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!