The National Invitation Camp, better known as the NFL combine, began in 1982 as a way for a group of teams to develop a common base of knowledge on elite prospects coming out of college. By 1985, all NFL teams joined. The combine spent two years in New Orleans and one in Arizona before settling in its current home at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. This year, NFL teams will spend four days evaluating, measuring and drilling 333 invited players.
Schedule
The NFL combine is a seven-day process that begins Wednesday and ends Feb. 26. Players arrive in groups by position and generally follow the same four-day itinerary:
DAY 1: Arrival, registration, hospital pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, formal interviews with NFL teams
DAY 2: Measurements, medical examinations, media, psychological testing, more interviews
DAY 3: Players association meeting, psychological testing, more interviews
DAY 4: Field workout (timing, station and skill drills), departure
ARRIVAL DATES
Wednesday
Kickers/punters
Offensive linemen
Tight ends
Thursday
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Friday
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Saturday
Defensive backs
RCA Dome
This is the 21st year the combine has been held at the home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Video interviews
Photo station
Height/weight
hand span/arm length
“Bod Pod”
Video processing
East Airlock
Mobile MRI unit
Medical desk
Credential checkpoint
General medical
Player lounge
History/ vision
WONDERLIC
Weights and reps
40-yard dash
20- and 60-yard shuttle
Video platform
Position specific drills
Broad jump
Flex station
Vertical leap
Player warmups
Three-cone drill
Heart Exam
Orthopedics
Field drills
In addition to a series of position-specific drills, all players will go through these tests:
40-yard dash
The first measure that comes to mind for the average fan, the 40-yard dash is crucial for players in skill positions (WR, RB) and in coverage (DB). Players are measured in 10-, 20- and 40-yard intervals to gauge both explosiveness and speed.
2007 best:
Yamon Figures (Kansas State), 4.30 seconds
Three-cone drill
A measure of cutting and dexterity, players will make five turns around three cones in an L-shaped pattern. The fourth turn requires a complete reverse of direction.
2007 best:
Leon Hall (Michigan), 6.50 seconds
20-yard shuttle
This is a measure of coordination and lateral speed. Players start in a three-point stance. At the whistle, a player will sprint 5 yards, touch a line, sprint 10 yards, touch another line and then sprint back to the starting point.
2007 best:
Rory Johnson (Mississippi) and Leon Hall (Michigan), 4.07 seconds
60-yard shuttle
This shuttle forces a player to accelerate through increasingly longer stretches. From a three-point stance, a player will sprint 5 yards, return to the start and then do the same at 10 and 20 yards.
2007 best:
Craig Dahl (North Dakota State), 11.03 seconds
Bench press
In this test of strength, players bench press 225 pounds as many times as possible.
2007 best:
Manuel Ramirez (Texas Tech), 40 reps
Broad jump
Starting from a standing flat-footed position, players jump forward as far as they can.
2007 best:
Daren Stone (Maine), 11 feet, 0 inches
Vertical leap
Starting from a standing flat-footed position, players leap straight up and attempt to swat as many plastic flags as possible.
2007 best:
Quincy Black (New Mexico), 41 1/2 inches
Other evaluations
INJURY EVALUATION
Players undergo a full range of medical testing. An MRI unit is available to look at players who suffered severe injuries during the college season
PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS
Evaluators measure all players? height and weight. Linemen are also measured for body mass index.
TEAM INTERVIEWS
Each team gets the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a number of prospects. Teams get a chance to address individual issues (such as legal or injury problems).
THE CYBEX TEST
Players are strapped into a machine that allows for evaluation of joints and flexibility. This is particularly useful in seeing how well injuries have healed.
WONDERLICH
Players also take a 50-question timed intelligence test. For details, see Page 7
— See microfilm for complete graphic
