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Shemar Stewart

Top SEC standouts from Day 1 of NFL Scouting Combine

Feb 28, 2025 | 10:38 AM

By Chris Marler

The NFL Scouting Combine began on-field workouts Thursday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, with defensive linemen and linebackers taking the field. Here are the top SEC standouts from Day 1.

Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart

Stewart never racked up a ton of numbers production-wise while in College Station. However, his performance in Indianapolis proved exactly what scouts have been expecting to see since before last season started. The size and explosiveness he put on display were one of one. 

  • Measurements: 6-foot-5, 267 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
  • Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches
  • Relative Athletic Score (RAS): 9.99 out of 10.00

That ranked third among defensive ends. Third since 1987. 



Arkansas DL Landon Jackson

Jackson was probably the biggest mover of the day on day 1. Anyone that saw him at Arkansas wasn’t super surprised that Jackson popped. Regardless, Jackson put on a show during his on-field workouts and testing. 

  • Vertical jump: 40.5 inches
  • Measurements: 6-foot-6, 264 pounds

It started with him jumping out of the gym with a 40.5 inch vertical jump. He is just the third player in combine history to weigh in at over 260 pounds and register over 40 inches in the vertical jump. The other two were both No. 1 overall picks, Mario Williams and Myles Garrett. 

Tennessee DL James Pearce Jr

Pearce was once considered to be in the running for the top overall pick in this year’s draft. The production was always there in college, as he totaled 17.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Tennessee. However, his stock has slipped a little since the end of last season and throughout the pre-draft process. 

  • Measurements: 6-foot-5, approximately 250 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds (a full tenth of a second faster than anyone else at his position)

South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. 

Knight Jr. is another player profiled in our combine breakout players preview. It was reported last year that he was clocked at over 21.5 miles per hour in spring and summer workouts. That’s not supposed to happen for players who are 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. 

  • Measurements: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds

Somehow Knight got even faster. He posted a sub 4.6 forty yard dash and was a massive hit because of his on-field performance and off-field interviews. A former transfer from Charlotte, a husband, and father of two, Knight is one of the most likable prospects in this year’s draft.

Georgia DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Dawkins has looked the part of a physical freak since he stepped foot on campus in Athens. At 6-foot-5 and nearly 300 pounds, he’s been one of the more physically imposing defensive lineman on Georgia’s team the last few seasons. Thursday was his coming out party. Dawkins not only ran a sub five second forty but he put up some simply historical numbers in all the other drills.

  • Measurements: 6-foot-5, 276 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds

Auburn LB Eugene Asante

As expected in our preview article here at LouisianaSports.net, Asante made himself some money on Thursday. A big sideline to sideline linebacker that is physical, fundamentally sound, and fast. Asante’s 4.48 forty time was one of the best of the day. 

  • Measurements: 6-foot, 223 lbs pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds
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