Two Michigan football stars shine at the NFL Combine

Originally posted on Blue By Ninety | By CJ Mangum | Last updated 3/4/23

With the yearly NFL Combine underway ahead of this year’s NFL Draft in April, all of the nation’s top talent is working out in front of NFL scouts, GMs, and coaches. With the combine comes an opportunity to turn heads and increase draft stock — two things that a few Michigan football stars have been doing as of late. So far, two Wolverine standouts have made a huge impression at the combine.

Michigan football stars Mazi Smith and DJ Turner shine at combine

On Friday, both Mazi Smith (defensive tackle) and DJ Turner (defensive back) shined during their performances in the NFL Combine. DJ Turner — a standout defensive back during his time in Ann Arbor — clocked an insane time during his unofficial 40-yeard dash on Friday. Keep in mind that this number is unofficial, but Turner was clocked running a 4.27, one of the fastest times the combine has ever seen.

DJ Turner turned on the gas! #NFLCombine March 3-5 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/nCQggyjUBi

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) March 3, 2023

With Turner in the head-turning boat was Mazi Smith, Michigan’s All-Big Ten interior defensive lineman. We all knew that Mazi Smith was a unit, but bench pressing 225 pounds 34 times in a row is insane. So far, no defensive lineman has out-benched Michigan’s Mazi Smith at this year’s combine.

More to come from the NFL Combine

There is still a lot of combine left and more Michigan Wolverines to perform, but so far, the boys in blue have been leaving a meaningful impression on the NFL’s top scouts during the first stages of combine workouts.

All day! @mazismith put up 3️⃣4️⃣ reps on the bench, the most among all defensive linemen!#NFLCombine March 3-5 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/wP4oTSu7IX

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) March 3, 2023