More than 300 college football prospects gathered in Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, an annual event where players perform athletic tests and drills in front of NFL coaches, scouts and executives ahead of the NFL Draft.
The combine, held each year at Lucas Oil Stadium, is one of the most important evaluation events during the pre draft process. Players participate in a series of physical tests designed to measure speed, strength, agility and explosiveness. Teams also conduct medical evaluations and formal interviews with prospects during the weeklong event.
Several on field drills are used to measure athletic performance. The 40-yard dash is one of the most widely recognized tests at the combine and measures a player’s straight line speed. Other events include the vertical jump and broad jump, which test lower body explosiveness, and the bench press, which measures upper body strength by recording how many times a player can lift 225 pounds.
Players also take part in agility drills such as the three cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. These exercises are designed to measure quickness, balance and change of direction. In addition to these tests, prospects participate in position specific drills where they run routes, catch passes, block or perform defensive movements depending on their position.
Wide receivers and tight ends produced several notable performances during the workouts. Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time of the combine with a 4.26 second run. His time ranked as the fastest among all prospects who participated in the event.
Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell also recorded one of the top performances among receivers. Caldwell measured 6 feet 5 inches with the 215 pounds and ran a 4.31 second 40-yard dash while also posting a vertical jump above 40 inches during testing.
Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II also drew attention during the workouts. Brazzell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds while measuring 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 200 pounds, showing both size and speed during the drills.
Several tight ends also recorded strong results. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, one of the fastest times ever recorded for the position at the combine. Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers set combine records for tight ends with a 45.5 inch vertical jump and an 11 foot 3 inch broad jump.
Defensive players also produced notable performances during the testing portion of the event. Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis Sutton recorded a 4.63 second 40-yard dash and posted a 39.5 inch vertical jump during workouts. UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence also had strong results, running a 4.52 second 40-yard dash and recording a 40 inch vertical jump.
Quarterbacks and running backs also participated in throwing sessions and running back drills later in the week. Quarterbacks threw routes to receivers while scouts evaluated accuracy, arm strength and timing. Running backs participated in rushing, blocking and pass catching drills during their position workouts.
The Arkansas Razorbacks had several players participate in the combine, including quarterback Taylen Green and running back Mike Washington Jr.
Green recorded one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among quarterbacks with a 4.36 second run. He also posted a 43.5 inch vertical jump and an 11 foot 2 inch broad jump during the testing drills.
Washington also recorded one of the fastest times among running backs at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds.
Results from the combine are used by NFL teams as part of the player evaluation process leading up to the draft. Teams combine these measurements with game film, interviews and medical evaluations to assess prospects before the NFL Draft, which is scheduled to take place later this spring.