Calijah Kancey runs fastest 40 ever for a defensive tackle at the Scouting Combine

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2023, 4:27 PM EST
NFL Combine
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Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has made NFL Scouting Combine history.

Kancey ran an official 4.67-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a defensive tackle at the Combine since 2003, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. (Timing at the Combine was less standardized before 2003.)

The 6-foot-0, 280-pound Kancey broke the Combine record of 4.68 seconds set by a previous Pitt defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.

Kancey was an All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He’s expected to be a first-round draft pick.

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32 responses to “Calijah Kancey runs fastest 40 ever for a defensive tackle at the Scouting Combine”

  1. At 6ft and 280 you aren’t playing D Tackle in the NFL. He’d get pancaked nearly every play.

  2. At 6ft and 280 you aren’t playing D Tackle in the NFL. He’d get pancaked nearly every play.

    ***That’s what Aaron Donald’s measurable are. This kid will go top 10. Best pass rushing moves in the draft. Elite burst off the ball. Game changing player.

  3. I cannot wait until Berman is calling his name on NFL Primetime and singing Hank Williams…

  4. Kancey was an All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

    Exhibit A of why the combine is necessary.. you combine excellent game tape with excellent athletic measurables and you get an excellent player. Every single time.

  5. Man he was flying under the radar.. late 1-early 2nd projections on every “mock draft”. I knew this kid was a stud. Aaron Donald-esque. This just sprung him to top 5-top 10 for sure.

  7. The Lions passed on Aaron Donald in 2014 because they thought he was undersized at just under 6’ and 280. Defensive coaches wanted him but they drafted Eric Ebron instead. Pretty bad decision in hindsight.

    9 years later, 6’ and 280 has managed to not get pancaked nearly every play at D-tackle, instead he’s turned in a hall of fame career. Not putting Kancey in the hall yet, but that kid is a stud of a prospect, can’t teach speed, explosion and moves like that he has.

  9. Wouldn’t have a chance catching first ballot HOF QB Russell Wilson. There’s speed and then there’s football speed.

    It’s why Wilson is so hard to sack.

  10. An odd statement, but one which I believe: baseball has the best off-season.

    And that’s because we don’t have to hear about baseball much during the off-season.

  13. I’m still bummed about my Lions missing out on Aaron Donald because at the time, the front office was getting played by Ndamukong Suh who was clearly leaving and kicking the can down the road but they didn’t see it. So not only did we miss out on a future hall of famer AND Suh’s replacement, we picked a player who was never going to fit in a blue collar town with his constant woe is me attitude and propensity to read every single negative comment written about him on Twitter, Eric Ebron.

    Thanks Martin Mayhew, in the end, your best player available while ignoring GLARING needs philosophy is what did you in.

  14. Jordan Davis ran a 4.78 at 340 pounds last year. I think that’s a lot more impressive.

  15. He definitely made a few extra bucks and moved up the draft order with that burst.

  17. 40 yard dash for a DL is almost meaningless. Speed is not the same as quickness.

  20. 26predator says:
    March 2, 2023 at 7:17 pm
    I’m still bummed about my Lions missing out on Aaron Donald because at the time, the front office was getting played by Ndamukong Suh who was clearly leaving and kicking the can down the road but they didn’t see it. So not only did we miss out on a future hall of famer AND Suh’s replacement, we picked a player who was never going to fit in a blue collar town with his constant woe is me attitude and propensity to read every single negative comment written about him
    _________

    It is irrelevant whether a player fits in with a city. A guy could be a city favorite and still be a terrible player.

  21. This guy is not anywhere near Aaron Donald. He isn’t even a first round player. Defensive linemen don’t run 40 yards. They usually have to get about five yards with a couple offensive linemen in his way. I didn’t notice any O-Linemen in his way when he ran. College linemen handled him fairly easy. The pros will eat him up.

  23. Donald took last year off with no effort. This kid won’t quit on his team.

  24. ghjjf says:
    March 2, 2023 at 8:48 pm
    Too bad he will never do that in a game!
    _____________

    Please enlighten us as to the attributes that you use to evaluate defensive tackles since you believe that you know more than what professional evaluators have been using for decades.

  30. Get real size is a huge concern Donald s a once in a generation player can Kancey be a good player sure but relax a 2nd rd pick is more realistic .

  31. Man I hope AZ can trade back out of 3rd overall picking up an extra 2nd n 3rd round pick this year and then draft this kid. This kid is going to be a monster of a pass rushing 3T in the NFL and would fit Gannons defensive front like a Glove. If not we could draft Anderson or Wilson at 3rd overall n draft DT Brese at 33rd pairing him up with Allen inside at DT greatly improving their defense. They’ll still have a few 2nds trading DHOP n have two 3rds as it is to build that OL with. Greatly improving lines would go a long way toward improving that squad next season.

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