Speed is often associated with wide receivers and cornerbacks not defensive tackles. But recent NFL Combine data is redefining what is possible.
Defensive tackles Kaleb Proctor (20.95 mph) and Gracen Halton (20.92 mph) recorded two of the five fastest top speeds in the 40-yard dash among defensive tackles over the last four years. For players who operate in tight spaces and battle double teams snap after snap, those numbers are rare.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, three defensive tackles since 2023 have run faster top speeds during the 40-yard dash:
• Calijah Kancey – 21.15 mph
• Dante Stills – 20.95 mph
• Braden Fiske – 20.95 mph
All three of those players have gone on to start more than 20 games in the NFL, proving that elite testing speed from an interior defensive lineman can translate to real production at the next level.
Following a Proven Blueprint
The fact that the three fastest defensive tackles by top speed since 2023 Kancey, Stills, and Fiske have already established themselves as NFL starters adds weight to Proctor and Halton’s numbers. It suggests a measurable correlation between rare speed traits and early professional impact.
For Proctor and Halton, this places them in elite athletic territory. Being among the five fastest at their position over a four-year span is not just a Combine headline it is a signal to evaluators that they possess the movement skills modern defenses covet.
As the NFL continues to prioritize versatility and speed at every level of the defense, interior linemen who can move like edge rushers are no longer a luxury they are becoming the standard.
If history is any indicator, Proctor and Halton’s speed may be more than impressive data. It could be a preview of what is to come on Sundays.
Cover Photo Credits: SE Louisiana Athletics
