NFL Combine Day One Risers – Defensive Line

As the NFL Combine launched yesterday, defensive linemen took center stage. Several prospects turned heads and made some money by performing well in the “underwear Olympics” at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Draft Nation tracked three high performers throughout the day as Toledo’s Darius Alexander, Tennessee’s James Pierce, and Arkansas’ Landon Jackson generated considerable buzz among scouts and analysts alike.

Darius Alexander – DT, Toledo

Darius Alexander played well at the Senior Bowl and did so against higher-level competition than he saw week in and week out at Toledo. But his performance at yesterday’s Combine workouts cemented him as one of the class’s highest risers.

Alexander’s strength, low center of gravity, and speed create a deadly combination to play against. He ran a sub 5.0 40-yard dash and demonstrated both heavy hands and anchoring ability during the drills, putting him into the range of a high “day two” pick. With some coaching and development, Alexander may compare best longer term to the Giant’s Dexter Lawrence.

James Pierce – Edge, Tennessee

Pierce, a standout edge/linebacker, has all the makings of an impact defender in the NFL. Measuring in at 6’3” and weighing approximately 230 pounds, Pierce is effective at shedding blocks and getting to the ball carrier. A cerebral player, Pierce will get better with experience, but after yesterday’s performance, he solidified his projection as a late first-round steal.

During drills, Pierce didn’t disappoint. He was one of the fastest defenders in the 40-yard dash and flashed his twitchy suddenness during the drills. Many scouts were concerned with his lack of NFL size, but after yesterday, many of those doubts were erased.

Pierce can start day one and given the increasing emphasis on versatile linebackers in today’s NFL, Pierce’s ability to play effectively in pass coverage only serves to raise his draft value.

Landon Jackson – DE, Arkansas

Of all the prospects that practiced yesterday, Landon Jackson’s performance may have been the most unexpected. The 6’6”, 260-pound Jackson set the crowd roaring with a 40-inch vertical jump, followed by an equally impressive 4.68 40-yard dash with a 1.65 10-yard split. Reminiscent of FSU’s Braden Fiske in 2024, Jackson made more than a few scouts’ jaws drop.

Jackson’s relentless motor and equal talent for pressuring the quarterback or clogging running lanes may have vaulted him into early second-round territory, or perhaps even sneaking into the back end of the first round.