NFL · 12 hours ago

Mel Kiper’s 13 Biggest 2026 NFL Combine Risers: Mike Washington and Chris Brazzell Lead the Charge

Sportsgrid Staff

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1) Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas
While running back one and two are pretty concrete, with the Notre Dame duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price likely being the two bell cows taken, for Kiper, Mike Washington launched himself into the mix for RB3. The Arkansas alum was the fastest running back and eighth fastest player overall in the 40-yard dash.

Before having the fastest 40 time over the past 20 combines for players weighing at least 220 pounds (ESPN Research), Washington led the Razorbacks in rushing (1.070), good for 31st in the Nation.

Kiper's Take: I'm not sure if any other prospect improved his stock in Indy as much as Washington. Mel continued to glow on Washington's performance. "The No. 3 running back spot is a wide-open race, and Washington might have done enough at the combine to jump the line and make his case to go in Round 3.

Mike Washington's Measurements
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 198 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 32 3/8"
Mike Washington's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.33 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.51 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 39 inches
- Broad Jump: 10' 8"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
13) Bud Clark, S, TCU
Bud Clark reaffirmed why he should hear his name on Day 2. The six-year Senior out of TCU had 15 picks in 47 games since being relatively healthy from 2022 on. Clark finished in the top 10 among safeties, in the 40-yard dash (T-7), while his 10'7" broad jump and 38-inch vertical ranked fifth.

Kiper's Take: "He's a solid player who can help a defense at the next level, and I have him graded in the late Day 2, early Day 3 range."

Bud's Clark's Measurements
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 188 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 31 1/2"
Bud Clark's Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.56 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'7"
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.28 grade
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
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12) Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
Mel, like many of us, was impressed with Jalon Kilgore's combine performance. The former Gamecocks DB ran for a 4.4-second 40, which put him fifth among the group. His broad jump was the highlight event, leading the pack with a 10-foot-10 showing. While the talented safety's 37-inch vertical was average, Kilgore did enough to turn heads.

Kiper's Take: "Kilgore has posted at least 53 tackles in each of his three seasons, while picking off eight passes and breaking up 23 over his career. He has also returned 12 punts, further showing his versatility. Think Day 2 for Kilgore."

Jalon Kilgore's Measurements
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 188 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 31 1/2"
Jalon Kilgore's Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.56 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 37 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'10"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.32
- Bench Press: 16
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11) Kyle Louis, S, South Carolina
Although Kyle Louis can play both linebacker and safety, Mel sees the former Pittsburgh Panther in the defensive backfield. Louis is long and strong and showed off his leaping ability in Indianapolis. The 21-year-old ranked fourth among linebackers and would have been third had he worked with the safeties group after showing off his 39-inch vertical.

Kiper's Take: "Regardless of where an NFL team ultimately plays him, Louis is a baller who will make an impact in coverage, in run defense and as a blitzer. Over the past two seasons, he had 183 tackles, 10 sacks and six INTs. I'd watch for him to come off the board in the second or third round."

Kyle Louis's Measurements
- Height: 6'0"
- Weight: 220 lbs.
- Hand: 9 1/2"
- Arm: 31 1/4"
Kyle Louis's Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.58 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 39.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'9"
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.97
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.26
- Bench Press: n/a
10) Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Charles Demmings showed his jumping ability as one of his top assets at the Combine. The Stephen F. Austin product turned in the second-longest broad jump among corners, to go along with a vertical leap good for fifth in the grouping.

Kiper's Take: "he has the speed to stick with receivers, and with his long arms and big hands, he's a ball hawk. Demmings had nine interceptions and 35 passes defensed over his four-year career, including four picks and nine PDs in 2025. He's an early Day 3 pick; I have a fourth-round grade on him."

Charles Demmings's Measurements
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 193 lbs.
- Hand: 10 1/2"
- Arm: 32"
Charles Demmings's Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.55 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 42 inches
- Broad Jump: 11 feet
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
9) D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
D'Angelo Ponds certainly turned heads with his magical leaping ability. Only four corners in the past 23 years have shown a higher vertical. Pitting him against those in his own height range mystifies even further, as the gritty-tough Pounds is only the second corner, 5'10" or shorter, to jump this height at the combine.

Kiper's Take: I'd be shocked if Ponds gets out of Round 2. He had seven interceptions and 27 pass breakups over three seasons, and he was at his best in big games for the national champion Hoosiers.

D'Angelo Ponds's Measurements
- Height: 5'9"
- Weight: 182 lbs.
- Hand: 9 5/8"
- Arm: 29 3/8"
D'Angelo Ponds's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 5.15 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.77 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 43.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'9"
- 3-Cone Drill: 9.4
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 7.9
- Bench Press: n/a
8) Karson Sharar, LB, Iowa
Karson Sharar, out of Iowa, impressed Kiper with the third-best vertical among linebackers and the sixth-best sprint in the group.

Kiper's Take: "He can play inside or outside at the second-level, and he's also an early Day 3 prospect."

Karson Sharar's Measurements
- Height: 6'1.5"
- Weight: 231 lbs.
- Hand: 10 1/8"
- Arm: 31 1/8"
Karson Sharar's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.59 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 40 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'3"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
7) Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
Jack Kelly impressed in the Big 12 with 10 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2026. The Kearns, Utah native added 42 solo tackles in an impressive senior year with the Cougars. He was solid at the Combine with a 40-yard speed ranking eighth and a broad jump that landed him third among linebackers.

