Jelani Woods Stands Out at NFL Combine With Record-Breaking 40-Yard Dash

Draft stock is rising rapidly for the Virginia tight end

Draft stock in Jelani Woods is skyrocketing and one lucky NFL team will end up selecting the Virginia tight end in next month's NFL Draft. 

Woods is participating in the NFL Scouting Combine this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The former Cavalier came into the week a highly underrated tight end prospect despite his impressive measurements at 6'7", 253 pounds and a 2021 season at Virginia that saw him garner First-Team All-ACC honors with 44 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. 

After Woods' performance at the Combine on Thursday, people are beginning to take notice. 

Woods started off the day by registering 24 reps on the bench press, the most out of the tight ends at the Combine. 

.@UVAFootball TE Jelani Woods led all TEs with 24 bench press reps.

Keep your eyes out for @jelani_thegreat today. 👀

📺: #NFLCombine starting at 4pm ET on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/zPM8oDC5Mn

— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2022

Woods then ran a stunning 4.61 40-yard dash, which, according to NFL Research, is the fastest 40-yard dash ran by a tight end of Woods' height since 2003. 

Jelani Woods ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at 6'7 1/8", marking the fastest 40-yard dash time by a TE taller than 6'7" since 2003 and 2nd-fastest by any player taller than 6'7" over that span (behind DL Margus Hunt's 4.60 in 2013)#NFLCombine

— NFL Research (@NFLPlus) March 3, 2022

TE Jelani Woods, 6'7, 259 pounds, runs 4.61 and has the most bench reps with 24.

👀pic.twitter.com/OYnzSL1IjB

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 3, 2022

Woods is checking all the boxes so far, including in pass-catching drills. 

Jelani Woods has been impressive thus far. Smooth feet, long strider with sticky hands. Excellent rep here. pic.twitter.com/QxbNyfjcYJ

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 3, 2022

NFL GMs will be salivating over the combination of size, strength, mobility, and pass-catching abilities on display by Jelani Woods, whose name will surely begin to rise on front office draft boards around the league as we approach the NFL Draft on April 28th. 

---

Which team should select Jelani Woods in the NFL Draft? Share your thoughts at Cavaliers Now Forums

---

See more Virginia football news and content: Virginia Football on Sports Illustrated

See more Virginia sports news and content: Virginia Cavaliers on Sports Illustrated

---

Read more from Cavaliers Now

Virginia Fires Women’s Basketball Head Coach Tina Thompson

Virginia Looks to End Regular Season on Positive Note at Louisville

Malcolm Brogdon Drops 31 Points, Leads Pacers to Comeback Win Over Magic

Reece Beekman Snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists

Virginia Stays Rolling With 12-0 Win Against William & Mary

Petey LaSalla Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week

Tony Bennett on Jayden Gardner Returning: "I would hope he would strongly consider coming back"