| One of the things you will notice about some | | | | By far, the most closely watched measurable or |
| great college players is that they occasionally go | | | | metric that NFL scouts look at is the 40 yard |
| undrafted. This is peculiar because one would | | | | dash. The 40 yard dash is simply a timed sprint |
| assume that if a college player could win the | | | | covering 40 yards. Preferably, this sprint is |
| Heisman Trophy they would be a shoe-in for a | | | | electronically timed on the same flat playing |
| first round draft pick. Also, you would be surprised | | | | surface of a football field as all the other NFL |
| that some college players who have had fairly | | | | Draft prospects. Unfortunately, not all drafted |
| pedestrian or mediocre college careers rocket up | | | | players are invited to the NFL scouting combine. |
| the charts and are picked in the first round of the | | | | As such, these players are often asked to |
| NFL draft. What is one of the reasons behind this | | | | perform the same measurables on either their |
| phenomenon? The scouting process, and in | | | | college campuses or at another site. |
| particular, the 40 yard dash times. | | | | The 40 Yard Dash was first used by Paul Brown. |
| Part of the success of many college players is | | | | Paul Brown was the coach of Ohio State in the |
| that they are put in a system which puts them in | | | | 1940's. The test was used to figure out how |
| the best position to succeed. And although they | | | | special teams players can cover a punt. Because |
| may look great on film to the untrained eye, truth | | | | an average punt in collegiate football is about 40 |
| be told, there may be hundreds of other college | | | | yards, and the average hang time is around 4.5 |
| players who could achieve as much success if | | | | seconds, the 40 yard dash became a staple |
| they were placed in the same system. For this | | | | measurement of the athletic ability of football |
| reason, it is hard for NFL scouts and general | | | | players. |
| managers to adequately evaluate a player's | | | | The 40 yard dash is more important for some |
| athletic potential and abilities by only watching | | | | positions, and carries less importance for others. |
| game film. Therefore, it is necessary to have an | | | | The 40 yard dash is important mainly for |
| NFL Combine in order to place all the potential NFL | | | | cornerbacks, wide receivers, running backs, |
| Draft prospects on an even playing field. | | | | linebackers, and safeties. The 40 yard dash is not |
| During the evaluation process one of the things | | | | as important for kickers, offensive and defensive |
| they try to do is to get an overall idea of the | | | | linemen and quarterbacks. |
| athletic ability of a player. Sometimes these are | | | | When it comes to the record for the fastest 40 |
| called "measurables". With these measurables, | | | | yard dash time, it would be Chris Johnson, of the |
| scouts can get an idea of how athletic or | | | | Tennessee Titans if you are talking about |
| explosive a player is by comparing those players | | | | electronically recorded times. However, with |
| with past, present, and future players. These | | | | respect to hand-timed, and perceived less |
| measurables include the 40 yard dash, the vertical | | | | accurate results it would be either Darrell Green |
| leap, the bench press, the cone drill, the Wonderlic | | | | and Bo Jackson, both at 4.09. |
| Exam, and the broad jump, among other tests. | | | | |
