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Craziest Statistics From Kenyon Sadiq's Record-Breaking NFL Combine Performance

Former Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq broke a record with his 40-yard dash and received some lofty player comparisons in the process.
Charlie Viehl|
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (TE23) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (TE23) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Former Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq put on a show at the NFL Combine on Thursday, and his 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds is a record for tight ends. Sadiq's unofficial time of 4.40 tied a tight end record held by Vernon Davis (2006) and Dorin Dickerson (2010), but his official time puts Sadiq in a league of his own.

Thanks to his record-breaking day on Friday, Sadiq has made waves with nearly everyone trying to find a pro comparison for the versatile athlete. His 43.5-inch vertical was second among tight ends behind former Vanderbilt star Eli Stowers, whose 45.5-inch vertical is the best of any tight end since 2003.

Kenyon Sadiq as Fast as Jahmyr Gibbs

kenyon sadiq nfl combine tight end 40 yard dash record oregon ducks dan lanning jahmyr gibbs desean jackson julio jones
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) carries the ball defended by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

With a historic performance from Sadiq, the tight end's speed has been put into perspective in a number of surprising ways. Despite weighing 241 pounds, Sadiq's athleticism has been compared to current Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs

According to Next Gen Stats, Sadiq reached a top speed of 23.24 miles per hour during his 40-yard dash which is the the same top speed as Gibbs at the NFL Combine back in 2023. Gibbs later went on to become the No. 12 overall pick by the Detroit Lions.

Heading into the combine, many presumed Sadiq would be selected in the first round, although there was no clear consensus on how high the former Oregon Duck would be picked. A reunion with Denver quarterback Bo Nix was on the table, but Sadiq likely doesn't last to the 30th pick after Friday night's showing.

Kenyon Sadiq Joins DK Metcalf, Nick Emmanwori

According to NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escaren, Sadiq joined rarified air as only one of three players over 220 pounds to to run under 4.4 seconds in the 40, jump over 40 inches in the vertical, and jump over 11 feet in the broad jump.

The other two? Current Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori. Both Metcalf and Emmanwori are known as two of the more unique athletes in the league, and Sadiq is the heaviest of the bunch at 241 pounds.

kenyon sadiq nfl combine tight end 40 yard dash record oregon ducks dan lanning jahmyr gibbs desean jackson julio jones
Feb 5, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) talks to media members at the San Jose Marriott. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Specifically, Emmanwori went viral at the 2025 NFL Combine after ranking in the 90th percentile of every test for his size. Metcalf, on the other hand, has been known for his elite combination of size, speed, and strength. Can Sadiq live up to these lofty comparisons once he reaches the league?

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At Oregon, Sadiq caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, but he showed off his versatility in the offense, lining up at nearly every skill position at some point while the Ducks dealt with injuries.

Historic NFL Combine

Holzman-Escaren also put Sadiq's testing at the NFL Combine into another perspective, comparing the tight end to some of the better wide receivers in league history like DeSean Jackson and Julio Jones.

Craziest Statistics From Kenyon Sadiq's Historic NFL Combine Performance
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (TE23) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

His speed alone should be a huge asset. Sadiq's record-breaking 40-yard dash attempt was compared to running backs Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson by the NFL Network broadcast's simulcam, and Sadiq beat out McCaffrey and Robinson by 0.07 seconds.

While NFL Combine testing doesn't exactly translate onto the field, Sadiq seemed to stamp himself as a first round pick on Friday.

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Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is the deputy editor for the Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes, and USC Trojans on SI. He has written hundreds of articles for SI and has covered events like the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician, holding a degree in Music and Philosophy from Boston College. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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