Being featured on the list of NFL Combine records is a significant achievement. Each year, hundreds of aspiring NFL Draft prospects head to Indianapolis with the chance to etch their names in the history books. Here is the list of top performances and the current record holders for each drill at the combine.
NFL Draft Combine All-Time Records
40-Yard Dash
- Record Holder: Xavier Worthy (2024), 4.21 seconds
- 2nd Place: John Ross (2017), 4.22 seconds
- 3rd Place: Kalon Barnes (2022), 4.23 seconds
Xavier Worthy set a new standard for speed at the 2024 NFL Combine, posting a blistering 4.21-second time in the 40-yard dash. It was a huge moment in the event’s history, as the Texas Longhorn broke John Ross’ previous record, which stood since 2017, and led to the wideout being drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
Bench Press
- Record Holder: Justin Ernest (1999), 51 reps
- 2nd Place: Stephen Paea (2011), 49 reps
- 3rd Place: Mitch Petrus (2010), 45 reps
In a show of sheer strength, Justin Ernest holds the record for the most bench press reps at 225 pounds, completing an astonishing 51 reps at the 1999 NFL Combine. However, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels defensive tackle went undrafted and never played an NFL game.
Vertical Jump
- Record Holder: Gerald Sensabaugh (2005), 46 inches
- 2nd Place: Derek Wake (2005), 45.5 inches
- 3rd Place: Chris Conley (2015), 45 inches
The 2005 NFL Combine featured the two best vertical jumps at the scouting event. Two decades later, Safety Gerald Sensabaugh still holds the record with his 46” leap, while linebacker Derek Wake is second on the list.
Broad Jump
- Record Holder: Byron Jones (2015), 12’3”
- 2nd Place: Tyler Owens (2024), 12’2”
- 3rd Place: Obi Melifonwu (2017), 11’9”
Byron Jones stunned everyone with a leap of 12 feet, 3 inches at the 2015 NFL Combine. His performance solidified the UConn Huskies cornerback’s status as a first-round pick after impressing the Minnesota Vikings. He later became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history when he signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2020.
3-Cone Drill
- Record Holder: Jordan Thomas (2018), 6.28 seconds
- 2nd Place: Jeff Maehl (2011), 6.42 seconds
- 3rd Place: Buster Skrine (2011), 6.44 seconds
Jordan Thomas’ 6.28-second performance in the 3-Cone Drill remains the fastest on record. The Oklahoma Sooners corner shocked scouts in the change-of-direction test despite having a down year in his senior season.
Thomas went undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft. While the drill is usually a good indicator of NFL success, the top competitors on this list never translated that athleticism to the next level.
20-Yard Shuttle
- Record Holder: Kevin Kasper (2001), 3.73 seconds
- 2nd Place: Dunta Robinson (2004), 3.75 seconds
- 3rd Place: Deion Branch (2002), 3.76 seconds
KEEP READING: 14 Players From Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Reportedly Invited to the 2025 NFL Combine
In 2001, Kevin Kasper posted an exceptional 3.73-second mark in the 20-yard Shuttle, a drill that measures short-area quickness and lateral speed. The Denver Broncos drafted the Iowa Hawkeyes’ walk-on receiver in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he currently ranks fifth all-time in receiving yards in Iowa history.
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