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NFL Combine: Day 3 Winners

Many Defensive Linemen and Linebackers took the field today, but none were as impressive as Isaiah Simmons

NFL: Combine Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Day Three of the NFL Combine took place on Saturday afternoon, and defensive linemen and linebackers from across the college football nation came to prove their worth to NFL scouts in attendance. Here are the winners from Day Three, and potential Jacksonville Jaguars targets.

Isaiah Simmons, Football Player, Clemson

Calling him a linebacker would be doing him a disservice. Simmons came into this combine with nothing to prove, yet he wowed scouts and analysts with his athleticism. Measuring at 6’4 and 238 pounds, Simmons ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, a number that only few linebackers have ever surpassed (to put this into perspective, he ran faster than Saquon Barkley, Jalen Ramsey, and Alvin Kamara). He also had a 39 inch vertical jump, and an 11 foot broad jump, all in the top five of his linebacker group. He solidified himself as a top-five talent, and a player that has no comparison.

Justin Madubuike, Defensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Madubuike entered the NFL Combine in the next tier of defensive tackles behind Derrick Brown, Javon Kinlaw, and Neville Gallimore. Weighing in at 293 pounds, Madubuike was near the top in the bench press at 31 reps, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.83 seconds. Madubuike flew around the field in the drills, and showed the athleticism and disruption that was evident on tape in college. Madubuike finished with 5.5 sacks in his final college season, and won primarily with quickness off the ball. With this combine solidifying that quickness, expect Madubuike to be a Jaguars target on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

Neville Gallimore, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma

I mentioned Gallimore in the last section as being a part of that first tier of defensive tackles off the board, and with Javon Kinlaw not working out due to injury, Gallimore had a chance to move ahead of Kinlaw in the positional rankings. Measuring at 304 pounds, Gallimore ran the 40-yard dash in an eye-popping 4.79 seconds, a time that put him near the top of the board for all defensive linemen. What really stood out to me though was how he moved. Gallimore goes full speed on every rep, and in the Combine, he showed that effort on every play. He also was shockingly agile for a man his size. If the Jaguars miss out on Brown or Kinlaw in the first round, expect Gallimore to be a target near the top of the second round.

Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma

Rounding out my list of players that stood out to me is Gallimore’s teammate at Oklahoma, Kenneth Murray. He came in at a solidly built 241 pounds, then he showed off his lower body explosiveness by running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, and had a 38 inch vertical jump. Unfortunately, his workout was shortened by an injury sustained in his second 40 attempt, but I saw enough lower body explosiveness that matches up with the aggressive and explosive style he plays with. If the Jaguars miss out on Isaiah Simmons, and if they want a MIKE linebacker who will set the tone for a defense, Kenneth Murray should be there with the 20th pick in the draft.