Byron Young posts impressive jumps, 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine

On3 imageby:On3 Staff Report03/02/23

Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young is not wasting any time with first impressions at the NFL Combine. He’s churning out favorable first-takes left and right with his early workouts.

The talented Volunteers pass-rusher was fantastic in measurement work, impressing with both sets of jumps. He also blazed a 4.51-second and a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, with both times unofficial.

Young managed to knock out a 38-inch vertical jump, while also clearing 11 feet flat in the broad jump. Both are very impressive figures for a man who hit the scales at 6 foot 2, 250 pounds.

After making an impression at the Senior Bowl last month, this early showing at the NFL Combine should leave Young in quite favorable position. Young has had goals each step of the way.

At the Senior Bowl, he had one specific set of skills he wanted the scouts to see.

“Especially playing the run,” Young said. “One of my biggest things, I wanted to show the coaches and the scouts my ability to set the edge and run.”

Young finished the Senior Bowl with two tackles and a quarterback hurry that led to an interception.

Will Byron Young fly up the mock drafts?

With such a favorable set of early results at the NFL Combine, could Byron Young be poised for a major move up the mock drafts?

Young only spent two seasons with the Vols, but made the most of them, recording 83 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. He displayed his game-wrecking abilities on multiple occasions in 2022, winning SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors twice last season.

He was already getting some first-round love from ESPN analyst Mel Kiper.

“I still got to put the work in and make that happen, but just the fact that somebody thinks of me being that guy in the first round and definitely people watching it’s good, it’s a great feeling man,” Young said.

He planned to use that as motivation for each step of the draft process.

“I just feel like it’s a lot more motivation after seeing that, so I’m happy to see that, but at the end of the day I’ve definitely gotta put some more work in and make that come true,” Young said. “So that’s one of my main goals for sure.”