De'Zhaun Stribling's NFL Combine performance 'opened everyone's eyes' to the Ole Miss WR

The 40-yard dash time for De'Zhaun Stribling at last month's NFL Scouting Combine opened up more doors for next month's NFL Draft.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:58pm

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De'Zhaun Stribling, a wide receiver from Ole Miss, garnered attention during his one season with the Rebels. His performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, particularly his 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds, has generated significant interest from NFL teams ahead of the upcoming draft. Stribling showcased his speed and skills at Ole Miss' Pro Day, and has been projected to be selected as early as the third round in recent mock drafts.

Why it matters

Stribling's impressive combine performance has elevated his draft stock, as NFL teams look to add talented wide receivers to their rosters. His ability to perform at a high level in the SEC and showcase his speed and skills at the combine has made him an attractive prospect for several teams in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The details

Stribling's 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine was the seventh-best among wide receivers, just 0.10 seconds behind the top time of 4.26 seconds set by Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson. This performance has generated significant interest from NFL teams, with Stribling participating in Ole Miss' Pro Day and running routes for returning quarterback Walker Howard. Stribling has had contact with 'almost everybody' when it comes to teams showing interest, with mock drafts projecting him to be selected as early as the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers or as late as the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

  • De'Zhaun Stribling participated in the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
  • Stribling was back in Oxford for the Ole Miss Pro Day on Wednesday.

The players

De'Zhaun Stribling

A wide receiver who spent one season at Ole Miss after transferring from Oklahoma State, and is now preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Walker Howard

The returning quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels, who caught passes from Stribling during the Pro Day.

Brenen Thompson

A wide receiver from Mississippi State who set the top 40-yard dash time of 4.26 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Harrison Wallace III

The leading receiver for Ole Miss in the 2025 season, with better numbers than Stribling.

Miami

The team that eliminated Ole Miss from the College Football Playoff semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“I guess is it just kind of opened everyone's eyes to my speed. Personally, I always knew I was that fast. So it was just about going out there and running a great time and showing everybody. Glad I was able to showcase my speed on a high level.”

— De'Zhaun Stribling

“I think it was great. Clean routes. Showed my speed. Showed my in-and-out of the cuts being very, very fast and very fluid.”

— De'Zhaun Stribling

“I played at a high level, playing in the SEC, playing in this offense, be able to showcase all my abilities as a receiver and then even towards the end of the year being more of the go-to guy. Being in different spots with the offense and then having great runs in the playoffs really helped a lot.”

— De'Zhaun Stribling

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Stribling's impressive performance at the NFL Combine has significantly boosted his draft stock, as NFL teams recognize his speed and potential as a wide receiver. His ability to excel in the SEC and showcase his skills at the Combine has made him an attractive prospect for several teams in the upcoming NFL Draft.