2023 NFL Draft: All-Defensive Scouting Combine Team

Who were the top players on defense at the 2023 Scouting Combine?

Bo Marchionte | Mar 7, 2023

2023 NFL Draft: All-Defensive Scouting Combine Team /

The feeling I get when looking back on the NFL Combine is the players that reside on the defensive side of the football outdueled the offensive foes they might face at the next level in the NFL.

Michigan’s DJ Turner left Indianapolis with a ton of free goodies and the title of the ‘Fastest Man at the NFL Combine’ in 2023. No player was able to match or surpass his 4.26 forty, even though six other defensive backs ran in the 4.3s.

Turner wasn’t alone in establishing a premier workout for NFL evaluators. Below is a list of prospects who helped improve their draft stock. The individual results certainly played a factor in the nomination of the players listed.

Let it be none as well that it wasn’t based on the player who simply ran the fastest or jumped the farthest. However, those numbers were taken into consideration with other factors regarding each player’s value prior to and leaving the NFL Combine.

All-Defensive NFL Combine Team

Defensive Lineman

Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh

Watching Kancey in his stance preparing for his forty, very few watching were expecting this 6-foot-1- and 281-pound defensive lineman to run an amazing 4.67 forty. Immediately afterward, the internet was set on fire with comparisons to another Panthers interior lineman named Aaron Donald. Their similarities are strikingly almost identical. Donald was 6-feet ¾ at 285 pounds and ran a 4.68 during his combine debut. Kancey’s stocky frame needed the boost of a fast forty. An average time would have kept him average in the minds of NFL scouts. That is not the case moving forward.

Game Notes: WVU at Pitt 2022 - Compact frame/Low to the ground/Fast pace/Quick/Like his initial get-off/Reminds me of Ejuan Price a bit.

Defensive Lineman

Bryan Bresee, Clemson

With a jaw dropping 4.86 forty time, Bresee could have sat out the rest of the drills eating a freshly opened bag of Doritos and been hailed one of the biggest benefactors to perform at the NFL Combine. Bresee earned second-team All-ACC selection this past season and measured in at 6-foot-5 and 298 pounds. He proved to easily be one of the most athletic players at the position. His success in the NFL will stem from him remaining healthy. Unfortunately, he has dealt with nagging injuries at Clemson. His workouts at the combine flashed his mechanical prowess, matching his athletic traits. A healthy Bresee in the NFL could be a steal for one lucky NFL team.

Defensive Lineman

Zacch Pickens, South Carolina

Pickens' on-field drills showcased all the positive traits in his toolbox. With great burst, balance and flexibility for his size Pickens did himself a world of good at the combine. To add the icing on top of the cake was his 4.89 forty time at 6-foot-4 and 291 pounds. Overall, he was in the upper echelon amongst the defensive linemen group. He ranked in the top six in every category except the bench press.

Finishing second in the broad jump (9’8”) was his highest finish amongst the drills, but his 4.62 20-yard shuttle (3rd overall) showed how he could distribute his weight effectively and quickly.

EDGE/OLB

Nolan Smith, Georgia

The Bulldogs outside linebacker Smith woke up the football universe with his 4.39 forty after checking in at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds. His electrifying numbers ranked him tops in nearly every category he performed in, with numbers even the most athletic wideouts at the NFL Combine would be envious to proclaim their own. These numbers were a critical boost for Smith, who has appeared in 27 of the Bulldogs' last 45 games after missing time with injuries. With elite speed coming off the edge, his combine numbers will soften the stance of NFL teams eyeing him in the draft.

Linebacker

Jack Campbell, Iowa

There are so many tweeners and positional unicorns in the league nowadays it’s hard to just find a plug and play three-down linebacker. Campbell’s forty of 4.65 is a very respectable time (faster than two WRs at the combine) at 6-foot-5 and 249 pounds. He led the FBS with 143 tackles, and the combine numbers he posted gave proof of his athleticism scouts notice when watching his tape. He topped all linebackers with a 6.74 three-cone and his 10’8” broad jump was second-best in positional groupings. For any scout that’s going to pound on the table to get Campbell on their roster will love having these combine numbers as ammunition in their argument.

Game Notes: Iowa at Ohio State 2022 - Great size, moves well, displayed good change of direction in the open field, shoots the gap quickly, good self-awareness in field placement

Linebacker

Owen Pappoe, Auburn

Heading to Indianapolis, the grades on Pappoe had him hovering near the bottom of day three of the draft and being amongst a handful of priority undrafted free agents at its conclusion. It took 4.39 seconds to change that perspective. Pappoe single-handedly changed his draft stock during his brief time in the Midwest. The two-time team captain ran the fastest forty in the group and his 1.52 10-yard split also was tip top for linebackers. Pappoe was hemorrhaging on being drafted or not and his domination of the combine should have him feeling very comfortable that he’ll hear his name called from the podium.

EDGE

Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Awesome-Ness is one way to describe Van Ness at the combine. He is a thoroughbred at 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds, Van Ness is a massive and fast individual to work against. The 4.58 forty he posted at his size is impressive. Throughout his collegiate career, Van Ness has flashed moments of brilliance at Iowa. Felt his on field work at the combine correlated nicely with his production with the Hawkeyes. Reminds me a bit of Minnesota Vikings’ Za’Darius Smith in terms of size and ability.

Defensive Back

DJ Turner, Michigan

The fastest man at the NFL Combine must be associated with the All-Defensive NFL Combine team. While 4.2 fast might have been a bit of a surprise, there was nothing surprising about the way his play translated to what we saw in Indianapolis. Time and time again, Turner showed his explosive traits as a Wolverine. Standing at 5-foot-11 at 178 pounds, Turner is not a physical force, but mastering of his craft at the college level should provide him early success at the next level. The technical side of his craft is way above average for a rookie entering the league. Now sprinkle in that speed and things get exciting.

Defensive Back

Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Odds are Gonzalez was in the mix for being considered the top defensive back selected. His 4.38 forty at 6’1 and 197 pounds cements his status to stay amongst the elite of the draft. His combine performance can be the springboard to becoming a top-10 selection in late April in Kansas City. His length and size, combined with a 41.5” vertical (tied for second) and 11’1” broad jump (tied for fourth) in the defensive back groupings, place him in the top tier of elite prospects.

Safety

Jartavius Martin, Illinois

Martin had a great week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, so much so that I made it a point to grab him after practice to learn more about him. Martin mentioned “physicality” and “flying around to make plays on the ball” were some of his biggest assets. It’s fair to add elite athleticism to his resume. He posted a very fast 4.46 at 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds. His 11’1” ranked tied for seventh overall in the broad jump and his 44-inch vertical jump was the best in the show. No one jumped higher. Martin used the off-season all-star circuit to the best of his advantage. Draft stock arrows are pointing up. Way up.

Safety

Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State

Another prospect walking the tightrope on day three of the NFL Draft. Entering the NFL Combine the concerns were his raw athleticism. Did Taylor II have the goods? These guys come to work out and validate their draft grades via strong numbers and felt he did as well as anyone in terms of improving their draft grade. The 6-foot and 204-pound safety ran a 4.5 flat forty. His 43-inch vertical jump was the second best of the entire combine. His leap of 10’9” ranked this third among the safeties. If Taylor II gets the right coaching staff, that can develop him. He could become a late round steal.

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Published Mar 7, 2023

BO MARCHIONTE