Ladd McConkey runs blistering 40 at 2024 NFL Combine
Testing is underway on Saturday at the 2024 NFL Combine and Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey continues to help himself tremendously during the pre-draft process.
He ran the 40-yard dash twice, impressing on his first try with a posting of 4.43 seconds. It got even better on his second run as he put up a 4.40. Both times are unofficial at this point.
“He’s fun,” NFL Network draft analysts David Jeremiah said. “I was talking with a team earlier who said I think he’ll go in the early to mid second round but got forbid the Chiefs take him at 32.”
The first step in the pre-draft process was the Reese’s Senior Bowl took place in Mobile, Ala. approximately a month ago. McConkey couldn’t have had a much better showing.
The North Murray High School product had a strong week of practices and was recognized by his peers at the end of the week. The defensive backs in attendance named him the top wideout at the Senior Bowl.
Former ESPN analyst and Scouts Inc. co-founder Todd McShay was in Mobile for the entire week and he came away thinking that McConkey has the skillset to become an immediate contributor at the next level. McShay gushed over the Bulldog wideout in a recent interview on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, presented by The Ringer.
“His route running, his speed and acceleration, his ball skills are second to none in this class,” McShay told Russillo. “I think he’s got a chance to be maybe a late first-round pick. Somewhere probably more likely an early second round. But he’s one of those guys, plug play, slot receiver, right away, Puka Nakua type. I’m not saying he’s going to have that production. It was record-setting for a rookie, but I think he’s going to be a big-time contributor, plug-and-play starter right away.”
After barely seeing the field in 2020, McConkey spent his next three years in Athens racking up 14 touchdowns and 1,687 yards receiving on 119 catches. He also carried the football 13 times for 216 yards and four scores.
His final year at UGA, however, was marred by injuries. A back injury kept him out for the first four games of the season and limited for the next couple. McConkey caught fire after the bye week and helped Georgia to big wins over Florida, Missouri, and Ole Miss. The injury bug bit again in that win over Ole Miss, however, as he sustained a sprained ankle that limited him to a few snaps against Tennessee and kept him out of the Georgia Tech game. He returned for the SEC Championship game but was far from 100 percent as the Bulldogs had their 29-game win streak snapped at the hands of Alabama.
