The National Football Post takes a look at some of the key drills at the NFL Combine and breaks down the top-10 performances in each over the past decade, plus players who are expected to shine in these events this year.
40-Yard Dash
Purpose: To measure the straight-line speed of prospect over the course of 40 yards.
Top performances this decade:
1. 4.24 seconds: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina (2008)
2. 4.25: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (2009)
3. 4.27: Stanford Routt, CB, Houston (2005)
4. 4.28: Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton (2005)
5. 4.28: Mike Wallace, WR, Mississippi (2009)
6. 4.29: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State (2008)
7. 4.29: Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian (2009)
8. 4.29: Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska (2005)
9. 4.30: Darrent Williams, CB, Oklahoma State (2005)
10. 4.30: Mike Thomas, WR, Arizona (2009)
Top potential performers in 2010 (times are estimated):
Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson: 4.23
Trindon Holliday, WR, LSU: 4.26
Brandon Banks, WR, Kansas State: 4.32
Bench Press
Purpose: To measure upper body strength, power and endurance by asking a prospect to lift 225 pounds as many times as possible.
Top performances this decade:
1. 45: Leif Larsen, DT, Texas-El Paso (2000)
2. 45: Mike Kudla, DE, Ohio State (2006)
3. 44: Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State (2006)
4. 43: Scott Young, OG, BYU (2005)
5. 42: Isaac Sopoaga, DT, Hawaii (2004)
6. 42: Tank Tyler, DT, North Carolina State (2007)
7. 41: Igor Olshansky, DT, Oregon (2004)
8. 41: Terna Nande, OLB, Miami (Ohio) (2006)
9. 40: Justin Blalock, OG, Texas (2007)
10. 40: Manuel Ramirez, OG, Texas Tech (2007)
Top potential performers in 2010 (reps are estimated):
Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas: 37
Everson Griffen, DE, USC: 37
D’Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech: 35
Vertical Jump
Purpose: To measure the lower body explosion and quick-twitch ability of a prospect.
Top performances this decade
1. 46 inches: Gerald Sensabaugh, FS, North Carolina (2005)
2. 45.5: Derek “Cameron” Wake, OLB, Penn State (2005)
3. 45: Chris McKenzie, CB, Arizona State (2005)
4. 45: Donald Washington, CB, Ohio State (2009)
5. 45: Chris Chambers, WR, Wisconsin (2001)
6. 43.5: Dustin Fox, FS, Ohio State (2005)
7. 43.5: Kevin Kasper, WR, Iowa (2001)
8. 43: Scott Starks, CB, Wisconsin (2005)
9. 43: Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut (2009)
10. 43: Cedric James, WR, TCU (2001)
Top potential performers in 2010 (estimated inches):
David Gettis, WR, Baylor: 42
Joe Haden, CB, Florida: 41
Chris Cook, DB, Virginia: 40
Short Shuttle
Purpose: To measure a prospect’s change-of-direction skills, lateral quickness and ability to get back up to speed quickly.
Top performances this decade:
1. 3.73 seconds: Kevin Kasper, WR, Iowa (2001)
2. 3.75: Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina (2004)
3. 3.76: Deion Branch, WR, Louisville (2002)
4. 3.82: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (2005)
5. 3.82: Dante' Hall, RB, Texas A&M (2000)
6. 3.83: Kevin Bentley, OLB, Northwestern - 2002
7. 3.83: Terence Newman, CB, Kansas State - 2003
8. 3.83: Jason Allen, FS, Tennessee - 2006
9 3.84: Justin Beriault, FS, Ball State - 2005
10. 3.84: Troy Walters, WR, Stanford – 2000
Top potential performers in 2010 (times are estimated):
Brandon Banks, WR, Kansas State: 3.98
Trindon Holliday, WR, LSU: 4.02
Joe Haden, CB, Florida: 4.04
Three-Cone Drill
Purpose: To measure a prospect’s balance, body control and flexibility while changing directions and accelerating as a non-linear player.
Top performances this decade:
1. 6.34 seconds: Sedrick Curry, CB, Texas A&M (2000)
2. 6.48: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (2005)
3. 6.48: Rogers Beckett, FS, Marshall (2000)
4. 6.50: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan (2007)
5. 6.51: Jon McGraw, SS, Kansas State (2002)
6. 6.54: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State (2007)
7. 6.56: Ben Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech (2002)
8. 6.56: Kevin Kasper, WR, Iowa (2001)
9. 6.57: Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville (2008)
10. 6.59: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State (2009)
Top potential performers in 2010 (times are estimated):
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State: 6.57
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: 6.59
Trindon Holliday, WR, LSU: 6.65
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This is a perfect example of why most fans shouldnt have a draft board or take the combine too seriously.
According to the NFS reports, Banks has already run a 4.25 and 4.27...
Alfonso Smith out of Kentucky ran a 4.21 at last years pro day.
not a lot of pro bowl players on any of those top ten list.
You should have the top OL and DL 3 cone drill times to separate them from the WR and DB times...of course the little guys are going to be swift, but I want to know who is mobile enough to pull and get out on the next level too.
They should probably have a 20 yard dash these days, a lot more players run 20 yards more frequently than 40 yards during games.
Combine makes some people look good, but the film doesn't lie
Whoever decides to draft Eric Decker is going to get a hell of a productive player. He produced game after game with no quarterback, no running game, no other receiving options, a collection of offensive coordinators, and the ineptitude of Tim Brewster as his head coach.
Velocity and throws to the left...
Who makes up this talented small-school...
A look at the most impressive...
From SEC stud to small-school...
Says N.Y. needs to keep line together
Feb 25, 2010
02:44 PM
This is a perfect example of why most fans shouldnt have a draft board or take the combine too seriously.