Tag: 40-yard dash

The 3 cone drill, shuttle run and other NFL combine drills explained

You’ve probably heard of the 40-yard dash and bench press, but what about those other drills?

For some, the first thing that comes to mind when they think about the NFL scouting combine is the 40-yard dash.

The combine isn’t necessarily a moment on the sports calendar the average fan is clamoring to follow — some would even prefer if fans didn’t watch at all. But people like Rich Eisen have always created fun moments around it, and the 40 has often been a drill used to do that.

From Eisen’s annual 40-yard dash in support of St. Jude’s Hospital to wide receiver John Ross nearly claiming ownership of an island for his record-breaking performance in the drill, the 40 almost always overshadows everything else.

So, though the other drills are considered equally important tools for team scouts and evaluators to gain valuable information on the prospects they want to consider drafting, not a lot of fans know what those drills are or how to do them.

Below we take a look at each and every measurable event at the NFL scouting combine and what they test, including the 40-yard dash, just in case you ignore that, too.

WACTH: Wisconsin WR Kendric Pryor runs a blazing fast 40-yard dash

Wisconsin WR Kendric Pryor runs a blazing fast 40-yard dash ahead of fall camp

On Friday afternoon, Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor posted a video on his Twitter of himself running a 40-yard dash at Camp Randall, and the senior wideout ran it in an insane 4.37 seconds!

Related: WATCH: Wisconsin freshman RB Braelon Allen’s insane max-out lift

In addition to posting the splits for his electronically timed 40-yard dash, Pryor tweeted that he reached a peak speed of 23 miles per hour. The day before, the Hazel Crest, Illinois, native posted another video of himself landing an outstanding 69-inch box jump.

It will definitely be exciting to see what Pryor can do this year, especially since he struggled with injuries for most of last season.

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Texans DT D.J. Reader impressed with Clemson LB Isaiah Simmon’s 40-yard dash time

Houston Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader was impressed with the 40-yard dash time from Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

INDIANAPOLIS — Clemson Tigers linebacker Isaiah Simmons posted an impressive time for his 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday night.

The 6-4, 230-pounder, who played safety earlier in his career at Clemson, blazed 40 yards at Lucas Oil Stadium in 4.39 seconds.

During media availability on Feb. 27, Simmons said that an NFL team would need his skill set of size and speed to stop tight ends such as George Kittle and Travis Kelce.

“Stopping tight ends and linebackers playing man on running backs is — like the game’s no longer a 250-pound linebacker,” Simmons said. “It’s more guys that are able to run side to side and are able to cover. It’s just a necessity now with the tight ends and running backs.”

Simmons’ performance caught the eye of Houston Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who is also a Clemson alumnus and has been keeping tabs on how his fellow Tigers have done at the combine.

The Texans didn’t really have a shot of getting Simmons as Walter Football projected him to go in the top-20 overall. Those projections were made before the combine. Now, Simmons’ draft stock could rise. Nevertheless, the Texans don’t have their first selection until pick No. 57 late in the second round.

Watch: Top DL prospects perform at scouting combine

Let’s take a look at how some possible Falcons draft targets at defensive line and EDGE are performing.

Taking the field for Saturday’s drills at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis are the defensive line and linebacker prospects. Let’s take a look at how some possible Falcons draft targets are performing.

Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa:

Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos:

Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore:

TCU’s Ross Blacklock:

Utah’s Bradlee Anae:

Auburn’s top-rated DT Derrick Brown:

Carlos and Khalil Davis of Nebraska impress in the 40:

Hoop Drill:

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What do we have to do to get NFL prospect Henry Ruggs in the dunk contest?

Aaron Gordon would be proud of these dunks.

Henry Ruggs III is literally the best of us. Is there anything he cannot do? I’m dead serious right now.

This man came into the NFL combine and casually ran an official 4.27 40-yard dash, one of the fastest in combine history. There are six receivers ever who have run sub-4.3 40-yard dash times. You get the point. Dude is fast.

But that’s not what I’m hear to tell you. What you also need to know about Ruggs is that he’s also apparently a hooper.

And not only is he a hooper, he’s also an INSANE dunker. Like, a “put him in the dunk contest right now” type of dunker.

Just get a load of this highlight reel.

He is not just dunking. He’s going over, around and through people. He’s busting 360’s without much of a running start. His head is very clearly over the rim. Keep in mind that my man is only six feet tall.

Every dunk we saw from him there would’ve gotten a 10 in Chicago during NBA All-Star Weekend. Well, maybe not by Dwyane Wade’s standards — but still!

I’m just saying, man. I know a hooper when I see one. Henry, buddy, if the NFL really does this lockout thing? The NBA is waiting my friend.

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Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor runs a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor had an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday night.

The two-time Doak Walker Award winner and two-time All-American ran the 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium in 4.39 seconds, which is the fastest time among all running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft class at the combine.

In addition to his speed, Taylor knows another element that makes him arguably the best back in the draft class.

“Really, I think it’s my consistency,” Taylor told reporters on Thursday. “I mean, if you look at the next level, what separates the great backs from the elite backs is really them playing on an elite level day in and day out every Sunday.”

Taylor grew up an Arian Foster fan and by extension a fan of the Houston Texans. Interestingly, Foster ran a 4.69 in his 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine when he was coming out of Tennessee.