Calijah Kancey has one major supporter in his corner, leading up to next month's NFL Draft.
During his appearance on the NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" show, the former Pitt defensive tackle and first-round hopeful had his interview "interrupted" by a fellow former Pitt defensive tackle and first-round pick.
And, a future Hall of Famer.
A surprise video message from the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald appeared on the screen:
π² When a special message from @AaronDonald97 comes in during your interview π₯Ή @Ckancey8 pic.twitter.com/IUcCBGDFB3
β NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) March 27, 2023
"What's up with you, man?" Donald said as he began his selfie message from the inside of his car. "Just wanted to reach out to you (to) tell you, man, that I'm proud of you. All the great defensive linemen that Pitt was able to produce, and you're adding to that, man, and having so much success in college, and now you're at this level where you're about to go to the NFL, live out your dreams. Just wanted to tell you, man, to just keep working, just do the same thing you've been doing, man, and don't slow down, don't get satisfied, don't get comfortable, stay hungry, and you're going to dominate this league, man. Hopefully you can fall and be with me with the Rams, man, and we can make something happen, but anywhere you go, man, I know you're going to do your thing and hold it down and continue to take over, man.
"Hail to Pitt. You're making us Pitt guys proud, man, and to see every you've accomplished and everything you're going to accomplish, man, it's all a blessing, so take it all in, but don't slow down."
Kancey was all smiles before, during, and after Donald's message played.
"Man, that's big, man," Kancey responded. "He don't know how much that means to me. You guys caught me off-guard with that one."
Appreciate you guys for having me and Thanks for the surprise!!!! #H2P https://t.co/ah7zao1AL7
β Calijah Kancey (@Ckancey8) March 27, 2023
Kancey was then asked about his relationship with Donald.
"I think our relationship is actually good," Kancey said. "We met a few times, seen each other a few times throughout the facility, but we're just here to work, honestly. Not much time to actually pick his brain, but we've had conversations and seen each other, but most of it is work."
The 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and 2022 unanimous All-American Kancey turned heads at the NFL Combine earlier in the month with his record time in the 40-yard dash, which turned the comparison to Donald up 100 levels. Kancey edged Donald's 40-yard dash time of 4.68 seconds from 2014 by one-one hundredth of a second at 4.67 seconds, which is the new fastest 40-yard dash time by a defensive tackle in the NFL Combine dating to 2000.
UPDATED: Fastest 40-yard dash times by a DT at #NFLCombine since 2000.
β Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) March 2, 2023
1. Calijah Kancey - 4.67 β±
2. Aaron Donald - 4.68 β±#H2P Β» @NFL Β» @NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/HjBKdMw3Vc
Calijah Kancey officially ran a 4.67 forty yard dash
β PFF College (@PFF_College) March 2, 2023
Fastest 40 time by a Defensive Tackle since 2000π³
pic.twitter.com/HQ30fCaz1n
Kancey will be one of 13 former Pitt players to test at Pitt's Pro Day Wednesday on the South Side. The USA Today mock draft consensus, which averages mock drafts taken from USA Today, ESPN, Fox Sports, Pro Football Focus, and ESPN, project Kancey to an average pick of 24th overall, the slot which belongs to Jacksonville.
