The NFL Combine is more than just a scouting event where the next generation of football stars prove their worth. The Combine is held annually in Indianapolis, The combine gathers top college prospects for a series of physical tests, interviews, and skill drills that can make or break their draft stock. Good and bad performances are going to happen. A standout performance can either make a mid round prospect into a first round prospect and  a bad performance can make a first round prospect into a mid round prospect.

The 40-yard dash remains a huge event, with scouts looking at players who run fast. This year many players ran quickly boosting their draft stock. Matthew Golden, wide receiver from Texas led the combine with a time of 4.29 seconds. Golden was .9 milliseconds away from breaking the all time record. Tai Felton, a wide receiver from Florida impressed with a 4.37 upping his status as a speedy prospect boosting his NFL draft stock. Isaiah Bond, aiming to break the combine record in an interview saying “I’m going to break the record tomorrow for sure,” ran a 4.39 which is a respectable time. Some fans were disappointed at the time Bond ran since he did say he was going to break the record. Fans created a meme on Tik Tok about the time Bond put up. 

The broad jump is the most important drill at the NFL Combine for measuring lower body explosiveness, balance, and power. Key traits for defensive linemen, linebackers, and skill positions. There were some performances that certainly caught the attention of scouts and front offices. Landon Jackson, a defensive end from Arkansas, dominated the drill with a huge 10 foot 9 inch jump, showcasing his elite explosiveness off the edge. Jackson ranked the best for the defensive lineman. Officially showing his potential as a disruptive pass rusher. Armand Membou a Offensive Tackle from Missouri. At 322 pounds, Membou also impressed with a 9 foot 6 inch broad jump showing his agility and strength. His effort shows his elite athleticism for an offensive tackle. Tyleik Williams, a defensive tackle from Ohio State showed amazing lower body power with a 10 foot 1 inch jump, making him a strong candidate for interior defensive line dominance.

            The 2025 NFL Combine was stacked with stars, and many of the players showed off their incredible strength with the bench press test. Among them at the top of the list was Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra, who dominated the test with 33 repetitions of 225 pounds to demonstrate his incredible upper-body strength and endurance. Close behind him were Alabama tight end CJ Dippre and Oklahoma edge defender Ethan Downs, both of whom did 32 reps, demonstrating their strength and resolve. Not only did these efforts highlight their physical strength but also demonstrate that they have worked a lot of hard and put a lot of effort into training. The bench press is among the most significant tests at the Combine, as it allows scouts to get a glimpse of a player’s raw strength and stamina, which are crucial to being successful in the NFL. Kandra, Dippre, and Downs all made a strong impression with their dominant performances, securing their spots as among the strongest prospects in this draft class. With performances such as these, they have certainly drawn the attention of teams looking for hard-nosed, hard-hitting players who can play at the next level. 

In the vertical jumps, the top performer was South Carolina Safety Nick Emmanwori, with a 43 inch jump. His incredible jump displayed his explosive athleticism and power generation from his lower half that separated him right behind him was another standout Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou also displayed why he’s such an elite player with a impressive performance by jumping 34 inches which is very impressive for a player his size Finally a very impressive performance was from a Danbury High School Alumni A 6’5 Defensive end from the university of Minnesota with a very impressive all around performance Jah Joyner The football coach here at DHS Augie Tieri Says “Jah Joyner finished i the top percentage in every category that he did boosting his draft stock” definitely putting a name for not only University of Minnesota but also his home town Danbury CT. That’s How the NFL went and some of the top performers.