What Are the NFL Combine Tests?
Contents
The NFL Combine tests are a series of physical and mental tests that are used to evaluate potential NFL draft prospects. These tests include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and shuttle run.
The 40-Yard Dash
Why is the 40-Yard Dash Important?
The 40-yard dash is the most highly anticipated event at the NFL scouting combine. It’s also the event that has the most influence on a player’s draft stock. A fast 40 time can cause a player’s stock to soar, while a slow time can cause it to plummet.
There are a number of reasons why the 40-yard dash is so important. The first is that it’s a good indicator of a player’s speed and explosiveness. These are two very important attributes for skill position players such as wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs.
Another reason why the 40-yard dash is so important is that it’s one of the few combine events that has a direct correlation to on-field performance. A player’s 40 time is a good predictor of how well he’ll be able to run with the football or chase down receivers.
Finally, the 40-yard dash is important because it gives scouts and coaches an idea of what kind of athlete a player is. There are some players who are just born athletes and no matter what they do, they’re going to be successful. The 40-yard dash is one way to identify these types of players.
So why is the 40-yard dash so important? There are a number of reasons, but the three biggest are that it measures speed and explosiveness, it has a direct correlation to on-field performance, and it identifies athletes who have “natural” ability.
What is a Good 40-Yard Dash Time?
In football, the 40-yard dash is considered a measurements of a player’s speed and athleticism. At the NFL Scouting Combine, all prospective players are timed in the 40-yard dash.
The average time for cornerbacks is 4.48 seconds, while the average for wide receivers is 4.51 seconds. For running backs, the average time is 4.57 seconds and for quarterbacks, it is 4.81 seconds.
However, a good 40-yard dash time depends on the position a player is applying for. For example, if a player is applying to be a wide receiver, then a good 40-yard dash time would be 4.51 seconds or lower.
Some of the fastest 40-yard dash times in NFL history include:
· Lafayette Pitts – 2016 – 4.34 seconds
· William Gay – 2010 – 4.46 seconds
· Jarius Wright – 2012 – 4.47 seconds
· Jacoby Ford – 2010 – 4.28 seconds
The Vertical Jump
The vertical jump is one of the NFL combine tests that measures a player’s explosiveness and lower-body strength. It is also a good test of nervous system function as it requires the recruitment of many muscle groups in a very short period of time. The vertical jump is usually performed as follows:
Why is the Vertical Jump Important?
The vertical jump is a measure of how high an athlete can jump. It is used as a measure of lower-body explosive power and it is commonly used in both track and field and basketball. The Vertical Jump test has been a part of the NFL Combine since 1986 and is now considered to be one of the most important tests for NFL prospects.
The vertical jump is a measure of an athlete’s ability to generate force. The faster an athlete can generate force, the higher they will be able to jump. The vertical jump is affected by many factors, including muscle strength, leg length, and explosiveness.
The Vertical Jump test at the NFL Combine is used as a measure of lower-body explosive power. A player’s score on the Vertical Jump test can be a good predictor of their performance in agility tests and their ability to make plays on the field.
What is a Good Vertical Jump Score?
The short answer to the question is that there is no “good” vertical jump score. This is because the test is designed to measure your raw, unadulterated power and explosiveness, which is largely determined by your genetics. That being said, there are some general guidelines that you can use to gauge your performance.
For men, a vertical jump of 28 inches or more is considered excellent, while 24-28 inches is considered good. For women, a vertical jump of 24 inches or more is considered excellent, while 20-24 inches is considered good. These are just general guidelines, however, and you should keep in mind thatvertical jump scores are relative. That is, they depend on the population that you’re comparing yourself to.
So, if you’re a man who jumps 28 inches, you might be considered excellent compared to the general population, but average compared to NBA players. Similarly, if you’re a woman who jumps 24 inches, you might be considered excellent compared to the general population, but average compared to WNBA players. The best way to gauge your vertical jump score is to compare it to the scores of people who are similar to you in terms of size and strength.
The Broad Jump
The broad jump is one of the tests at the NFL combine. The goal of the broad jump is to measure an athlete’s explosiveness and leg power. The athlete will start from a standing position and then jump as far as they can. The distance that the athlete jumps is then measured.
Why is the Broad Jump Important?
The broad jump is one of the most important tests at the NFL Combine. It is a measure of lower-body explosiveness and power. A good broad jump indicates that a player has the ability to generate force quickly, which is essential for football.
The broad jump is also a good measure of an athlete’s reactive ability. This is the ability to generate force in response to a stimulus, such as an opponent’s move in football. Reactive ability is important for defenders, who need to be able to react quickly to make a play.
Players are typically given three attempts at the broad jump, and their best jump is recorded. The average broad jump at the NFL Combine is about 10 feet 6 inches, but the best jumps can exceed 11 feet.
What is a Good Broad Jump Score?
