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While the debate rages on the exact value of the NFL Combine, one thing is certain — the scouting event has often showcased some of the best athletes in the country.

That has been made apparent on numerous occasions in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, the longtime home of the combine. While positional drills may be more indicative of a player’s success in the NFL, other events like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press are less obvious.

Still, to be invited to the Combine is a distinction many of the best college football players in America hope to receive. It provides the biggest, best opportunity to showcase both physical and mental aspects of players’ games while providing an avenue to interview with multiple teams.

Many players have made their NFL draft cases with strong showings at the combine. And while there’s certainly more to it than running faster and jumping higher/farther than your competition, it certainly doesn’t hurt to stand out above your peers in the events in which players choose to participate.

With that, The Sporting News looks at some of the best showings from the NFL Combine, including the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical leap, broad jump and more.

* Official stats courtesy of NFL.com dating back to 2006

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NFL Combine 40-yard dash record

The 40-yard dash is the premier evaluation of a player’s functional speed and acceleration, serving as the main event of the NFL Scouting Combine. It measures how quickly an athlete can cover 40 yards from a static, three-point stance, with timers typically recording splits at the 10 and 20-yard marks to assess burst and “transition”phases. 

For scouts and front offices, the 40 is often used to determine a player’s “play speed” and ceiling. A standout time can significantly boost a prospect’s draft stock, as it provides a standardized metric to compare athletes across different collegiate programs. However, in recent years, teams have increasingly weighed these times against in-game GPS tracking data to ensure that a player’s “track speed” in shorts and a t-shirt actually translates.

Record holder: Xavier Worthy

The current gold standard for the 40-yard dash is held by Xavier Worthy, who set the all-time record with a blistering 4.21 seconds at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Worthy, a wide receiver out of Texas, broke the previous mark of 4.22 seconds established by John Ross in 2017. His performance was a masterclass in sprinting mechanics, characterized by a perfect explosive start and a top-end speed that saw him nearly fly across the finish line.

MORE: Inside the legend of Deion Sanders’ 1989 Combine 40 time

NFL Combine bench press record

The bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine serves as the primary test of an athlete’s functional upper-body strength and muscular endurance. The drill requires prospects to bench press a standard weight of 225 pounds (approx. 102kg) for as many continuous repetitions as possible.

Scouts look beyond the final number to observe strength stamina — how well a player maintains their form and lockout speed as fatigue sets in. This is particularly vital for offensive and defensive linemen, who must repeatedly engage and shed opponents throughout a four-quarter game.

Record holder: Stephen Paea

While Justin Ernest famously recorded 51 reps in 1999, the NFL officially recognizes Stephen Paea as the record holder because he translated that strength into a professional career. At the 2011 Scouting Combine, Paea, a defensive tackle from Oregon State, powered through 49 repetitions of 225 pounds.

Paea was subsequently drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears and spent seven seasons in the league, solidifying his performance as the benchmark for “functional” NFL strength.

MORE: NFL Combine bench press records

NFL Combine vertical jump record

The vertical jump is the NFL Combine’s purest measure of lower-body explosiveness. To perform the test, an athlete stands flat-footed to establish their reach, then leaps from a stationary position to move as many plastic “vanes” or flags as possible on a Vertec machine.

This drill is vital for wide receivers and defensive backs who need to win the 50/50 ball at its highest point, but it is equally telling for linemen; a high vertical for a 300-pounder indicates the raw, fast-twitch power needed to explode off the line of scrimmage the moment the ball is snapped.

Record holder: Gerald Sensabaugh

The official record-holder is Gerald Sensabaugh, a safety from North Carolina who recorded a staggering 46-inch leap at the 2005 Scouting Combine. Sensabaugh’s mark eclipsed the previous record of 45.5 inches held by Cameron Wake (who went on to be a Pro Bowl pass rusher).

The mark widely considered the modern gold standard for cornerbacks belongs to Donald Washington.

MORE: Why does Rich Eisen run the 40 every year?

NFL Combine broad jump record

The broad jump is the ultimate test of horizontal explosiveness and lower-body balance. From a stationary, balanced stance, a prospect must leap forward as far as they can and, crucially, stick the landing. If a player stumbles or falls backward, the jump is disqualified or measured from the point where their hand hit the turf.

Record holder: Byron Jones

The all-time record-holder for the broad jump is Byron Jones, who produced one of the most legendary athletic feats in the history of the event. At the 2015 Scouting Combine, the UConn cornerback leapt a staggering 12 feet, 3 inches (3.73 meters). Not only did this shatter the previous combine record by eight inches, but it also eclipsed the standing long jump world record at the time. Jones’ performance was so dominant it propelled him into the first round of the NFL Draft.

*Unofficial world record

MORE: What events are at the NFL Combine?

NFL Combine three-cone drill record

Three cones are placed five yards apart in an L-shape; the athlete must sprint to the first cone, touch it, return to the start, then weave around the second and third cones at high speed. Scouts look for “ankle flexion” — the ability to bend and turn tight corners without losing momentum — which is vital for pass-rushers turning the edge or wide receivers snapping off a crisp route.

Record holder: Jordan Thomas

The all-time record belongs to Jordan Thomas, a cornerback out of Oklahoma. At the 2018 Scouting Combine, Thomas clocked an incredible 6.28 seconds, maneuvering through the course with a level of fluidity that remains unmatched.

MORE: Tom Brady’s underwhelming NFL Combine results

NFL Combine 20-yard shuttle record

The 20-yard shuttle, often called the “5-10-5,” is the ultimate measure of a player’s lateral quickness and explosive change of direction over a short distance. Starting from a three-point stance, the athlete sprints five yards to one side, touches the line, sprints ten yards in the opposite direction, touches that line, and finishes by sprinting five yards back to the starting point.

This drill is particularly crucial for linebackers and interior linemen who operate in congested spaces, as it reveals how quickly they can shift their weight.

Record-holder: Brandin Cooks and Jason Allen

The all-time record for the 20-yard shuttle is shared by Jason Allen and Brandin Cooks, who both clocked a blistering 3.81 seconds. Allen, a defensive back out of Tennessee, set the mark in 2006, while Cooks, the Oregon State wide receiver, matched it in 2014. Their shared record showcases the elite lateral agility required to play high-level man coverage or create separation as a route runner. For scouts, any time under 4.00 seconds is considered elite, signaling that a player possesses the high-end agility required to win in tight windows.

MORE: Inside D.K. Metcalf’s historic NFL Combine performance

NFL Combine 60-yard shuttle record

Similar to the 20-yard version, the 60-yard shuttle requires the athlete to shuttle back and forth, but over much longer distances: five yards and back, ten yards and back, and finally fifteen yards and back. 

It is a favorite for evaluating wide receivers and defensive backs who must maintain speed through multiple breaks in a single play.

Record-holder: Derrick Martin

The undisputed benchmark for this drill was set by Derrick Martin in 2006, who clocked an incredible 10.69 seconds. Martin’s performance remains the fastest time ever recorded in the event’s history, narrowly edging out Shelton Gibson’s 2017 time of 10.71. While many modern prospects opt out of this drill due to its exhausting nature, Martin’s sub-10.70 run remains the historic “finish line” for those looking to prove elite-level conditioning and change-of-direction.

MORE: How scouts whiffed on Aaron Rodgers ahead of 2005 NFL Draft