UCF's Malachi Lawrence has taken the NFL Draft Combine by storm, showcasing an extraordinary blend of speed and explosiveness that has sent his draft stock soaring.
Representing the Black and Gold, Lawrence, alongside fellow Knight Nyjalik Kelly, delivered a performance for the ages. His numbers were nothing short of historic, finishing second among all defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash with a blistering 4.52 seconds, a broad jump of 10'10", a vertical leap of 40", and a 10-yard split clocking in at 1.59 seconds. These feats placed him just behind David Bailey, a projected top-five pick, who ran a 4.5 flat.
Lawrence's athletic prowess has earned him a spot in the top 1% of Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) over the past 40 years, achieving an unofficial 9.9 out of 10. Out of 2,046 defensive ends who've graced the combine since 1987, Lawrence ranks 22nd, receiving an "elite" grade in both "composite explosion grade" and "composite speed grade."
Joining an elite fraternity of edge rushers like Montez Sweat, Myles Garrett, and J.J. Watt, Lawrence is one of only six edge prospects in the last decade to post an RAS score over 9.89 and achieve a sack rate above 4% in at least one college season.
His standout performance has not gone unnoticed. NFL Draft Files on X highlighted Lawrence as one of the day's biggest winners, noting his dramatic rise in draft stock. Previously seen as a fringe top-100 prospect, Lawrence's near-flawless combine could catapult him into the top 50.
Coming off a stellar senior season where he earned First-Team All Big 12 honors, Lawrence recorded seven sacks and two forced fumbles. His pressure rate was the fifth-highest among FBS edge defenders, matching potential No. 1 pick Rueben Bain Jr. by pressuring quarterbacks on 22.7% of his pass-rush snaps.
With the NFL Draft just around the corner, Lawrence's incredible speed and quarterback pressure ability have put him firmly on NFL teams' radars, projecting him as a second-round pick. His stock is on a steady rise, and he’s a name to watch as the draft approaches.