Kiper's Take: "Kelly can play off the ball or as an outside linebacker in a pass-rushing role. The Combine performance cleared the way to an early Day 3 pick."

Jack Kelly's Measurements
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 240 lbs.
- Hand: 9 1/8"
- Arm: 31 1/8"
Jack Kelly's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.61 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 37 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'5"
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.12 seconds
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.19 seconds
- Bench Press: n/a
6) Malachi Lawrence, OLB, UCF
Malachi Lawrence had one of the best combine's among this year's class of EDGE rushers. A 40-yard dash of 4.52 for a man of his size is a scary thought for opposing quarterbacks. His vertical and broad jumps were both good for second-best at his position.

Kiper's Take: "He can fly off the edge, with really solid closing speed and overall agility. He's in the Day 2 discussion as one of the biggest risers of the week."

Malachi Lawrence's Measurements
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 253 lbs.
- Hand: 9 1/4"
- Arm: 33 5/8"
Malachi Lawrence's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.52 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.59 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 40 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'10"
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.12 seconds
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.19 seconds
- Bench Press: n/a
5) Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
The Penn State product has logged 17 sacks over the past two seasons with the Nittany Lions. Dani Dennis-Sutton also had the identical number of tackles in each of the past two seasons, with 42 in 2024 and 2025. A combination of speed, quickness, and length has helped put Dennis-Sutton high on Mel's draft board.

Kiper's Take: Dennis-Sutton solidified his Day 2 status, and I think he's a second-rounder.

Dani Dennis-Sutton's Measurements
- Height: 6'6"
- Weight: 256 lbs.
- Hand: 10 1/8"
- Arm: 33 1/2"
Dani Dennis-Sutton's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.63 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.63 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 39.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'11"
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.9 seconds
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
4) Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Meaner and leaner Kadyn Proctor produced an impressive showing at the Combine. After dropping nearly 15 pounds, the Crimson Tide standout ran a solid 5.21 in the 40 and showed he can get up as well.

Kiper's Take: With his size, athleticism, quickness and potential, Proctor has to be talked about in the mid-to-late first round.

Kadyn Proctor's Measurements
- Height: 6'7"
- Weight: 352 lbs.
- Hand: 9 3/4"
- Arm: 33 3/8"
Kadyn Proctor's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 5.21 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.84 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 32.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 9'1"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: 25
3) Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Zachariah Branch may not be so high on your mock draft board, but Kiper is big on the diminutive wideout from Georgia. Size didn't hold Branch back in his final season in Athens as he led the Bulldogs in catches (81), receiving yards (811), and touchdown receptions (6).

Kiper's Take: "It was his work in the gauntlet drill that stood out most to me. With 29⅜-inch arms, he doesn't have the widest catch radius, but he showed really sure hands, plucking the ball from his body." Mel also added, "I'm admittedly higher on Branch than most, but I see a second-rounder."

Zachariah Branch's Measurements
- Height: 5'9"
- Weight: 177 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 28 3/8"
Zachariah Branch's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.35 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.5 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'5"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: 20
2) Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Chris Brazzell II broke out last year in Tennessee. The Vols' top wideout paced his squad with his first 1,000-yard season to go along with a career-high nine touchdown catches. Speed burns, and Kiper continues to be impressed by the big man's wheels.

Kiper's Take: "I predicted that Brazzell would run something in the ballpark of 4.47 in the 40-yard dash and push himself into the first-round conversation. Well, he ran a 4.37. At his 6-foot-4 size, that's really something. Mel also opined, "Scouts will start to take notice; it's hard to find receivers with that body type who can run and move as he does.

Chris Brazzell's Measurements
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 198 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 32 3/8"
Chris Brazzell's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.37 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
- Vertical Jump: n/a
- Broad Jump: n/a
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
1) Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas
While running back one and two are pretty concrete, with the Notre Dame duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price likely being the two bell cows taken, for Kiper, Mike Washington launched himself into the mix for RB3. The Arkansas alum was the fastest running back and eighth fastest player overall in the 40-yard dash.

Before having the fastest 40 time over the past 20 combines for players weighing at least 220 pounds (ESPN Research), Washington led the Razorbacks in rushing (1.070), good for 31st in the Nation.

Kiper's Take: I'm not sure if any other prospect improved his stock in Indy as much as Washington. Mel continued to glow on Washington's performance. "The No. 3 running back spot is a wide-open race, and Washington might have done enough at the combine to jump the line and make his case to go in Round 3.

Mike Washington's Measurements
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 198 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 32 3/8"
Mike Washington's Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.33 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.51 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 39 inches
- Broad Jump: 10' 8"
- 3-Cone Drill: n/a
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
13) Bud Clark, S, TCU
Bud Clark reaffirmed why he should hear his name on Day 2. The six-year Senior out of TCU had 15 picks in 47 games since being relatively healthy from 2022 on. Clark finished in the top 10 among safeties, in the 40-yard dash (T-7), while his 10'7" broad jump and 38-inch vertical ranked fifth.

Kiper's Take: "He's a solid player who can help a defense at the next level, and I have him graded in the late Day 2, early Day 3 range."

Bud's Clark's Measurements
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 188 lbs.
- Hand: 9"
- Arm: 31 1/2"
Bud Clark's Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.56 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38 inches
- Broad Jump: 10'7"
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.28 grade
- 20-Yard Shuttle: n/a
- Bench Press: n/a
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