2020 NFL scouting combine: No Chase Young, but still plenty of DL talent

While the consensus top player in the 2020 NFL Draft, Chase Young did not participate on Saturday, there were still plenty of talented defensive linemen on display.

There’s no shortage of talent in this years defensive line class, and one of them happens to be the best overall player in the 2020 NFL draft class.  Depending who you ask, some may tell you that the number one and two players in the draft are defensive lineman, as Chase Young from Ohio State and Auburn’s Derrick Brown are freaks of nature.

Edge rusher, Chase Young who opted not to participate and Derrick Brown are the cream of the crop and both won’t have to wait long to hear their names called in April. Young is currently projected as the No. 2 overall selection to the Washington Redskins, while Brown is by far the best defensive tackle in the draft class.

Brown was SEC defensive player of the year in 2019.  He weighed in at 326 pounds and showed off his combination of size and speed, with 28 reps on the bench and 5.11 seconds in the forty.

Two of the other marquee names in the defensive line group are Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa and Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State.  While neither had a particular remarkable combine their tape and college production speaks for itself.  Both are projected to be selected in round one.

One player who I consider to be relatively unknown is Derrek Tuszka from North Dakota State. I have yet to see Tuszka on film but came away very impressed from what he accomplished at the combine.

For the purpose of this recap edge rushers and interior lineman are both included.

Bench Press

Strength and power on the inside, and the edges of the defensive line is key, and on Saturday, some of these defensive linemen made putting up 225 on the bench press look easy. Ohio’s DaVon Hamilton came in first with 33 reps, followed by Khalil Davis and Kenny Willekes with 32. In total, four men cracked the 30-rep barrier.

1. Hamilton, DaVon, Ohio, 33
2. Davis, Khalil, Nebraska, 32
3. Willekes, Kenny, Michigan St., 32
4. Madubuike, Justin, Texas A&M, 31
5. Murchison, Larrell, N.C. State, 29
6. Zungia, Jabari, Florida, 29
7. Brown, Derrick, Auburn, 28
8. Sheppard, Qaadir, Mississippi, 28
9. Smith-Williams, James, N.C. State, 28
10. Agim, McTelvin, Arkansas, 27

40-Yard Dash

The 40-yard dash shows top line speed, and there are some defensive ends and tackles who are flat out speed demons for their size. James Smiuth-Williams from North Carolina State led the way with an incredible 4.60 mark in the 40, while Neville Gallimore ran an impressive 4.79 40 despite his massive size.

1. Smith-Williams, James, N.C. State, 4.60
2. Zuniga, Jabari, Florida, 4.64
3. Robinson, Alton, Syracuse, 4.69
4. Highsmith, Alex, Charlotte, 4.70
5. Wonnum, D.J., South Carolina, 4.73
6. Davis, Khalil, Nebraska, 4.75
7. Gallimore, Neville, Oklahoma, 4.79
8. Tuszka, Derrek, North Dakota St., 4.79
9. Davis, Carlos, Nebraska, 4.82
10. Garvin, Johnathan, Miami, 4.82