You can still hear him gather himself at times when he talks, but he is a capable spokesman for his interests, when he chooses to share them with the public. Showing just how useless this test can be for real scouting evaluation, Ernest ended up going undrafted that year and never made a name for himself in the NFL. So much for holding the NFL Combine bench press record. And yes, there is definitely some sort of tall-tale phenomenon going on. You don't need to go in there and bench press 400 pounds. The rifle looks small in Bo Jackson's hands, . At the 2012 combine, Fleming blazed through the 60-yard shuttle for a time of 10.75 seconds, per NFL.com. [19], While at McAdory High School, Jackson competed as a sprinter, hurdler, jumper, thrower and decathlete. Bo Melton (Rutgers): 4.34 . Bo . Fleming, like many of the other top performers in this list, hasn't been a star in the NFL. ustin Ernest of Eastern Kentucky, who put up 51 reps back in 1999. It shouldn't shock anyone that he dropped a Megatron bomb in Indianapolis before the Lions took him at No. He added a third with a reception. Watkins will be a spectacle fans should not miss at this year's scouting combine. He backed that up with a 34-inch vertical. In the jumping events, he had personal-best jumps of 2.06m (6ft 9in) in the high jump, 7.52m (24ft 8in) in the long jump and 14.85m (48ft 9in) in the triple jump. Two combine participants tied for the 11'5" mark at the NFL combine. Events like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and bench press are usually the focus of the combine. Kasper produced more as a return specialist than anywhere else and didn't contribute much on offensebut his quickness is legendary. Justin Ernest of Eastern Kentucky hit 51 reps, according to NFLDraftScout.com, but he went undrafted the following April. At 64, 315 pounds, he ran a 4.81 40-yard dash, which isnt common for players over 300 pounds. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State 2008One of the main reasons teams remain skeptical of off-the-charts Combine stats, Gholston was the classic look like Tarzan, play like Jane. In shorts and a muscle shirt, Gholston ran a 4.67 in the 40, had 37 reps on the bench and lifted off for a 35.5 vertical and 105 broad jump.15. If you didnt follow the UCF Knights story in 2017 (most people didnt until late in the season), you didnt know anything about Shaquem Griffin. Darrius Heyward-Bey has an argument for best NFL Combine performance in terms of baiting a team into taking him in the top 10. The Greatest Athlete of All Time title goes to Bo Jackson. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 7 overall), Philadelphia Eagles. He was a two-time state champion in the decathlon. Sometimes I just can't let that shit go, even though the man himself -- the man who endured the excruciating injury, the surgery, the career derailment, everything -- has let it go. His 21 reps of 225 pounds were a potential red flag, if only because the lower-than-expected number woke the trolls who question Clowneys motor. Jackson sits on the bench after injuring his hip during a 1990 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Bengals. Pat O'Donnell: Most athletic punter ever? The only problem? 1 pick, shows up in the minor leagues as raw as any player, and becomes an All-Star game starter just three years later? [7] Both times that he was the decathlon state champion, he built up such a commanding points lead before the 1500 meters that he never competed in that event. Over the years, my friends and I have often played the game of how great an athlete LeBron James would be in a different sport. He vowed not to sign with Tampa Bay should they draft him, but they proceeded anyway. He appeared to be on a breakthrough season in 2019, compiling more receiving yards in the first two games than in his previous two seasons. I had one album for baseball and one for football, and I blew all my allowance money on these things. . Those figures, according to NFL Research, made him faster than Devin Hester (4.43 40), quicker than DeSean Jackson (1.55 10-yard split), stronger than Joe Thomas (28 reps on the bench), and meant he jumped higher than Julio Jones (38.5-inch vertical). The 8 NBA teams that can win the championship this season. Jackson expanded into other pursuits, including the completion of his Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Development at Auburn. Agility, quickness and the ability to change direction in a hurry are the key elements tested in the three-cone drill, so it's not surprising that the top performers in this event are usually slot receivers and man-to-man cover corners. custom range. Hes going to out slow some people but I like his game. As he caught the ball at full tilt, Jackson looked up and ran three steps along the wall, to avoid impact and the risk of injury from the fence. This was part of one of the most epic workout ever recorded. 1 receiver among his peers. [16], In an April 1985 report, a major league scout stated that Jackson's only weakness was a lack of baseball experience. