What Is The NFL Scouting Combine?
We are in the thick of the NFL Draft season, and this week is the pinnacle of draft preparation: the NFL Scouting Combine. Players from all over the country will converge in Indianapolis, Indiana, to partake in this four-day event to showcase their skills for scouts and teams across the NFL. We recently went over what the Senior Bowl is and will dive into what the combine is as well.
History
In 1982, Dallas Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm proposed to the NFL competition committee the idea of a central location for players to have one massive workout.
Before 1982, teams would schedule individual workouts with players they wanted to get a closer eye on. The idea was agreed upon, and the first National Invitational Camp (NIC) was held in Tampa, Florida, that same year. In 1985, the NIC renamed the NFL Scouting Combine and would find a home in Indy in 1987, where it has resided since.
Here are the main components of the NFL Scouting Combine:
- 40-yard dash
- Bench Press (225 lbs)
- Vertical Jump
- Broad Jump
- 20-yard shuttle
- 3 Cone Drill
- Drills specific to each position
- Interviews with NFL teams, usually 15 mins a piece
- Physicals
The NFL Scouting Combine has seen some fantastic performances in its history. Players have gone to Indy and made a name for themselves, rising their draft stock in the process. A good showing at the combine will put players on NFL teams’ radars.
Let’s look at some of the records held for certain events.
- 40-yard dash: WR John Ross — 4.22 seconds (2017)
- Bench Press: DT Stephen Paea — 49 reps (2011)
- Vertical Jump: WR Chris Conley — 45.0 in (2015)
- Broad Jump: CB Byron Jones 12’3″ (2015)
The NFL Scouting Combine is arguably the most important part of the entire draft process for these players. The interviews here are also very important, but if you put on a good showing on the field and put up some good numbers, some players could find themselves going higher than they thought they could. All eyes will be on Indy this week, and Vendetta Sports Media will be bringing you content around the combine all week.
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