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The 2024 NFL Combine begins this week, and scouts will keep a keen eye on how prospects perform in the on-field drills. While some prospects are set in stone as early-first-round picks, others will need to impress in Indianapolis to improve their draft stock and dispel doubts about their athleticism.
Seeing a prospect dominate at the scouting combine is always exciting for fans and NFL franchises alike, and record holders for each individual drill hold their collective breath every year as a new group of athletes tries to set a new bar.
In this article, we'll list the top performers for the top on-field drills since the start of the modern combine. Hopefully, we'll see a record shattered this week. Let's dive in!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
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NFL 10-Yard Split Record
Record Holder: Chris Johnson, RB - East Carolina: 1.4 seconds (2008)
Johnson crushed it at the 2008 NFL Combine, setting the records for 10-yard split and 40-yard dash. His 40-time has been defeated twice since, but his performance led him to be selected in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. He'd go on to become the sixth player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a single season.
This is what 4.2 looks like...I’ll believe them kids 40 times when it look like this pic.twitter.com/IliKyJD9Y1
— Charles James II (@CJDeuce_) April 1, 2021
Runner-Up: Malcolm Mitchell, WR - Georgia: 1.43 seconds (2016)
NFL 20-Yard Shuttle Record
Record Holder: Brandin Cooks, WR - Oregon State: 3.81 seconds (2014)
Cooks had size concerns coming out of Oregon State in 2014, but his lateral quickness and raw speed made him the No. 20 overall pick in his draft class. He is one of two players in NFL history with 1,000-yard receiving seasons for four different franchises.
.@brandincooks breaks free for 57 yards!
The @HoustonTexans even the score, 7-7. #WeAreTexans
📺: #HOUvsJAX on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/ul5IFJEdQc pic.twitter.com/aE7BvB5cg5— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2020
Tied: Jason Allen, CB - Tennessee: 3.81 seconds (2006)
NFL 3-Cone Drill Record
Record Holder: Jeff Maehl, WR - Oregon: 6.42 seconds (2011)
Despite Maehl's impressive 3-cone drill, the 2012 first-team All-Pac-10 wideout went undrafted. He spent four seasons in the NFL, catching just nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Either way, his record still stands.
"Probably the best hands in the country." - @KirkHerbstreit
One of the program's all-time leaders in receptions and TD grabs, Jeff Maehl put together a three-TD performance at USC in 2010 and ignited 24 unanswered second-half points in the win.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/hogSkkDHla
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) May 5, 2020
Runner-Up: Buster Skrine, CB - Chattanooga: 6.44 seconds (2011)
NFL 40-Yard Dash Record
Record Holder: John Ross, WR - Washington: 4.22 seconds (2017)
Just when it seemed like Chris Johnson's 4.24 40-yard dash time was never going to be touched, Washington's John Ross showed up to Indianapolis and ran a blazing 4.22. His speed at the combine solidified him as a first-round pick, but unfortunately, his career did not live up to his speed. Ross retired ahead of the 2023 NFL season. He posted fewer than 1,000 total receiving yards in five NFL seasons.
Will anyone beat John Ross’ Combine record 4.22 40-yard dash set in 2017? (by @FastTwitchDrink)
📺: 2024 #NFLCombine begins Thursday on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1VkBxM8fl0— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2024
Runner-Up: Kalon Barnes, CB - Baylor: 4.23 seconds (2022)
NFL Bench Press Record
Record Holder: Stephen Paea, DT - Oregon State: 49 reps of 225 (2011)
Needless to say, Paea is impressively strong, and his four-rep lead on the NFL Combine record is incredible. He enjoyed a seven-year NFL career with 129 tackles, so his strength was put to great use. Imagine being an offensive lineman trying to block him.
Stephen Paea with 49 reps on the bench press is still UNREAL. 😯 @PAEA_90 (via @nflthrowback)
📺: 2020 #NFLCombine starts February 27 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Khv9VBROxT
— NFL (@NFL) February 19, 2020
Runner-Up: Mitch Petrus, OL - Arkansas (2010); Mike Kudla, DL - Ohio State (2006): 45 reps of 225
NFL Broad Jump Record
Record Holder: Byron Jones, CB - UConn: 12'3" (2015)
Jones destroyed the broad jump record and posted a 44.5" vertical leap in 2015. To say he's a freak athlete would be an understatement. The first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys posted 444 tackles, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles in his first seven NFL seasons and was named to the 2018 Pro Bowl. He hasn't played since 2021 due to injury, so his career may be over.
Throwback to Byron Jones breaking the broad jump world record at the #NFL combine with 12’3”
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) March 3, 2022
Runner-Up: Three Players: 11'9"
NFL Vertical Jump Record
Record Holder: Chris Conley, WR - Georgia: 45 inches (2015)
Conley's impressive vertical jump only pushed him up to the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, but he remains in the league and has nearly 3,000 receiving yards. He hasn't been and won't be a star, but he's made a solid living as a role player thanks to his elite athletic profile.
Celebrating #LeapDay with Chris Conley's NFL Combine record vertical jump in 2015.
📺: #NFLCombine 2/27-3/1 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/8DogXztSzu
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) February 29, 2020
Tied: Donald Washington, CB - Ohio State: 45 inches (2009)
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