Malik Benson (Photo: Jason Fairchild, 247Sports)
EUGENE, Ore. — Malik Benson knew he was fast. His tape said the same. But before an official time was put on paper, nothing was certain.
After running 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month, that box has been checked. Oregon's leading receiver is plenty fast to play in the NFL, and now everyone knows it.
"Obviously I wish I could've run faster, but 4.3 is 4.3," Benson said of his 40 time at Tuesday's Oregon Pro Day. "It definitely moved my up on people's boards. I was really able to showcase my speed. I know I'm a fast guy, but without that 40, you never know how fast you are. Just being able to hit 4.3 was a really big accomplishment for myself, and just to show teams that I play fast, but I have the speed on the 40 too."
Benson was not one of the half-a-dozen departing Ducks to run the 40 on Tuesday. There was no need. Instead the wide receiver prospect tested his 3-cone drill skills before running routes and catching passes from Brock Thomas as part of the morning's position drills.
No times or marks from Tuesday's Oregon Pro Day have been made available at this time.
"I feel I did pretty good. Just another opportunity to come out here and show my routes for the teams," he said of the day. "The scouts were giving me some routes to run, and I feel like I did a really good job, being able to crush it out there definitely gives me some confidence.
"I'm a smaller guy, but I'm fluid in and out of my breaks, and I've got a lot of speed too. Some guys with good speed are not as good of going in and out of their breaks."
Benson is now "close to the finish line" of his pre-draft process. He'll hop on more Zoom calls and conduct more workouts with teams, but he's done his final testing in a setting line this, and is glad about that.
"I didn't know what to expect, but now that it's done, I'm glad it's done, and I can get all of that stress off my shoulders," he said. "I'm glad I didn't have to come out here and run the 40 again, because the added pressure and stress that you put on yourself, because you do all these starts and running and then you only get two opportunities to do it, that part I'm glad I'm done with."
Benson says all 32 NFL teams have been in contact with him. He didn't offer specifics, but expect more workouts to be scheduled in the coming days now that the Pro Day is done.
What's next for the speedster?
Moving. He'll be packing up his place in Eugene to prepare for his next home. He'll leave Eugene with a deep sense of gratitude.
"The thing I appreciate most was really just getting another year of eligibility and to come to Oregon and showcase who I am," he said. "I came from Florida State, and I didn't put my best foot forward there. So getting another opportunity to showcase who I am as a person and an athlete, I feel like it ultimately helped me and I'm super excited to see where it's going to take me."