Speed merchant Louis Rees-Zammit disappointed with sprint time in NFL trials

Rees-Zammit set two 40-yard dash times during the combine for IPP players – @BBCSportWales

Louis Rees-Zammit said he was disappointed with his sprint time after completing his workout in front of NFL scouts in Florida as the former Gloucester and Wales wing attempts to earn a roster spot on a gridiron team ahead of next season.

It was perhaps a surprising reaction from a player who was renowned as one of the fastest players in rugby union

The 23-year-old has been part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway for the last 10 weeks since announcing his decision to quit rugby and try to make it in the NFL, and was taking part in a specially-organised combine for scouts to assess the IPP players.

In the 40-yard dash, the most high-profile of the combine events, Rees-Zammit recorded an unofficial time of 4.44 on his second attempt. He told reporters afterwards that his time was not as fast as he had hoped, having run as low as 4.2 and 4.3 seconds before the combine.

LRZ told me he was disappointed with his time in the 4.4s and said he’s run in the 4.2s and 4.3s

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) March 20, 2024

In a recent interview with Telegraph Sport, Rees-Zammit name-checked Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey as dual-threat players playing as hybrid wide receivers and running backs who he hoped to emulate in the NFL. Both Samuel and McCaffrey ran 4.48 at their respective pro days before they were drafted. Christian Wade, the former Buffalo Bills running back who returned to rugby and is now with Racing 92, recorded a 4.53 time during his 40-yard dash.

Rees-Zammit also ran routes, impressed with his footwork, and competed in broad and vertical jump drills but looked disappointed with his performance in the broad jump, recording 9ft 7in.

Following the IPP Combine, Rees-Zammit will be eligible to be selected on an NFL practice squad – the reserve squad below each NFL roster – as an additional 17th player given his international designation. NFL rosters begin each summer with up…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/speed-merchant-louis-rees-zammit-204249303.html

Author : The Telegraph

Publish date : 2024-03-20 20:42:49

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