What is the NFL Combine?

Early each year in February hundreds of the best college footballers are invited to the NFL scouting combine. Over a grueling four day period, players are tested in front of coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams.

There are 6 generic drills which all of the athletes take part in to show off their talent.

 

Below is a quick overview of the drills and what each are testing-

40 yard dash

• A 40 yard sprint from a standing start.
• This exercise tests the speed and explosion off the mark of the athletes. Athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40 yard intervals.

Bench Press

• Athletes are required to rep out 102kg (or 225 lbs).
• This test is looking at pure strength endurance. It separates the men from the boys.

Vertical Jump

• This is a simple jump height test. The distance between standing height and jump height is measured.
• The athletes begin standing flat-footed, perform a counter-movement jump (a bend of the knees prior to the jump) off two feet and reach up to swipe the ‘vane’.
• This test measures lower-body explosion, power and strength

Broad Jump

• From a two-footed stance, the athlete explodes out of his stance horizontally, to land with good balance.
• This test measures lower-body strength, explosion and power.

Shuttle run

• Also known as the 5-10-5.
• From a 3-point stance the athlete explodes out laterally 5 yards to this right, touches the line, goes back laterally 10 yards on his left, hand touches the line, pivots and sprints 5 more yards forward facing to finish.
• This exercise tests the athlete’s lateral speed and explosion over short distances.

3 Cone Drill

• Three cones are set up in an L-shape. The athletes starts from the starting line, sprints 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then turns around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, changes direction, comes back around the second cone and finishes.
• This test measures the athlete’s ability to change direction at speed.

 

Current Combine Top Records

40 yard dash – John Ross 4.22 time (2017)

Bench press – Stephen Paea 49 reps (2011)

Vertical Jump height – Chris Conley 45.0 height (2015)

Broad Jump – Byron Jones 12’13’’ (2015)

3 Cone Drill – Jeffrey Maehl 6.42 time (2011)

Shuttle run (20yards) – Jason Allen 3.81 time (2006)

 

 

How would you do under such scrutiny? Think you could challenge these top athletes?

Keep your eyes peeled for more combine related content coming soon!