The 2026 NFL Combine is officially underway. The defensive linemen and linebackers were the first batch of players to run the 40-yard dash on Thursday.
This is a look at who performed the best on Day 1 of the NFL Combine.
2026 NFL Combine Day 1 40-Yard Dash
Here are the 10 fastest 40-yard dash times of opening day of the NFL Combine:
- EDGE Arvell Reese (Ohio State): 4.46 seconds
- LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State): 4.46 seconds
- LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (TCU): 4.47 seconds
- EDGE David Bailey (Texas Tech): 4.50 seconds
- LB Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas): 4.51 seconds
- EDGE Malachi Lawrence (UCF): 4.52 seconds
- LB Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh): 4.53 seconds
- LB Nambdi Obiazor (TCU): 4.53 seconds
- EDGE Trey Moore (Texas): 4.54 seconds
- LB Karson Sharar (Iowa): 4.56 seconds
Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles
The two fastest 40-yard times among the front-seven players were both Ohio State Buckeyes. EDGE rusher Arvell Reese and LB Sonny Styles both ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. That was a real statement for Reese, who showed why he is projected to be the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, his college teammate Sonny Styles matched him with a fantastic performance. Styles doesn’t have the elite pass-rushing ability that his teammate has, but he is still projected to be the No. 13 overall pick in my latest 2026 NFL mock draft. These were two players who were already high on a lot of draft boards, and their stock only improved after those impressive runs.
