3/8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Hollins, Justin | LB | Oregon | 6052 | 248 | 33 3/8 | 10 3/8 | 25 | 4.50 | 36.5 | 119 | 7.06 | 4.40 |
| Johnson, Gary | LB | Texas | 5117 | 226 | 31 1/4 | 10 1/4 | 16 | 4.43 | 33.5 | 121 | 7.15 | 4.57 |
| Jones, Jordan | LB | Kentucky | 6016 | 234 | 31 3/4 | 9 | 23 | 4.62 | 32.5 | 123 | -- | 4.37 |
| Joseph, Kendall | LB | Clemson | 5115 | 233 | 31 5/8 | 9 3/4 | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Joseph, Vosean | LB | Florida | 6014 | 230 | 31 3/8 | 9 5/8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Lamar, Tre | LB | Clemson | 6033 | 253 | 32 1/4 | 9 1/2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Long Jr., David | LB | West Virginia | 5112 | 227 | 30 3/4 | 10 | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Miller, Christian | LB | Alabama | 6033 | 247 | 35 1/8 | 9 3/4 | -- | -- | 38.5 | 118 | -- | -- |
| Okereke, Bobby | LB | Stanford | 6013 | 239 | 34 1/2 | 10 1/8 | -- | 4.58 | 33.5 | 122 | 7.25 | 4.26 |
| Pratt, Germaine | LB | NC State | 6024 | 240 | 31 5/8 | 9 1/8 | 24 | 4.57 | 32.5 | 116 | -- | -- |
| Smith, Cameron | LB | USC | 6020 | 238 | 32 | 9 5/8 | 15 | 4.69 | 39 | 123 | -- | 4.23 |
| Summers, Ty | LB | TCU | 6013 | 241 | 31 1/2 | 10 | 27 | 4.51 | 36 | 123 | -- | -- |
| Takitaki, Sione | LB | BYU | 6011 | 238 | 32 | 9 5/8 | 24 | 4.63 | 37 | 125 | 7.21 | 4.28 |
| Tavai, Jahlani | LB | Hawaii | 6023 | 250 | 31 7/8 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Tranquill, Drue | LB | Notre Dame | 6020 | 234 | 31 1/2 | 9 3/4 | 31 | 4.57 | 37.5 | 122 | 6.94 | 4.14 |
| Van Ginkel, Andrew | LB | Wisconsin | 6034 | 241 | 32 1/2 | 9 3/8 | 17 | -- | 38 | 123 | 6.89 | 4.14 |
| Walker, D'Andre | LB | Georgia | 6023 | 251 | 34 3/8 | 9 7/8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| White, Devin | LB | LSU | 6000 | 237 | 32 1/8 | 9 3/4 | 22 | 4.42 | 39.5 | 118 | 7.07 | 4.17 |
| Wilson, Mack | LB | Alabama | 6011 | 240 | 32 3/8 | 9 1/4 | -- | -- | 32 | 117 | -- | -- |
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