Super Bowl champion coach Mike McDonald was in the NFL Network booth talking NFL Combine while players like Mason Reiger were running 40-yard dashes. He said for edge rushers and defensive linemen, one of the main things NFL scouts are looking for is explosive testing. So, with the 40-yard dash, it's not the final number but those first 10 yards. That split needs to pop.
Mason Reiger fits that bill. He ran a 1.61 10-yard split, which was good for fifth (tied) among defensive ends. That wasn't the only explosive trait he had, but that was the trait that the Wisconsin football social media team quickly made a TJ Watt comparison. For they both have 1.61 10-yard splits.
1.61 second 10-yard split by @reiger_mason 👏
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) February 27, 2026
we’ve seen that stat from a Wisconsin linebacker before @_TJWatt 👀#NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/4s8QDbCPPL
Former Badgers Mason Reiger and TJ Watt have similar NFL Combine numbers
Reiger has yet to complete all the NFL Combine on-field drills. Today, he will add the 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and bench press to his resume. For now, though, his early work has very similar numbers to another former Badger, TJ Watt.
Let's look at a quick side-by-side of Watt's NFL Combine numbers and Reiger's:
TJ Watt | Mason Reiger | |
|---|---|---|
40-yard dash | 4.69 | 4.78 |
10-yard split | 1.61 | 1.61 |
Vertical | 37" | 40" |
Broad Jump | 10' 8" | 10' 5" |
You can see that Watt and Reiger don't line up perfectly, but it's eerily close. Reiger had a higher vertical, but Watt had a better broad jump. They were close in total 40-yard dash and exactly the same in the 10-yard split.
It will be interesting to see what Reiger scores in the other events. For reference as you watch the NFL Combine today and you look for Reiger. Watt had these scores in the final drills:
3-cone drill: 6.79 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.13 seconds
Bench press: 21 reps
Reiger may not have the same career as Watt, and it's currently unfair to compare the two in terms of what's next for Reiger. However, it is fun to see another edge rusher coming out of LBU that's putting the NFL world on notice. Reiger's stock is rising as many predicted he would be a late-round pick. With these numbers, he's moving into the day two category.