UCF EDGE Increases Draft Stock At NFL Scouting Combine
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Former UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence put on a show for NFL scouts Thursday during his on-field workouts at the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Lawrence finished second among pure defensive ends in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. According to the NFL NextGen Stats Draft Model, he is estimated to have the highest "athleticism score" of all defensive ends and EDGEs in the 2026 draft class. Taken with a "production score," however, Lawrence received the 11th-highest total score, a 73 out of 100, among defensive ends and EDGEs at the combine.
Drill | Result | Rank (Among EDGEs) |
|---|---|---|
40-yard Dash | 4.52 seconds | 2nd |
10-yard Split | 1.59 seconds | 2nd |
Vertical Jump | 40" | T-2nd |
Broad Jump | 10' 10" | 2nd |
After going into the combine profiling as more of a day three selection in the NFL Draft, Lawrence's performance on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium has seemingly increased his draft stock. ESPN's Field Yates chose him as a "biggest riser" from the day's events and wrote that he "might be in play for Round 2." Yates described Lawrence's on-field workout drills as "buttery-smooth."
Malachi Lawrence was seen was a fringe top-100 guy before today but the league might have to now agree with me that he’s a top 50 player after today’s performance
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 26, 2026
Nearly a flawless Combine, top-to-bottom pic.twitter.com/RrUgHCyXaT
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein praised Lawrence's explosiveness and protection bypassing. Though he noted the EDGE needed better "discipline and assignment integrity," he was inconsistent as an edge-setter and his rush momentum was dampened by his strong hands and quick sets. He compared the EDGE to Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat, who is coming off his fifth season as a regular NFL starter.
"Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses," Zierlein wrote in his overview.
MALACHI LAWRENCE 📈📈📈 4.53
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) February 26, 2026
📺 NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/vVM69bJEBF
Lawrence is coming off a senior season with the Knights that saw him earn an All-Big 12 First Team honor, an honorable mention for the Big 12's defensive lineman of the year and earn new career highs with 28 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Seven of those tackles for loss were sacks, the fifth-most in the Big 12, which helped him end his career with 20 sacks total, the 10th-most in program history.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Lawrence said that, during his time at UCF, watching the leaders in front of him helped him grow into a leadership role in which he both led by example and was a vocal leader.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Apr. 23 and runs through Apr. 25 in Pittsburgh.
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Bryson Turner is a sports journalist who covers UCF Athletics. Turner has contributed to the Black and Gold Banneret, the home for UCF Athletics on SB Nation. He has called the Orlando area home since the age of 8 and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from UCF.
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