2025 NFL Combine Results and Top Performers: Defensive Line and Linebacker Prospects Shine

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The 2025 NFL Combine has begun, with defensive line and linebacker prospects taking the field on Thursday to showcase their skills in front of all 32 teams. The combine will continue through the weekend, with defensive backs and tight ends taking the field on Friday, followed by quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers on Saturday, and concluding with offensive linemen on Sunday. Draft experts have been evaluating the top performances from every position, picking prospects who are rising or potentially falling, and addressing notable under-the-radar showings.

Some of the top defensive line prospects did not participate in the on-field work, including Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, Mike Green, Walter Nolen, and Kenneth Grant. However, other prospects took advantage of the opportunity to shine, including Darius Alexander, Alfred Collins, Landon Jackson, Oluwafemi Oladejo, Ty Robinson, Carson Schwesinger, CJ West, Jihaad Campbell, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Derrick Harmon, James Pearce Jr., Nic Scourton, and Shemar Stewart. These prospects demonstrated their skills in drills and testing, with some standing out for their explosive ability, flexibility, and power.

The defensive line class is considered one of the deepest in recent years, with many prospects showing impressive skills in drills and testing. Some of the top performers included Derrick Harmon, who ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash and dominated in the workout portion, and Darius Alexander, who ran a 4.96-second 40-yard dash and showed strong hands in bag drills. Other prospects, such as Landon Jackson and James Pearce Jr., also impressed with their explosive ability and flexibility.

The linebacker prospects also showed impressive skills, with Carson Schwesinger and Jihaad Campbell standing out for their speed and agility. Schwesinger, a former walk-on, checked in at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, and jumped 39.5 inches in the vertical, while Campbell weighed in at nearly 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, and clocked an impressive 4.52-second 40-yard dash. These prospects demonstrated their ability to play inside or outside linebacker, and could be highly sought after in the draft.

The combine will continue through the weekend, with defensive backs and tight ends taking the field on Friday, followed by quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers on Saturday, and concluding with offensive linemen on Sunday. The 2025 NFL Draft is set to take place from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and will feature many of the top prospects from the combine. With the defensive line and linebacker prospects already making a strong impression, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the combine plays out and which prospects will rise to the top.