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The NFL Combine, affectionately known as the “Underwear Olympics,” has just wrapped up and the results are there for everyone to see. It’s an event like no other, a showcase of the best and brightest college football prospects. The annual event brings together top college athletes from around the country to compete in a series of physical tests, all while wearing tight-fitting spandex and shorts.
The combine is like a carnival of athleticism, where scouts, coaches, and fans alike gather to watch players run, jump, lift, and sprint their way into the hearts of NFL teams. With drills like the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, and the vertical jump, it’s like a playground for those who love to watch people exercise in form-fitting clothing.
It’s a place where players can show off their physical prowess and impress scouts with their lightning-fast sprints and awe-inspiring jumps. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to witness some truly epic feats of strength, like a linebacker bench pressing more than your entire body weight.
But it’s not all fun and games. For the players, the combine can be a nerve-wracking experience, as they are put under a microscope and evaluated on every aspect of their physical ability. They have to perform at their best, even if it means running until they feel like collapsing or lifting weights until their arms feel like they might fall off.
Overall, the NFL Combine is a spectacle unlike any other, where players get to showcase their skills and scouts get to see the next generation of NFL stars in action.
Here are the other top performances all-time at the NFL scouting combine and a look at how the players fared on the football field:
(Stats via the Associated Press)
40-YARD DASH
The 40-yard dash is one of the most well-known and important tests used in the NFL Combine to evaluate a player’s speed, acceleration, and explosiveness. The test involves a player starting from a stationary position and sprinting 40 yards as fast as possible.
The player’s time is recorded from the start of the sprint to the finish, with the goal being to complete the sprint as quickly as possible while maintaining proper form and control. This test is particularly important for evaluating prospects in positions that require speed, such as wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs.
The times recorded during this test are used by scouts and coaches to evaluate a player’s ability to accelerate, reach top speed, and maintain that speed over a distance, which are crucial skills for success in the NFL. The 40-yard dash is just one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s overall athletic ability and potential to succeed at the next level.
It is important to note that while the 40-yard dash is a valuable tool for evaluating a player’s speed, it should be viewed in combination with other tests and evaluations to get a more complete picture of a player’s abilities and potential.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
4.22 seconds: John Ross III, WR, Washington, 2017. Drafted ninth overall by Cincinnati, Ross caught 11 TD passes and played in just 37 games over five NFL seasons with the Bengals and Giants.
Noteworthy – 4.24: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina, 2008. Drafted 24th overall by Tennessee, he ran for 2,006 yards and 14 TDs in 2009 and scored 54 times over a 10-year career with the Titans, Jets and Cardinals.
BENCH PRESS
The bench press is a test used in the NFL Combine to evaluate a player’s upper body strength and endurance. The test involves a player lying on a bench and lifting a barbell loaded with weights, using a standardized weight of 225 pounds for as many reps as possible.
The goal of the bench press test is to evaluate a player’s maximal strength, as well as their ability to perform repeated reps with a heavy weight. This test is particularly important for evaluating prospects in positions that require upper body strength, such as offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, and tight ends.
The number of reps completed is used by scouts and coaches to evaluate a player’s upper body strength and endurance, which are crucial factors in success at the next level. It is important to note that the bench press score should be viewed in combination with other tests and evaluations to get a more complete picture of a player’s abilities and potential.
Overall, the bench press is just one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s upper body strength and potential to succeed in the NFL.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
49 repetitions: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State, 2011. A second-round pick by Chicago, Paea started for three seasons in Chicago. He also spent a year each in Washington, Cleveland and Dallas.
Noteworthy – 44 (tie): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis, 2012. Drafted 11th overall by the Chiefs, Poe also played for Atlanta, Carolina and Dallas during a nine-year career that included two Pro Bowls.
VERTICAL JUMP
The vertical jump is a test used in the NFL Combine to evaluate a player’s lower body explosiveness, power, and overall athleticism. The test involves a player standing underneath a measuring apparatus and jumping straight up as high as possible, touching or reaching for a series of markers.
The distance jumped is measured from the starting point to the highest point the player reaches, and the score is usually reported in inches. The goal is to jump as high as possible while maintaining proper form and control.
The vertical jump is particularly important for evaluating prospects in positions that require explosive power, such as wide receivers, defensive backs, and defensive linemen. A good vertical jump score indicates that a player has good lower body explosiveness and power, which are key factors in success at the next level.
