How Noah Sewell, DJ Johnson Performed at the NFL Scouting Combine

Both of Oregon's top linebackers from the 2022 season put their skills to the test against the best in college football.

Max Torres | Mar 3, 2023

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Oregon Ducks

The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine got underway Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

While new Oregon Ducks linebacker Jestin Jacobs might be the team's next top 2024 NFL Draft prospect, linebackers Noah Sewell and DJ Johnson got to showcase their skills against other players in attendance, going through a mixture or drills and tests in front of NFL coaches and front offices.

Noah Sewell

Wave Drill

Noah Sewell Wave Drill https://t.co/t311LxrXL6
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) March 3, 2023

40-yard dash

Oregon LB Noah Sewell runs a 4.72 40 yard dash pic.twitter.com/6VOwiO5beZ
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) March 3, 2023

Measurements

Height: 6'1 1/2"

Weight: 246 pounds

Arm: 31 5/8"

Hand: 10"

Performance

40-yard dash: 4.64 (Ranked No. 13 among 16 players)

10-yard split: 1.57 (Ranked No. 12 out of 16)

Vertical: 33" (Tied for No. 8 out of 15)

Broad jump: 9'7" (Tied for No. 13 out of 15)

Bench Press of 225 pounds: 27 reps (Ranked No. 2 out of 10 inside linebackers)

*Did not participate in 3-Cone drill or 20-yard shuttle*

NFL.com Overview of Noah Sewell

"Inside 'backer possessing throwback demeanor as a physical but limited prospect. Sewell has good power to take on blocks and muddy the middle, but his lack of pursuit speed and change-of-direction quickness prevent him from consistently making the stop. He needs to become more anticipatory and read play development more effectively, as he’s missing the tools necessary to overcome missteps."

DJ Johnson

40-yard dash

Measurements

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 260 pounds

Arm: 33 1/4"

Hand: 9"

Performance

40-yard dash: 4.49 (Ranked No. 4 among 28 players)

10-yard split: 1.59 (Ranked No. 4 among 28)

Vertical: 32" (Ranked No. 20 among 31)

Broad jump: 9'2" (Ranked No. 30 among 31)

Bech press of 225 pounds: 28 reps (Ranked No. 4 among 25 edge defenders)

*Did not participate in position drills, 3-Cone drill or 20-yard shuttle*

NFL.com overview of DJ Johnson

"Power merchant with jarring initial hand strikes that can create early advantages. Johnson is big, explosive and rugged but lacking the experience and technique to consistently capitalize on his physicality. He has broad, tight hips that make it challenging to keep the pad level where it needs to be as a rusher, tackler and while taking on run blocks. He has very few moves or counters, but his bull rush can put opponents on skates. There is significant technique work that needs to take place, but Johnson could earn a role as a 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle if he adds more mass."

Torres' Take

Starting with Sewell, he really showcased his strength and overall athleticism during Thursday and Friday's periods. His speed did leave a little to be desired, as Auburn's Owen Pappoe clocked in at 4.39 and Clemson's Trenton Simpson at 4.43.

I didn't expect Sewell to run as fast as those two but maybe closer to the mid 4.5's. His production dropped significantly from 2021 to 2022, so this was an important opportunity for him. He still has a lot of potential at the next level, but his testing numbers didn't quite stick out compared to others like I anticipated and I thought it was odd that he didn't run the 3-cone drill or the 20-yard shuttle.

Now let's focus on Johnson.

His speed is what really stood out from his performance at the Combine. His 4.49 40-yard dash ranked fourth among edge rushers and the only players to run faster times were Robert Beal Jr. (4.48), Byron Young (4.43) and Nolan Smith (4.39).

All three of those players are lighter than Johnson (260 pounds), which should help boost his stock. His 10-yard split also put him in special company, as it showcased how explosive he is off of the line of scrimmage.

Neither Sewell, nor Johnson had overly impressive 2022 seasons, but it feels like Johnson helped raise his stock a bit more than Sewell. The bottom line is both players are high-level athletes that should land on NFL rosters, but if you asked me who I'm more confident will get drafted I'd say Sewell.

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Published Mar 3, 2023

MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.