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When Bears fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II wasn't invited to the NFL Combine, the Maryland linebacker didn't pout or feel sorry for himself.

Instead, Hyppolite focused solely on what he could control during the pre-draft process.

"The only thing I did was just decide what I'm going to do and that was just capitalize on my Pro Day," Hyppolite said, "make the best of that opportunity and then just kill it on the visits and on the Zoom calls, and I feel I did that."

He certainly did, and it was a key factor in the Bears selecting him with the 132nd pick in the draft.

It began at his Pro Day March 28 when the 5-11, 236-pounder ran a blazing 4.39 in the 40—which would have been the fastest time by a linebacker at the combine. Hyppolite's impressive Pro Day performance spawned league-wide interest, and he ultimately visited 10 teams.

One of his most memorable trips was to Halas Hall the first week of April.

"It was a great visit with everybody there," Hyppolite said. "I love the staff, and it was just great. They showed a lot of hospitality and just being at Chicago felt like home to me."

The feeling was mutual.

"When he came into the building for our '30' visit, he was one of those players that everybody loved," said Bears assistant director of college scouting Francis St. Paul.

Hyppolite arrived at Halas Hall hoping to convey to the Bears that "I was a smart player, that I knew my defense and that I could talk ball at a very highly effective rate."

"I just wanted to get across to them that obviously I have the speed to play this position, and I have the ability to play this position," he said. "Just really talking to them as far as my scheme, how I can fit into their scheme … Meeting with the coaches, all the front office people, all the staff. It was just great meetings all around. I loved the visit."

Hyppolite especially enjoyed interacting with linebackers coach Richard Smith.

"He broke down a lot of my film and he was really in-depth with me on how he was going to work with me and help me be the best player and maximize my game," Hyppolite said. "Throughout all the interviews and meetings I had, it was just great all around. I meshed well with everyone in the building. Chicago was a highlight of my visits that I went on and I went on a lot of them. I'm glad that they got me."

Possessing speed and toughness, Hyppolite is an ideal fit in first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme. Over the last five seasons at Maryland, he appeared in 51 games with 46 starts and compiled 236 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 13 tackles-for-loss, one interception, six pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Shortly after being drafted by the Bears, Hyppolite told reporters that he was "speechless because it's kind of surreal."

"Getting that call was great," he said. "I didn't know what to expect. I know I put my best foot forward and I just appreciate everybody in that building for believing in me. I'm going to do my best to bring a Super Bowl to Chicago.

"I'm definitely blessed for this opportunity and definitely going to make the most of this."