Zack Baun’s official 40-yard dash time of 4.65 seconds at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine served as a crucial quantitative baseline for talent evaluators assessing his transition from college edge rusher to modern off-ball linebacker.
While linear speed across forty yards is a standard benchmark, an athlete’s complete testing matrix—encompassing short-area acceleration, lateral fluidity, upper-body strength, and vertical explosiveness—provides the true blueprint for professional longevity and scheme adaptability.
This comprehensive analytical breakdown evaluates Zack Baun’s physical measurements, dissects his athletic drill testing, tracks his collegiate development at Wisconsin, and explores his path from a third-round draft selection to earning First-Team All-Pro honors during a landmark 2024 breakout campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Audience Profiling & Strategic Framework
Target Personas & Stakeholder Mapping
- Defensive Analysts & Talent Evaluators: Requiring precise empirical verification of combine metrics, split times, and physical measurements.
- Sports Analytics Enthusiasts & Bettors: Seeking granular statistical distributions, tackle efficiency rates, and defensive snap translation.
- NFL Fans & Franchise Followers: Interested in tracking how historical athletic traits directly supported Baun’s evolution into an elite off-ball linebacker.
Strategic Content Architecture
The fundamental objective of this analysis is to resolve core queries surrounding Zack Baun’s exact combine metrics, specifically highlighting his 40-yard dash speed, burst splits, jump measurements, and career milestones.
By organizing complex evaluation metrics into structured tables, thematic bullet points, and deep technical commentary, this analysis delivers executive-level depth and rigor.
Background and Collegiate Foundation
Before entering the formal evaluation pipeline of the NFL Scouting Combine, Zack Baun established an impressive athletic reputation in the Big Ten conference.
Born on December 30, 1996, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Baun developed his foundational athletic capabilities locally.
High School Recruitment Profile
- Hometown & High School: Baun attended Brown Deer High School in Wisconsin, competing as a multi-talented athlete.
- Recruiting Evaluation: Ranked as a three-star prospect by major national recruiting outlets, including ESPN and Rivals.
University of Wisconsin Career (2015–2019)
At the University of Wisconsin, where he played from 2015 through 2019, Baun became an integral defensive pillar. Across 39 collegiate games, he accumulated 154 combined tackles and 99 solo tackles.
His senior campaign in 2019 stood out as a high-water mark for his collegiate development:
- Recorded a career-high 53 solo tackles in 2019.
- Earned Consensus All-American honors.
- Selected to the First-Team All-Big Ten team.
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Breakdown
At the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, talent evaluators focused on Baun’s physical frame and movement efficiency to project his optimal role in professional defensive schemes.
Physical Attributes Matrix
| Physical Attribute | Official Metric | Metric System Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 3 in | 1.91 m |
| Weight | 225 lbs | 102 kg |
| Age (as of Jan 2025) | 28 years old | Born Dec 30, 1996 |
Complete Athletic Testing Results
| Testing Drill | Official Metric | Strategic Evaluation Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 40-Yard Dash | 4.65 seconds | Demonstrates competitive top-end closing speed across the field. |
| 10-Yard Split | 1.54 seconds | Indicates high-level initial burst and immediate acceleration off the snap. |
| 20-Yard Split | 2.74 seconds | Confirms sustained acceleration through intermediate pursuit angles. |
| Bench Press | 24 reps | Displays upper-body power required to disengage from blockers. |
| Vertical Jump | 32.5 inches | Reflects lower-body power and explosive leaping ability. |
| Broad Jump | 9 ft 7 in | Measures horizontal force generation and lower-body explosive distance. |
| 3-Cone Drill | 7.00 seconds | Highlights lateral agility, ankle flexion, and quick direction change. |
| 20-Yard Shuttle | 4.31 seconds (4.2s in alternate logs) | Demonstrates short-area lateral quickness for closing defensive gaps. |
Technical Evaluation of Baun’s Athletic Metrics
Speed and Acceleration Analysis
- Top-End Speed (4.65s 40-Yard Dash): Running an official 4.65-second 40-yard dash confirmed that Baun possessed the necessary speed to cover ground effectively from sideline to sideline. For a defensive hybrid operating at 225 pounds, sub-4.70 speed represents an important threshold for surviving modern pass-heavy offenses.
- Initial Explosion (1.54s 10-Yard Split): The 1.54-second 10-yard split remains one of Baun’s standout metrics. A rapid 10-yard burst is frequently more indicative of practical linebacker success than overall 40-yard speed, as it governs shoot-the-gap blitzing and initial trigger time against run concepts.
- Intermediate Acceleration (2.74s 20-Yard Split): Completing the 20-yard split in 2.74 seconds reinforced his ability to transition smoothly from initial explosion into open-field pursuit.
Power, Leverage, and Agility Profile
- Upper-Body Strength: Bench pressing 225 pounds for 24 repetitions showcased notable physical leverage and strength-to-weight efficiency. This strength was critical in enabling him to hold his ground against larger offensive linemen.
- Leaping Explosiveness: Registering a 32.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump illustrated functional lower-body power. These explosive traits assist in contesting pass lanes and diving into run gaps.
- Lateral Fluidity & Flexibility: Recording a 7.00-second 3-Cone Drill and a 4.31-second 20-Yard Shuttle proved that Baun maintained low hip height, clean footwork, and fluid direction-changing mechanics. These agility times foreshadowed his capability to transition from an edge defender into a full-time off-ball linebacker.
Professional Progression & All-Pro Breakout
Draft Capital and Initial NFL Experience
Baun’s collegiate production and solid combine profile translated into draft capital during the 2020 offseason:
- Draft Position: Selected 74th overall in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
- Drafting Franchise: Chosen by the New Orleans Saints following a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
- Early Career Tenure: Spent four seasons with the Saints (2020–2023), building system familiarity, developing core defensive techniques, and contributing on special teams.
The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles Breakout
In 2024, Baun signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where defensive coordinators unlocked his athletic skill set within an off-ball linebacker role.
2024 Performance Milestones:
- Starting Role: Earned a full-time role, starting all 17 regular-season games for Philadelphia in 2024.
- Tackle Production: Produced extraordinary statistical totals, leading the defense with 239 combined tackles and 153 solo tackles.
- First-Team All-Pro Selection: Garnered national acclaim by being named to his first career First-Team All-Pro roster.
- Postseason Performance: Maintained high-level output across 5 playoff games, accumulating 26 combined tackles.
- Championship Stage: Helped navigate his team to his first career Super Bowl appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs in early 2025.
Conclusion
Zack Baun’s 4.65-second 40-yard dash and 1.54-second 10-yard split at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine highlighted the explosive athletic traits that defined his entire collegiate transition from Wisconsin to the professional ranks.
Originally selected 74th overall in the third round by the New Orleans Saints, his foundational athletic profile fully blossomed during a landmark 2024 breakout campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Amassing 239 combined tackles and earning First-Team All-Pro honors, Baun successfully translated his initial testing measurements into elite, game-changing linebacker performance as he reached his first career Super Bowl appearance.
