North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson recorded the fastest time among the linebackers in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.

Wilson’s 4.43-second showing also was the fastest of any player at the combine on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. In addition to the linebackers, the players designated as defensive tackles and edge rushers ran the 40-yard dash on Thursday.

Florida State’s Kalen DeLoach ran a 4.47-second 40 to finish as the runner-up among the linebackers. A pair of SEC linebackers – Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace – tied for the third-fastest time at 4.51 seconds.

One player with Alabama football roots ran with a linebacker designation on Thursday. Mississippi State’s Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) clocked in at 4.63 seconds, which tied for eighth-fastest at the position.

Twenty-five linebacker are at the 2024 combine.

In the other measurable drills on Thursday, the leaders among the linebackers included:

Vertical jump: Washington’s Edefuan Ulofoshio got up 2 inches higher than any other linebacker at 39.5. Kentucky’s Wallace placed second at 37.5 inches, with UCLA’s Darius Muasau third at 36.5.

Broad jump: Ulofoshio and Wallace had a one-two finish here, too. Ulofoshio cleared 10 feet, 8 inches (128 inches), with Wallace 1 inch short of that. Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs and Temple’s Jordan Magee tied for third at 124 inches.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.