The buzz around Malachi Lawrence just got louder.

The UCF edge rusher delivered an astonishing athletic performance, recording a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump numbers that immediately put him among the most explosive defensive prospects in football.

For context, the all-time broad jump record at the NFL Combine sits at 11 feet, 2 inches set by Ben Banogu in 2019. Lawrence came just four inches shy of that historic mark, a difference so small it underscores just how elite his lower-body explosiveness truly is. Malachi Lawrence would follow up with another elite performance, this time during the 40 yard dash. Lawrence would record a 4.53 40, 2nd amongst EDGE rushers

Elite Explosion Off the Edge

For an edge defender, explosion is everything. A 40-inch vertical is considered elite at any position. The 10’10” broad jump may be even more telling. Scouts often value the broad jump as a pure measure of horizontal explosion a direct indicator of how quickly a defender can generate force moving forward. That first-step burst is exactly what separates good pass rushers from game-wreckers.

During his breakout 2025 campaign, Malachi Lawrence recorded 28 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and a team high 7 sacks.

Nearing Historic Territory

Being within inches of an all-time broad jump record is not just impressive it is a statement. It signals that Lawrence belongs in the upper tier of athletes entering the next level.

If these numbers are any sign, UCF’s Malachi Lawrence is not just climbing draft boards he is launching himself up them.

Cover Photo Credits: Associated Press