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Nolan Smith, Robert Beal run impressive 40-yard dashes at NFL Combine

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe03/02/23JakeMRowe
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Another NFL Scouting Combine, another chance for Georgia players to show out. This year Nolan Smith and Robert Beal took their turns.

Smith posted a 41.5-inch vertical leap at 6-foot-2 and 1/4. He also ran a blistering (unofficial) 40-yard dash of 4.44 seconds and believe it or not, the official time was better at 4.39 seconds. He decided that was a good enough time and did not run a second time. Smith came in at 238 pounds with 32 and 5/8 inch arms and nine-inch hands.

Beal posted an impressive 40 time of 4.58 seconds on his first run. That time is also unofficial. Beal posted a 4.53-second time on his second attempt. His official time was also better than the unofficials at 4.48 seconds. He did that after measuring in at 6-foot-4 247 pounds with 34 and 5/8-inch arms and 10 and 1/8-inch hands. Each of those measurements should only serve to boost Bealā€™s draft stock.

Smith piled up 12.5 sacks during his four-year Georgia career and was off to his best start in 2022 before suffering a pectoral injury that ended his season early. He also racked up 20 tackles for loss, 110 total tackles, and three forced fumbles. The pectoral injury isnā€™t 100 percent just yet and Smith did not participate in the bench press. That wonā€™t stop him, however, from partaking in everything else.

No, Iā€™m going to do on-field drills here and Iā€™m going to do some at the Pro Day,ā€ Smith said on Wednesday. ā€œI play football. Thatā€™s why Iā€™m here. I havenā€™t done anything in a long time. I canā€™t wait to showcase my talents. Everyone thought I died and all this stuff. I turned off the mock drafts, I turned off my phone, and I picked up a book. You canā€™t hurt me. I just wanted to create an iron mind, a mindset that no one can hurt me. No matter what you say about me, Iā€™m just going to work.ā€Ā 

The Savannah native was No. 1 across the board in the 2019 class per the On3 Industry Ranking. He finished his high school career at IMG Academy.

Beal, a former Norcross and IMG Academy standout spent six seasons at Georgia, taking advantage of a redshirt in 2017 and the free COVID year in 2020. He led the team in sacks during the Bulldogs 2021 National Championship season, with 6.5. Beal had 10 sacks total in his Georgia career with 11.5 tackles for loss while racking up 72 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and two passes defended.

Per the On3 Industry Ranking, Beal was the nationā€™s No. 88 overall prospect in the 2017 class. He was the No. 9 EDGE and the No. 10 prospect in Georgia as he finished his academic career at Peachtree Ridge High School before enrolling at UGA.

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