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech 2007With his draft stock holding strong near the top of the class, Johnson planned on kicking back and watching the festivities. [29], Before Royals games, Jackson used to shoot at a target with a bow and arrow in the Royals clubhouse. He was declared the best athlete in the 2007 draft class. Julio Jones stock might have been the least affected by any of these NFL Combine performances. "I wish I had known about all of those head injuries, but no one knew that. Be the first one to comment on this story. 4.3 "That guy has 4.3 speed." We've all heard that before. But Prime Time didnt stop running once he hit the finish line; Sanders ran out of the building to a limousine waiting to take him to the airport. [36], During his junior and senior years at Auburn, Jackson transitioned his focus to baseball and became increasingly vocal about his unwillingness to play in the NFL. How much would Bo Jackson lift? Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson (born November 30, 1962) is an American former professional baseball and football player. Stephen Paea of the Chicago Bears pumped out 49 reps on the bench press during his combine, per NFL.com. He already was known for good strength and appealing size (6-2, 193 pounds), but his athleticism is what shot him up from Tennessee State to the Cardinals at No. Jackson recovered the ball by trading an autographed bat for it, and stated he planned to have it bronzed and placed on her dresser. No one questions his athletic ability. [63], Bo Jackson's number 34 jerseys are still sold by the Las Vegas Raiders. His 4.41 40-yard dash alone would have made him a first-round pick at a number of other positions. 2 overall. There was a chin-up bar out back and he added chin-ups and pull-ups to his routine as well. He was my hero, and I know he was yours, but what did you think of him at that age? Explosiveness and the ability to quickly generate power are good attributes to make it pro; however, obviously better all-around talent will ensure a more consistent career. He produced a 4.63 short shuttle, 34.5-inch vertical, and a 95 broad jump. He has started nine NFL games but has struggled to hold down a roster spot.". But the Bo Jackson that comes to my mind first wears a Royals uniform. Like J.J. Watt before him, Donald displayed the sort of athleticism at the combine that would help him win defensive player of the year. . It's not like he was able to parlay the former skill set into the latter. Here are the 16greatest NFL Combine performances to date. Gerald Sensabaugh, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, has the current record of 46 inches, set back in 2005. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft . But here's why that stuff doesn't matter quite as much -- that Bo synthesized all that ability into on-field production is possibly the most impressive part of all this. [32] White Sox co-owner Jerry Reinsdorf stated they did not anticipate him to play all seasons while he addressed his hip issues and avascular necrosis. Three years later, Poe became the heaviest player in NFL history to score a touchdown. RB . NFL Offseason Previews: Arizona Cardinals. The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is officially underway, and this year looks a bit different compared to years past. Bo knows explosiveness, and before the days of full-on media coverage and superior timing technology, Jackson reportedly was clocked at a ridiculous 4.12 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His NFL career has been mostly spent on special teams, but he gave us some memories that we won't forget . He had to develop those independently. [68], On July 12, 2010, Jackson threw the ceremonial first pitch before the 2010 Home Run Derby at Angel Stadium[69] and participated in the celebrity softball game. Lamar Jackson NFL Combine Stats Quarterback | Louisville | Atlantic Coast Conference | Division I-FBS. #BoKnows. An athlete's performance has a direct impact on where they're selected in the NFL Draft. What does the Bench Press measure? Some people, through no fault of their own, struggle to coherently express the intelligent thoughts in their heads. And then you start rooting through message boards, and you start seeing claims of 500 pounds, 550 pounds. I was devastated when the Royals let him go, in part because it was the first time I had ever seen a favorite athlete walk away from my team. Bo Jackson, byname of Vincent Edward Jackson, (born November 30, 1962, Bessemer, Alabama, U.S.), American athlete who starred for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) during his short but storied professional career and who is widely considered one of the greatest all-around athletes in history. At 304 pounds, Mandarich ran a 4.65 in the 40, exploded for a 30 vertical and 103 broad jump, and ripped off 39 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. 