Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier wasn't able to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine because of a hamstring issue, and he tweaked his hamstring again Friday at Ohio State's pro day.
But he tweaked it while running the 40, and with representatives from 29 NFL teams watching, he was timed at an unofficial 4.36 seconds -- a startling time for a linebacker.
Still, let's stress this was an unofficial time, and while Shazier unquestionably is the fastest linebacker in the draft, the 4.36 time, frankly, strains credulity. That time would've been the fourth-fastest at the combine, behind the 4.26 of Kent State running back Dri Archer, the 4.33 by Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks and the 4.34 by Pittsburg (Kan.) State wide receiver John Brown. (Archer, Brown and Shazier are Florida natives, so maybe there is something to this "Florida speed" thing.)
Shazier measured 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds at the combine, an inch shorter but seven pounds heavier than he was listed at Ohio State. He did some of the combine events, including a 42-inch vertical jump, the best of any athlete at the event. He also had a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump, which was sixth-best among all the players. Those are eye-opening numbers for a linebacker.
NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock previewed Ohio State's pro day on NFL Network's "NFL AM" on Friday and praised Shazier, who is Mayock's No. 5 linebacker. Mayock has him No. 3 among outside linebackers, behind Buffalo's Khalil Mack and UCLA's Anthony Barr.
"He's a true 4-3 outside linebacker," Mayock said, touting Shazier's "great speed" and "heavy production." Shazier finished third nationally in 2013 with 144 tackles, and he was tied for second with 23.5 tackles for loss. He also had seven sacks and four forced fumbles. In his final two seasons at Ohio State, he had 269 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
"The one thing he's got to get better at at the NFL level is, he's got to learn to take on blocks," Mayock said.
Despite that issue, Mayock said Shazier is a great fit for today's NFL because "he's so good in the pass game."
Despite Mayock's praise, Shazier doesn't appear in the first round of any of the mock drafts done by NFL.com's draft analysts.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
