It’s hard not to love the story of Ji’Ayir Brown. The former JUCO player has become a key player for Penn State’s defense over the past few seasons. Playing alongside Jaquan Brisker and Joey Porter Jr. at times Brown was overshadowed a bit, but few players made as many key plays for Penn State’s defense as Brown. Now, the defending Rose Bowl MVP is looking to make a name for himself at the next level.
The NFL combine showed some of the reasons scouts might be a little concerned about Brown’s skill set at the next level. Simply put, Brown is not the athletic freak that some other top safeties will be. But what Brown lacks in athleticism, he more than makes up for in production. And few players will make as good an impression as Brown once you talk to him.
Here is a breakdown of all NFL combine scores for Ji’Ayir Brown.
Measurable values
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 2: Penn State’s Ji’Ayir Brown #DB41 talks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Height: 6’2.5″
Weight: 193 lbs
Hand: 34″
Hand: 10″
40 yard dash
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 3: Penn State defensive back Joey Porter runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Office hours: 4.65
It’s a little secret that Ji’Ayir Brown wasn’t going to set the world on fire with his 40-yard dash time. He finished with the third-slowest 40 time among safeties in the combine, which was a bit disappointing to see.
Pittsburgh’s Brandon Hill led all safeties with a time of 4.43 seconds. Illinois duo Jartaviis Martin (4.46) and Syndney Brown (4.47) and Minnesota’s Jordan Howden (4.49) had top-five times among safety prospects.
Division of 10 meters
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 3: Penn State defensive back Ji’Ayir Brown runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Official halftime: 1.56
Ji’Ayir Brown was more in the middle of the pack when it came to his first 10 yards in the 40-yard dash. The range of 10-yard dash times for safeties mostly ranged between 1.5 seconds and 1.6 seconds, with only one player faster (Illinois’ Jartavius Martin at 1.47 seconds) and one player with a slightly slower time (Boise State’s Tyreque Jones at 1.61). seconds).
Vertical jump
March 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive back Ji’Ayir Brown (DB41) speaks to reporters at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Obligatory credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Official record: 32.5″
The vertical leap hasn’t been particularly kind to Ji’Ayir Brown compared to his fellow safeties. Brown had the fifth-lowest combined vertical jump in his position group, and was one of five players not to go at least 33 inches.
Jartavius Martin of Illinois had the best vertical leap among safeties with a vertical leap of 44.00 inches. The next closest player was Oklahoma State’s Jason Taylor II, who was a full inch shorter at 43.00 inches. Illinois’ Sydney Brown had the third-best vertical jump from the safety spots at 40.50 inches.
Long jump
March 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive back Ji’Ayir Brown (DB41) speaks to reporters at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Obligatory credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Official distance: 9’11”
Ji’Ayir Brown was one of nine safeties who didn’t have a broad jump of at least 10 feet, which was just below average for the position group. Only one player went more than 10 feet, and that was Illinois’ Jartavius Martin. Martin cleared an incredible 11’1″ and topped everyone. The next nine players at the plate were in the 10’1″ and 10’10” range.
NFL combine degree
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 3: Penn State defensive back Ji’Ayir Brown runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
NFL Combine Rating: 6.36
While the numbers may be lacking at the position group, Ji’Ayir Brown still has the overall look of a player to be drafted. The athleticism score from the NFL’s next generation stat was a bit unnerving after his overall performance, but there are other strong indicators working in Brown’s favor as he approaches the draft.
What Brown lacks in athleticism compared to others, he more than makes up for in production. NFL Stats for the Next Generation gave Brown the best production score among safeties at 89. His athleticism score dropped him (56, 18th among safeties), but he still leaves the combine as the second-highest rated safety overall of 79. And Brown’s overall valuation suggests that Brown will end up being the best starter in the NFL.
So all in all, this combine experience seems to have treated Brown pretty well.