2026 NFL Combine Day 1 Results: Sonny Styles Makes History, David Bailey Blazes, Kaleb Proctor Shocks
The first day of on-field workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine delivered one of the most electric defensive performances in the event's history. Thursday, February 26 ET at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was headlined by three names: Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, and small-school surprise Kaleb Proctor of Southeastern Louisiana. Today, Friday, February 27, the action shifts to defensive backs and tight ends.
Sonny Styles Posts Historic NFL Combine Numbers at Lucas Oil Stadium
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles delivered one of the most jaw-dropping athletic performances in recent NFL Combine memory. He posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump — the best in combine history among linebackers — and an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump, which ranks fourth among linebackers in combine history since 1999.
Styles then backed it all up by running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash — tying his Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese for the fastest time of the day among all defensive linemen, edge rushers, and linebackers. His testing production now draws comparisons to the Hall of Famer known as Megatron, and he has made himself a lock to be a top-10 pick in April.
David Bailey Runs a 4.50 — Von Miller Comparisons Emerge
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, who led the FBS with 14.5 sacks this season while racking up 19.5 tackles for loss, confirmed his first-round status with an official 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds — the fastest among all edge rush prospects on Thursday.
Bailey's testing numbers were compared to those of future Hall of Famer Von Miller — the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The question now being asked across league circles: could Bailey go second overall to the Jets 15 years later? Bailey is not a "1-of-1" edge rusher in the mold of Myles Garrett or the Bosa brothers, but he has positioned himself well to be the first at his position off the board in April.
Arvell Reese Ties Styles With a 4.46 in the 40-Yard Dash
Arvell Reese continued to prove he belongs among the elite prospects in the entire 2026 NFL Draft class. He tied Sonny Styles for the fastest 40-yard dash of the evening at 4.46 seconds, and was fluid and detailed through on-field drills, drawing direct praise from Browns linebacker coach and run game coordinator Jason Tarver.
Reese enters the draft ranked No. 3 in multiple national draft rankings and is widely projected to go in the top four picks overall. He confirmed earlier this week he has already met with the Jets, who hold the second overall selection.
Kaleb Proctor Turns Heads: Small-School Prospect Could Work Into Day Two
The biggest under-the-radar story of Thursday's workout was Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor. Proctor ranked among the top defensive tackle performers in almost every athletic measure, posting a 4.79-second 40-yard dash, a 33-inch vertical jump ranked fifth among all DTs, and a 9-foot-5-inch broad jump ranked fourth.
Proctor is a 6-foot-2, 291-pound pass-rushing 1-gap defensive tackle who delivered dominant position drills on top of his standout athletic testing — and scouts are going back to his tape tonight as a result. He may have worked himself into the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rueben Bain Jr. Arm Length Headline Overshadows His Elite Pass Rush Talent
The most controversial measurement of Day 1 belonged to Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Bain's arms measured at just 30 and 7/8 inches — ranking as the fourth-shortest arm length among edge rushers measured at the NFL Combine since 1999, with his 77 and 3/8-inch wingspan also ranking among the shortest on record. Bain will still be a first-round pick — likely top 10 — but teams with strict length requirements are taking notice.
What's Coming Friday and Saturday at the 2026 NFL Combine
Today, Friday, February 27 ET, the 2026 NFL Combine shifts to defensive backs and tight ends from 3:00 to 8:00 PM ET. Ohio State cornerback Caleb Downs is expected to be one of the premier performers of Day 2, while Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy has already declared he will not participate in athletic testing.
Saturday, February 28 ET brings the marquee session — quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs take the field starting at 1:00 PM ET. The quarterback session will be the most scrutinized of the entire week, with all eyes on which signal-callers throw and which ones elect to sit out ahead of the April 23 draft opening night in Pittsburgh.
