Defensive lineman Malcolm Roach may not receive as much draft hype as his teammates, but he certainly impressed scouts and executives at the 2020 NFL Combine.
Safety Brandon Jones and wide receivers Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay are expected to be the first three players selected from Texas. However, Roach is arguably the most underrated draft prospect and has a legitimate future in the National Football League.
Although he played multiple positions at Texas, Roach is expected to play defensive end at the next level. Without starting a single game in 2019, he still garnered an invite to the 2020 NFL Combine.
Roach’s numbers were fairly average in terms of all-around testing at the Combine, but he posted a top-15 time in the 40-yard dash.
It was his 10-yard split that stood out. It impressed Texas’ director of recruiting Bryan Carrington enough to compare his 1.68 split to a few of the NFL’s most high-profile names.
A 1.68 10-yard split by a 297lb DL is insane! đ±@Officialmalcr32 was in his bag! đ°
Notable NFL DL 10-Yard Splits:
Quinnen Williams – 1.69
Chris Jones – 1.69
Geno Atkins – 1.75
Ndamukong Suh – 1.74
Gerald McCoy – 1.74
Marcell Dareus – 1.73
JJ Watt – 1.71
Cam Jordan – 1.71 https://t.co/9Ldb89mE8F— Bryan Carrington (@BCarringtonUT) March 1, 2020
This could be the primary reason Roach was named to NFL’s 2020 All-Combine defensive team. Around the NFL reporter Nick Shook included Roach in the short list of 13 players.
Introducing https://t.co/TAuzHi7hnfâs All-Combine Defensive Team!
(via @TheNickShook) pic.twitter.com/kUDdzYfoya
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2020
Roach is among the six defensive lineman selected. As a senior at Texas, Roach had 40 tackles and three sacks. He was very vocal about his concerns regarding the defensive scheme not fitting to his strengths as a player. Former defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme focused on safeties and linebackers rather than defensive lineman.
He is widely considered to be an undrafted free agent or late-round selection, but Roach is prepared to showcase his abilities at the next level.
All it takes is one chance.