Pitt’s Calijah Kancey runs faster than Aaron Donald with an all-time best 40 time for a DT

Pittsburgh Football has now produced the two fastest defensive tackles in NFL Combine history.

Calijah Kancey, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, put on a show Thursday in Indianapolis. After posting the fastest time in the first round of 40-yard dashes with a 4.78, he surpassed it in his second run with a 4.73.

That was the unofficial time. When officials took a closer look, he actually got a 4.67. That mark makes it the fastest defensive tackle in combine history since NFL Network officially began recording combine metrics in 2003. He is also the record holder for combines at 281 pounds anyone who weighs more than 280 pounds.

The previous record holder? That’s former Pittsburgh Panthers Aaron Donald, who has proven to be the league’s most dominant defenseman since he first stepped onto an NFL field in 2014. Donald scored a 4.68 in a stunning NFL combine aggregate effort in 2014.

So why is 40 times important for a defensive tackle? After all, when a defensive tackle sprints 40 yards in a football game, something has gone terribly wrong on the defensive end.

It speaks to the tremendous athleticism that players like Kancey and Donald possess. These guys aren’t going to be sprinting around the field on a regular basis like wideouts and cornerbacks. But at over 280 pounds, they’re doing a lot more than just taking up space in the trenches. Donald’s speed and athleticism combined with his 284-pound frame make him one of the most feared defensemen and backfield wrecking balls in NFL history.

Kancey, meanwhile, isn’t projecting himself as the next Donald. Nobody does it to be fair. But before Thursday, he was widely projected as a late first-round or second-round pick. He’s been a star at Pitt, who has recorded 27.5 tackles for losses and 14.5 sacks over his last two seasons. In addition to his ACC DPOY honors, he was a 2022 unanimous All-American.

But at 281 pounds, he’s short for his position, a trait that has kept him from being considered among the elite defenders in this year’s draft. For comparison, Jalen Carter, the best defensive tackle of the draft and #1 overall on many boards weighed in at 314 pounds on Thursday.

Donald was also undersized and 12 teams gave him in 2013 before the then St. Louis Rams picked him up in 13th place. It’s a decision these 12 teams would certainly like to have back.

Again, that’s not to say that Kancey’s 40th time puts him in Donald’s stratosphere. But it’s the kind of effort that should, and probably will, improve its draft inventory. How far will he fall before a team decides he’s too tempting to pass up?