2. That means the likes of Bo Jackson (reportedly ran a 4.12 at the 1986 Combine) and Deion Sanders (4.2 in 1989) will not be on the list. These college standouts will look to impress in measurements and drills to help boost their stock ahead of April. Many of us would be pleased to be able to lift 225 pounds a couple of times on the bench press, but the NFL's top heavyweights have put up jaw-dropping numbers in this event. . The BC beast vaulted up draft boards after a 4.58 in the 40, 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench, a 38 vertical and a 49-of-50 on the Wonderlic Test. Jackson played college football as a running back for the Auburn Tigers, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1985. So Johnson borrowed a pair of spikes from East Carolinas James Pinkney then proceeded to run a blistering 4.32 in the 40.10. The second player at the same combine ran a 4.62, didn't do the bench press, had a 31-inch vertical jump, broad jumped 116 inches, had a 6.75 three-cone drill, and did 20-yard shuttle in 4.08. At the time, NFL Network analyst Sterling Sharpe liked what he saw from the diminutive receiver. Bo Jackson Was a FREAK . Ahead are the following records for every drill in combine history. 27 overall), Dallas Cowboys. [11], Through the 1990s, Jackson dabbled in acting, having made several television guest appearances first on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990 as well as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Moesha, and Married with Children. 2014 draft: Sixth round (No. All Rights Reserved. He catches the football with his hands. UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich was solid in the 40 as well as during the bench press, but . 183 overall), Los Angeles Raiders . Players can make their marks at the NFL Combine, and plenty have. Yeah, but: Running back Bo Jackson reportedly ran a 4.12 at the Combine in 1986. It's like all sports, put together, was The Eliminator, and Bo Jackson was the greatest American Gladiator we've ever seen. He is part-owner and CEO of the facility. It shouldnt be a surprise to see Trent Williams on this list. Jackson began to show his true potential in 1989, when he was voted to start for the American League All-Star team, and was named the game's MVP for his play on both offense and defense. That said, Bo Jackson has the best verifiable time at a combine with his 4.12-second clocking at the Louisiana Superdome in 1986. Prospects must be quicker than greased lightning to beat the current record in the 20-yard shuttle. In June 1982, Jackson was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, but he instead chose to attend Auburn University on a football scholarship because he promised his mother he would be the first in the family to go to a major college. He wowed everyone with his speed (4.37 40-yard dash) and leaping ability enough to be a surprise first-round pick (Jaguars at No. The NFL Combine returns in 2022 after taking a year off -- in celebration, let's look at the best NFL Combine performances of all time. He attended school in McCalla, where he rushed for 1,175 yards as a running back as a high school senior. Current New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins blew the hinges off of this event last year when he jumped 11'7" to smash the old record by two inches. 1 overall), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1986 . Post-career Bo is just as impressive to me as the athletic superhero. For example, Bo Jackson ran a 4.12-second 40 time, but that was during the hand-timed era. Dontari Poe, 2012. His is one of only three numbers retired at Auburn. Among the most popular is the 40-yard dash and bench press events, showcasing the speed and strength of top collegiate athletes. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 2012The fastest quarterback in Combine history faster than uber athlete Cam Newton and draft classmate Andrew Luck RG3 was a track star on the fast track to NFL and commercial superstardom, with a blistering 4.41 in the 40-yard dash to go along with a dunk contest-worthy 39 vertical.6. During his time playing for the Auburn Tigers football team, he ran for 4,303 career yards,[11] which was the fourth best performance in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history. For a while -- until I was 6 or 7, I think -- that's all I understood of Bo Jackson: that he was a baseball player. Curry bolted to 6.34 seconds in the 3-cone drill at the 2000 combine, p. If that had happened in his first or second year, they'd call him a bust, too. But there has to be some way, objectively, for us to share with the next generation that we may have seen the greatest physical specimen of the 20th century. That said, Bo Jackson has the best verifiable time at a combine with his 4.12-second clocking at the Louisiana Superdome in 1986. But these 15 prospects were workout warriors who aced their tests at the NFL Scouting Combine.1. 1 overall), Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He had a minor shoulder injury in the beginning of his collegiate football career, which didn't cause him issues in the long term. 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