As one of college football's most versatile and talented players, Michigan's Jabrill Peppers doesn't need a 40-yard dash clocking to establish himself as one of the game's elite. But as a prospect who will be heavily scouted, it doesn't hurt to post a blistering 40 time a couple months before the start of his redshirt sophomore season.
Peppers could be eligible for the draft as early as 2017, if he applies for and is granted early eligibility after the 2016 season. At 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, he has impressive size to go along with his speed. Only three players ran faster than 4.34 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, although school-timed 40-yard dashes don't always match up with times at the combine. Still, it's not as though there wasn't already plenty of evidence that Peppers, along with his ability to play multiple positions, can really run.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's diverse use of Peppers' talent has established him as one of the college game's most versatile players. In fact, Harbaugh has likened him to baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Although Peppers has primarily played, and excelled, in the Wolverines' secondary, he got a lengthy look at outside linebacker during spring practice.
An outside linebacker with the 40-yard dash time of a cornerback?
While the rest of the Big Ten braces itself for such a possibility, NFL scouts can only hope it's true.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
