Chop Robinson, Xavier Worthy & Caleb Williams Make Headlines At The 2024 NFL Combine

by Benji FerraroMarch 5, 2024, 10:23 pmDaily Digest, News >

The NFL Combine has come and gone. As the football world turns its attention to the beginning of the free agency period, here are some of the most important things you need to know coming out of the event:

Chop Robinson looks to be the real deal.

Penn State defensive lineman Chop Johnson set social media ablaze during the first day of athletic training last Thursday. The 6-foot-2, 254-pound prospect ran the 40-yard dash in a lightning-fast 4.48 seconds.

Considering his size, this was an incredible feat – and will certainly turn the heads of NFL scouts. He is the fourth-ranked edge rusher out of college players who declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. After his outstanding first training session at the Combine, the comparisons to former Nittany Lion standout Micah Parsons don’t quite seem so far-fetched.

Speaking Of The 40-Yard Dash…

The NFL Combine record for this competition was shattered, with Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy sprinting 40 yards in just 4.21 seconds. It beat the previous record that John Ross set back in 2017.

This dialogue surrounding the wide receiver draft class this year has centered around names such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Keon Coleman and Troy Franklin. With speed showcased like this, however, maybe Worthy gets a few extra looks from NFL scouts?

Caleb Williams Makes History – Off The Field

Williams became the first NFL Combine prospect to not undergo medical examinations. While the tests are expected for most participants, they have been criticized for being at times long and redundant. Williams also did not give his medical records to any of the 32 teams, instead waiting to give them out to teams that take the most interest in him as the NFL Draft approaches.

This isn’t the first time the projected No.1 pick in the draft has made unprecedented decisions regarding his preparation for his NFL career – Williams notably does not have an agent.

Williams also wants partial ownership of any team that drafts him, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Overall, whether you agree with Williams’ decisions or not, the former USC Trojan is carving his own unique path in his path to start his NFL career.