The vertical jump is just one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s overall athletic ability and potential to succeed in the NFL. It is important to note that the vertical jump score should be viewed in combination with other tests and evaluations to get a more complete picture of a player’s abilities and potential.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
45 inches (tie): Chris Conley, WR, Georgia, 2015. A third-round pick by Kansas City, Conley has spent nine years in the NFL, including stints with the Jaguars, Texans and Titans. He has 16 career TDs.
45 inches (tie): Donald Washington, CB, Ohio State, 2009. A fourth-round pick, he spent three seasons in the NFL, all in Kansas City, and never intercepted a pass.
Noteworthy: 44 (tie): Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia, 2019. A second-round pick by Kansas City, Thornhill has been a mainstay in the Chiefs’ secondary, recording eight career interceptions and winning two Super Bowls.
BROAD JUMP
The broad jump is a test used in the NFL Combine to evaluate a player’s lower body strength, explosiveness, and overall athletic ability. The test involves a player standing behind a starting line, taking a few steps forward, and jumping as far forward as possible, landing on both feet.
The distance jumped is measured from the starting line to the heel of the player’s back foot at the point of landing. The goal is to jump as far as possible while maintaining proper form and control.
The broad jump is particularly important for evaluating prospects in positions that require explosive power, such as defensive linemen, linebackers, and offensive linemen. A good broad jump score indicates that a player has good lower body strength and explosiveness, which are key factors in success at the next level.
The broad jump is just one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s overall athletic ability and potential to succeed in the NFL. It is important to note that the broad jump score should be viewed in combination with other tests and evaluations to get a more complete picture of a player’s abilities and potential.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
12 feet, 3 inches: Byron Jones, CB, UConn, 2015. The Cowboys made Jones the 27th overall pick and he missed just four games in a solid seven-year career that finished with two seasons in Miami.
THREE-CONE DRILL
The three cone drill, also known as the L-drill, is another important drill used in the NFL Combine to evaluate a player’s agility and change of direction abilities. The drill involves three cones placed in the shape of an L, with the player starting at the first cone, running around the second cone, then cutting back to the third cone before sprinting through the finish line.
The player’s time is recorded, with the goal being to complete the drill as quickly as possible while maintaining proper form and control. This drill is particularly important for positions that require quick change of direction, such as running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs.
The times recorded during this drill are used by scouts and coaches to evaluate a player’s ability to quickly change direction, accelerate, and decelerate, which are crucial skills for success in the NFL. The three cone drill is one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s overall athletic ability and potential to succeed at the next level.
In addition to evaluating agility and change of direction, the three cone drill also tests a player’s balance, body control, and acceleration, making it a valuable tool for assessing a prospect’s athletic potential.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
6.42 seconds: Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon, 2011. Undrafted, Maehl played three games in two seasons in Houston and in 24 games over two years in Philadelphia, where he posted his only career TD in 2013.
Noteworthy: 6.44: Buster Skrine, DB, Chattanooga, 2011. A fifth-round draft pick by Cleveland, Skrine beat the odds with an 11-year NFL career with the Browns, Jets, Bears, 49ers and Titans.
20-YARD SHUTTLE
The 20-yard shuttle is one of the drills used in the NFL Combine to assess the agility and lateral quickness of prospects. The drill involves a player starting in a three-point stance and then sprinting five yards to the right, then ten yards to the left, and finally back to the starting point, completing a total of 20 yards.
The player is timed from the start of the drill to the finish, with the goal being to complete the shuttle as quickly as possible while still maintaining proper form and control. This drill is particularly important for positions that require quick changes of direction, such as running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs.
The times recorded during this drill are used by scouts and coaches to evaluate a player’s ability to quickly change direction, accelerate, and decelerate, which are crucial skills for success in the NFL. The 20-yard shuttle is just one of the many tests that prospects undergo at the NFL Combine, but it is a key indicator of a player’s overall athletic ability and potential to succeed at the next level.
2023 TOP PERFORMANCE
PAST PERFORMANCES
3.81 seconds (tie): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State, 2014. The 20th overall pick by the Saints, Cooks’ spectacular nine-year career features 49 TD catches and stints with the Patriots, Rams and Texans.
3.81 seconds (tie): Jason Allen, CB, Tennessee, 2006. The 16th overall pick by Miami enjoyed a solid seven-year NFL career that included 15 interceptions and stints in Houston and Cincinnati.
Noteworthy: 3.85 (tie): Justin Simmons, FS, Boston College, 2016. A third-round pick by Denver, Simmons has emerged as a premier safety with multiple picks in all seven seasons, including a league-best six in 2022.
WORDS: “Action” Jackson Hines.