Adetomiwa Adebawore 40 time: Northwestern DL shoots himself up draft boards with NFL Combine showing

David Suggs

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Adetomiwa Adebawore 40 time: Northwestern DL shoots himself up draft boards with NFL Combine showing image

Hauntingly bulky and yet gracefully still, Adetomiwa Adebawore showed every trick in his repertoire at the NFL Combine.

The Northwestern defensive lineman shined under the bright lights, flashing every ounce of his mammoth 6-2, 282-pound frame...while also displaying ballerina-like footwork and dexterity in speed and agility drills.

Matched up against some of the biggest names in the 2023 draft pool, including Bryan Bresee, Lukas Van Ness and Isaiah Foskey, Adebawore lit up the Lucas Oil Stadium, recording a blazing 4.49 40-yard dash time — the fourth-fastest mark from any DL this year. The fact that Adebawore finished a tenth of a second off first-place Nolan Smith, who weighs 40 pounds less than his Big Ten counterpart, spoke volumes.

MORE: Follow live updates, highlights from NFL Combine workouts

Adebawore's sprint was simply mind-boggling, an athletic feat many in the scouting world had never seen before. To witness such a hulking prospect move with such swiftness immediately thrust him into the spotlight.

At 282 pounds, Adebawore entered rarified air on Thursday, becoming the fastest player ever recorded at that weight. The person he surpassed? None other than perennial All-Pro Aaron Donald.

MORE: Pitt's Calijah Kancey draws comparisons to Aaron Donald after blazing fast 40-yard dash

While it was his sprint down the sideline that drew the most admirers, Adebawore proved he's more than just a one-trick pony. He also measured out very favorably in the vertical jump (37.5 inches) and took part in defensive end, defensive tackle and linebacker drills. Versatility is en vogue across NFL circles. Adebawore showed he has it in spades. 

He's more than just a workout warrior, per Fox Sports' Peter Schrager. Adebawore also captivated scouts at the Senior Bowl, getting off the blocks quickly and splitting through offensive linemen like they were traffic cones.

MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2023, 2-round edition

Adetomiwa Adebawore Senior Bowl pic.twitter.com/LwJLvNmCye

It's not easy to stand out in a sea of giants. And although Adebawore hasn't quite cemented Day 1 status, he certainly took a step in the right direction with his dominant performance on Thursday. 

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.