Brown University DL Michael Hoecht posts insane 40-yard dash in ‘virtual pro day’

Photo courtesy: Brown University Athletics

Brown University defensive lineman Michael Hoecht posted a video on Monday of him performing combine drills ahead of next month’s NFL and CFL drafts.

Prospects need to be creative in order to complete testing ahead of this year’s draft due to all combines and pro days being cancelled.

The six-foot-four, 295-pound defensive tackle ran a blazing 4.65 forty-yard dash on his first attempt and followed that up with a 4.68 on his second attempt. Those times are virtually unprecedented for a player of his size.

The rest of Hoecht’s testing was strong as well with: a 7.05 three-cone; 4.21 shuttle; 33.5-inch vertical; nine-foot, two-inch broad jump; and 23 reps on the bench press.

The native of Oakville, Ontario told me earlier this month that football is his passion.

“Football is all-consuming and becomes one of those things that is burned into your DNA. It becomes who you are,” says Hoecht. “I’ve played football since third grade and in no world do I see myself really having the passion to go do something else.”

“(Football) is who I am at this point. It’s what I love doing and it’s what challenges me. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. It’s everything I’ve wanted to do and succeed at.”

Hoecht was slated to go fifth overall in my first 2020 CFL mock draft, though it’s possible he could be selected even higher after posting such fantastic testing numbers.

John Hodge
John Hodge is a Canadian football reporter based in Winnipeg.