TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright shaved about a tenth of a second off his 40-yard time from the NFL Combine, and his performance at the school’s Pro Day on Thursday could solidify his draft stock.
“I don’t see how he gets out of the second day,” said Wright’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who attended the workout.
Wright, who won a trio of major national awards as a sophomore in 2014, was unimpressive at the combine last month, running the 40 in 4.9 seconds. He ran in the low 4.8s and high 4.7s at Arizona Stadium on Thursday, Rosenhaus said.
Wright also increased his vertical jump from 31 inches to 35 inches in front of scouts from most NFL teams.
The improved performance should alleviate some fears that Wright, while ultra-productive as a college linebacker, wasn’t athletic enough for the NFL.
“All we really wanted to accomplish was to have some good numbers,” Rosenhaus said. “Getting down to under 4.8 was really good for him. A productive day. … I think coming out of this workout, he definitely helped himself.”
NFLDraftScout.com downgraded Wright after the Combine, projecting him as a late fourth-round selection, but Rosenhaus sounded confident that his client wouldn’t slip past the third.
“Ultimately, teams go back to the game film,” Rosenhaus said. “When you get close to the draft, all these numbers mean a lot less and the game film means a lot more. And the game film is going to be awesome. It’s really going to jump out.”
Wright made 163 tackles, including 29 for loss and 14 sacks, as a sophomore in 2014. He also forced six fumbles, en route to winning the Nagurski, Bednarik and Lombardi awards. A knee injury in the season opener and a foot injury upon his return limited Wright to three games in 2015. He showed flashes with 15 tackles in the New Mexico Bowl.
Wright, who is 6 feet, 239 pounds, said he was more relaxed Thursday than he was in Indianapolis, and attributed his better 40 time to returning to his old trainers at home in northern California. He said he regained some of the explosion he lost after he dropped about 25 pounds while training for the Combine.
“I knew I could do better, as you saw today,” Wright said.