2026 NFL Combine Days 1 & 2 Recap: Styles Brothers Make History, Records Fall as Indianapolis Sets the Stage for Draft Season
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine opened with high expectations Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium, and through two days of workouts the event has largely delivered — beginning with a performance few who attended will soon forget.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles set the early tone Thursday, posting a 4.46-second 40-yard dash — the fastest time among his positional group — and adding a 43½-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. According to NFL Research, Styles became the first prospect at 230 pounds or more to run a sub-4.5 40 while also clearing 40 inches in the vertical and 11 feet in the broad jump since at least 2003. The combination left NFL scouts and onlookers stunned.
His older brother, safety Lorenzo Styles Jr., answered the next day with perhaps the most buzzworthy individual performance of the week. The former Notre Dame receiver-turned-Ohio State defensive back clocked an official 4.27-second 40-yard dash on Friday — the fastest time recorded by a safety at the NFL Combine since at least 2003, and the quickest mark posted by any player through two days of workouts.
"THE STYLES CAM," the NFL's official broadcast captioned on social media as it aired a split-screen of both brothers running the 40. It was a fitting tribute for a family that has taken over Indianapolis. Their father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played six NFL seasons and was part of the St. Louis Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV-winning team. Now the next generation is making its own mark.
Day One: Defensive Linemen, Edge Rushers and a Preview of What Was to Come
Thursday's workouts were dominated by defensive ends, defensive tackles and linebackers, with many top prospects opting to participate only in media interviews and medical evaluations rather than on-field drills — a common practice as players protect their stock ahead of individual pro days.
Among the notable performers: Texas Tech edge David Bailey drew praise during defensive end drills, while Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks impressed evaluators in one-on-one sessions. However, all conversations circled back to Sonny Styles, whose all-around performance generated immediate comparisons to the most decorated combine showings in recent memory.
The school representation at this year's combine also turned heads. Texas A&M led all programs with 13 participants, followed by Alabama (12), LSU (11), the University of Miami (10), and Clemson (9) — a reflection of the SEC's continued pipeline of NFL talent.
Day Two: Speed, Records, and the Defensive Back Showcase
Friday's session shifted to defensive backs and tight ends, and the afternoon delivered a series of standout performances. Beyond Lorenzo Styles' headline-grabbing 4.27, several other prospects used the stage to make a case for draft-day consideration.
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman emerged as one of the day's most complete performers, combining a 41-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-5 broad jump, and a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. paced the cornerback group with a 4.32-second time, while Georgia's Daylen Everette and South Carolina's Jaylen Kilgore — who ran a 4.40 — each turned heads and likely elevated their draft positioning.
Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad was another standout, displaying speed and versatility in coverage drills. Clemson's Avon Terrell showed burst and recovery ability on the outside, a reflection of a Clemson program that, under head coach Dabo Swinney, has developed a reputation for producing NFL-ready defensive backs. Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, listed at 6-foot-4, ran a 4.53 in the 40 and made a strong case that mid-major programs continue to produce legitimate NFL prospects.
Tight End History: Kenyon Sadiq Breaks the 40 Record
If the Styles brothers provided the emotion of Days 1 and 2, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq provided the historical footnote. Sadiq clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash — the fastest time by a tight end at the NFL Scouting Combine since at least 2003, surpassing the previous record of 4.40 set by Vernon Davis.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers also made history, recording a 45.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-3 broad jump — both combine records for the tight end position. Taken together, the pair's performances elevated a position group that will be closely watched when the draft arrives in April.
On the Ground: A First-Hand Look at Combine Week
This reporter gained media access beginning Friday, as the combine's coordinating demands — medical check-ins, MRI queues, and positional rotations running simultaneously — created the kind of organized chaos that has come to define combine week. Medical holdups pushed several player availability windows, a recurring logistical reality that even the combine's seasoned operations staff acknowledges.
Among the interview standouts Friday was Ohio State running back C.J. Donaldson, who spoke with clarity and confidence about an aspect of his game that often goes overlooked: his background as a wide receiver before converting to running back. His ability to communicate his versatility directly to NFL decision-makers in a media scrum setting was among the more polished individual media moments of the afternoon.
Quarterback Watch Ahead
The combine's attention will shift to quarterbacks in the coming days, with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza — the consensus top overall prospect after throwing 41 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy, and leading Indiana to a national championship in 2025 — headlining the group. Mendoza confirmed Friday that he has already had contact with Las Vegas Raiders executive and minority owner Tom Brady, calling it "very special."
While most of the top quarterbacks are expected to limit their on-field participation and save their showcases for pro days, the media availability sessions are expected to be among the most closely watched of the week.
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 2026. Coverage of Days 3 and 4 of the Scouting Combine, including wide receiver, running back, and quarterback workouts featuring exclusive interviews with LSU's Aaron Anderson, Baylor's Josh Cameron, Miami's C.J. Daniels, South Carolina's Rahsul Faison, and Ohio State's C.J. Donaldson, will continue on The Daily Show's YouTube channel.
— The Daily Show Sports Desk
