Jadeveon Clowney's 4.53-second 40-yard dash elicited a jaw-dropping response, but that kind of speed from a defensive end hasn't necessarily translated into individual NFL success of late.
Clowney's 40 time is tied for sixth among all defensive linemen at the combine since 2003, and the guys who have run faster (or just as fast) haven't done all that much in the NFL, with an exception or two.
Important to note: While some of those players moved to linebacker in the NFL, they were classified as defensive ends at the combine. Perhaps more important to note: Clowney (who measured 6 feet 5¼ and 266 pounds at the combine) is considered a vastly better prospect than the guys on this list, though one of them was a first-rounder.
Here's a look at the aforementioned six other defensive linemen:
1. Manny Lawson, N.C. State
1. Isaac Hilton, Hampton
3. Marcus Howard, Georgia
4. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
5. Cliff Avril, Purdue
6. Dontay Moch, Nevada
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