The broad jump, or standing long jump, is one of the most popular NFL Combine tests. It’s a measure of an athlete’s power and explosion. The goal is to see how far you can jump horizontally from a standing position.
Your score is measured in feet and inches, and the best possible score is 10 feet (120 inches). The average score for all NFL Combine participants is between 7 and 8 feet (84-96 inches).
A good score on the broad jump depends on your position. For example, a wide receiver might need to have a 10-foot broad jump to be competitive, while an offensive lineman might only need an 8-foot broad jump.
Here are the average scores by position:
Position|Average Score
———|————-
Quarterback|8’3″
Running Back|8’1″
Fullback|8’0″
Tight End|7’11”
Wide Receiver|7’9″
Offensive Lineman|7’8″
The Bench Press
Why is the Bench Press Important?
The bench press is one of the most important tests at the NFL Combine because it is a good measure of a player’s upper body strength. A strong upper body is important for lineman because they need to be able to generate a lot of force to push their opponents backward. The bench press also tests a player’s explosive power, which is important for all football players.
What is a Good Bench Press Score?
The bench press is one of the simplest tests at the NFL Scouting Combine. Players lie on their backs on a padded bench and press a weighted barbell straight up from their chests. They are given three chances to lift as much weight as possible and the highest successful lift is recorded.
In recent years, the average score among combine participants has been between 17 and 18 reps. The score is then normalized and adjusted based on a player’s body weight — since heavier players will be able to press more weight — resulting in a number that typically falls between 20 and 35.
A good score indicates that a player has above-average strength and can help their team in short-yardage situations. However, the importance of the bench press has been diminishing in recent years as teams have become more focused on overall athleticism and explosiveness.
The 3-Cone Drill
One of the most important tests at the NFL Combine is the 3-cone drill. This drill tests a player’s ability to change directions quickly and is a good indicator of their agility. The 3-cone drill is also known as the short shuttle.
Why is the 3-Cone Drill Important?
The National Football League uses a number of tests, or drills, to measure the athleticism of prospective players. One of these tests is the 3-cone drill, which assesses a player’s ability to change directions quickly.
The 3-cone drill is important for football players because it measures their agility, which is key for many positions on the field, including running back, wide receiver, and defensive back.
Players start the 3-cone drill by running 5 yards to the first cone. They then turn and run around the second cone, before turning and running around the third cone. Finally, they run straight ahead to the finish line.
The entire process is timed, and players are evaluated on their ability to maintain their speed while changing directions. The faster a player can complete the 3-cone drill, the more agile they are considered to be.
What is a Good 3-Cone Drill Score?
The 3-cone drill is used to measure a player’s agility, explosiveness and ability to change directions. It is often referred to as the “5-10-5 drill” because it consists of five cones set up in a figure-of-eight pattern. The player starts at one cone, goes around the second cone, back around the first cone, then around the third cone and back to the start line. The entire drill is timed and the player’s score is based on his time.
The average time for NFL quarterbacks is between 7.0 and 7.5 seconds, while running backs and wide receivers generally finish between 6.5 and 7.0 seconds. Cornerbacks and safeties usually clock in at 6.5 seconds or faster. For comparison, the best time recorded at the 2019 NFL Combine was by cornerback Jamel Dean of Auburn, who finished in 6.42 seconds.
The Shuttle Run
The shuttle run is one of the most important tests at the NFL combine. It is a measure of a player’s agility and ability to change directions quickly. The shuttle run is also a good indicator of a player’s explosiveness.
Why is the Shuttle Run Important?
The shuttle run is one of the most important tests at the NFL combine. It is a measure of a player’s agility and ability to change directions quickly. It is also a good predictor of success in the NFL.
Players with good shuttle run times are typically more successful in the NFL than those with poor times. This is because the ability to change directions quickly is important in football. Players who can do this well are more likely to be able to make plays on the field.
The shuttle run is also a good predictor of success in other sports. Many of the same skills that are important in football are also important in other sports such as basketball, hockey, and lacrosse.
Players who excel in the shuttle run often go on to have successful careers in the NFL or other sports.
What is a Good Shuttle Run Score?
The shuttle run is an important part of the NFL combine. It’s a test of speed and agility, and it can be a good indicator of how well a player will perform on the field.
A good shuttle run score will vary depending on the position that the player is trying to play. For example, wide receivers and defensive backs will need to have a good time in the shuttle run in order to show that they have the agility to make quick cuts on the field.
The average time for the shuttle run at the NFL combine is between 4.5 and 5.0 seconds. However, players who are trying to play faster positions, such as wide receiver or running back, will need to have a time that is closer to 4.5 seconds.
Players who are trying to play slower positions, such as offensive line or defensive line, will have a slightly slower time, around 5.0 seconds.
Shuttle times can be affected by many factors, including weather conditions and the surface that the player is running on.
Nevertheless, the shuttle run is still an important part of the NFL combine and can be a good indicator of how well a player will perform on the field.
