In theory, organizers of what is now the NFL Scouting Combine had created an analytical evaluation tool that contained a human element that could be made popular by televising the entire affair.

The event features the best of the best in college football, and by invitation only, young men with dreams of playing in the NFL participate in a series of field drills that show off their athleticism, physical fitness, and position skills.

How those drills translate to practical cleats-on-the-turf NFL production has been a matter of some debate over the years.

In 2003, Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs arrived in Indianapolis as a highly touted prospect and PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year. When he left the starting line for the 40-yard dash, you could have clocked him with a sun dial.

With an official time of 4.83 seconds, Suggs' draft stock plummeted among some members of the media and NFL representatives. But in the end, that 40-yard crawl did not matter. Suggs was drafted No. 10 overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2003 and went on to earn Rookie of the Year honors, and later won two Super Bowls.  

Here, we take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the combine performances from years past, according to ESPN and NFLCombineResults.com.

Top 40-Yard Dash Times

Matthew Golden, wide receiver, Texas: 4.29 seconds

Maxwell Hairston, cornerback, Kentucky: 4.28

Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State: 4.30

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, asserted in 2014 that the 40-yard dash means more depending on the position, specifically at cornerback.

"The position where the 40 holds the most weight is cornerback. If you're a receiver who runs a 4.6 like Anquan Boldin, but you have short-area quickness and strong hands, the 40 isn't a big deal," Jeremiah said. "But if you're a cornerback who runs a 4.6 and you're facing a receiver who runs a 4.4, it doesn't matter how good your ball skills are."

Most Bench Press Reps (225 pounds)

Ty Hamilton, defensive tackle, Ohio State: 34 reps

Top Vertical Jump

Nick Emmanwori, CB, South Carolina: 43 inches.

John Ross, WR, Washington,  -- 40 time: 4.22 seconds (combine record).

Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut -- Broad Jump: 12 feet, 3 inches (world record).

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis -- 40 time: 4.98, at 346 pounds. He also cranked out 44 reps on the bench press.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech -- 40 time: 4.35, after channeling his inner-Jim Thorpe and borrowing a pair of shoes, after initially saying he would not run.

Mike Mamula, DE, Boston College, scored 49 out of 50 on the Wonderlic Test (the average combine athlete's score was 20). 

Ahead of the 1975 draft, punter Pat McInally, out of Harvard, became the only NFL prospect known to have scored a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic.

Starting in the 1970s, the Wonderlic was administered at the NFL combine, as the test was long believed to measure players' aptitude for learning and problem-solving. The test required players to answer 50 multiple-choice questions within a 12-minute period, essentially the NFL’s version of a drive-by IQ test. The exam was discontinued in 2022 over controversy regarding its legitimacy on many fronts. 

Orlando Brown Jr., offensive tackle, Oklahoma, finished last among all players in the 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump, and vertical jump.

The 6-foot-7, 350-pound left tackle was a two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, two-time All-Big 12 and a unanimous All-American for the Sooners. Brown, who was a third-round draft pick in 2018, currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals and is a four-time Pro Bowler.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford -- bench press: 10 reps. The Carolina Panthers selected him No. 8 overall. McCaffrey now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.

Vontaze Burfict, linebacker, Arizona State -- 40 time: 5.09. Finished last in the broad jump, next to last in the vertical jump. At Arizona State's Pro Day in 2012, Burfict performed 16 reps on the bench press. Coupled with off the field issues, Burfict’s draft stock bottomed out and he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals.

Andre Smith, offensive lineman, Alabama, became the “Invisible Man” of the combine. He left the combine without finishing the drills and without telling event officials. Smith’s whereabouts inside Lucas Oil Stadium were unknown.

Maurice Clarett, RB, Ohio State -- 40 time: 4.72. Clarett did not finish any of the remaining drills, jumping from the hype train into oblivion, as a cautionary tale of what could have been.

Who will set records or have dubious distinctions at this year’s combine? Will it affect their draft stock, up or down? We shall see. Happy Combine Week.

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