The sight of John Ross blazing to an NFL scouting combine record of 4.22 seconds in the 40-yard dash will be the lasting image of the event, but there were other achievements that were also impressive, despite not getting the notoriety .
With the help of ESPN Stats & Information, we take a look at some of the freakishly athletic performances (and not so freakish, read: Christian McCaffrey's bench press struggles) turned in at the combine. We also take a look at some of the more noteworthy measurements (Adam Bisnowaty's huge hands) of the NFL hopefuls.
Big man hauling
At 6-foot and 240 pounds, Leonard Fournette does not look the part of a speedster, unlike the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Ross. But Fournette set his own impressive record when he covered the 40 in 4.51 seconds. It was the fastest 40 for a running back weighing at least 240 pounds since 2006, which is considered the baseline year for accurate numbers.
Fournette’s time isn’t just impressive compared to other big backs, he barely was edged by the 6-foot, 200-pound McCaffrey and the 5-foot-11, 213-pound Dalvin Cook. Though Fournette was fast, his vertical left a little to be desired. The average vertical for a first-round RB since 2006 at the combine is 35.6. The shortest was 31.5 inches by Mark Ingram in 2011, until Fournette, who jumped 28.5.
Here are some of the other notable numbers from the weekend:
Fastest overall (40-yard dash)
WR Ross, Washington -- 4.22
CB Jalen Myrick, Minnesota -- 4.28
WR Curtis Samuel, Ohio State -- 4.31
CB Fabien Moreau, UCLA -- 4.35
CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State -- 4.36
Myrick’s time was the fastest for a defensive back at the combine since 2006.
Fastest at 270-plus pounds
DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (272) -- 4.64
TE Adam Shaheen, Ashland (278) -- 4.79
OT Aviante Collins, TCU (295) -- 4.81
DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova (289) -- 4.83
TE Michael Roberts, Toledo (270) -- 4.86
Collins' time is the third-fastest time for an offensive lineman since 2006.
Tallest
OT Dan Skipper, Arkansas -- 6-foot-10
OT Zach Banner, USC -- 6-foot-8
T Conor McDermott, UCLA -- 6-foot-8
If Skipper’s true height is 6-foot-10, he would be the tallest player measured since 2006, but some are referring to him as 6-foot-9 5/8, which would tie him with Georgia offensive lineman Dennis Roland.
Shortest
RB Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T -- 5-foot-6
RB Kermit Whitfield, Florida State -- 5-foot-7
RB Stanley Williams, Kentucky -- 5-foot-7
RB De'Angelo Henderson, Coastal Carolina -- 5-foot-7
WR Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia -- 5-foot-7
The average height for a running back at the combine is 5-foot-10. Darren Sproles, who measures at 5-foot-6, was taken in the fourth round of the 2005 combine and has made three Pro Bowls.
Heaviest
OT Banner, USC -- 353
OT David Sharpe, Florida -- 343
OG Isaac Asiata, Utah -- 335
OG Damien Mama, USC -- 334
DT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, USC -- 331
The position average at the combine for an offensive tackle is 315.1 pounds. For comparison, 10-time Pro-Bowl tackle Joe Thomas weighed in at 311 pounds at the combine.
Skinniest
PK Jake Elliot, Memphis -- 167
WR McKenzie, Georgia -- 173
RB Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State -- 176
CB Sojourn Shelton, Wisconsin -- 177
WR Victor Bolden, Oregon State -- 178
WR Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma -- 178
Pumphrey’s five reps of 225 pounds on the bench press were the lowest at the combine.
Strongest over 270 pounds
OG Asiata, Utah (335) -- 35 reps
OT Jermaine Elumunor, Texas A&M (332) -- 34 reps
OT Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky (309) -- 34 reps
OT Collins, TCU (295) -- 34 reps
DT Elijah Qualls, Washington (313) -- 33 reps
DE Garrett, Texas A&M (272) -- 33 reps
Stephen Paea had the best bench press of the past 10 years when he put up 49 reps in 2011.
Strongest under 270 pounds
DE Carl Lawson, Auburn (261) -- 35 reps
RB Samaje Perine, Oklahoma (233) -- 30 reps
DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State (248) -- 30 reps
ILB Ben Gedeon, Michigan (244) -- 27 reps
DE Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia (268) -- 27 reps
No other running back came within six reps of Perine's 30.
Agility superstar (Best 3-cone drill)
CB Kevin King, Washington -- 6.56 seconds
RB McCaffrey, Stanford -- 6.57 seconds
WR Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky -- 6.57 seconds
CB Brian Allen, Utah -- 6.64 seconds
WR McKenzie, Georgia -- 6.64 seconds
McCaffrey dominated his position at this event, finishing far ahead of second-place Aaron Jones. However he did not best Chris Rainey's time of 6.50 seconds, set in 2012.
Best broad jump
S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut -- 11 feet, 9 inches
WR Robert Davis, Georgia State -- 11 feet, 4 inches
CB Fabian Moreau, UCLA -- 11 feet, 4 inches
WR Malachi Dupre, LSU -- 11 feet, 3 inches
TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech -- 11 feet, 2 inches
Melifonwu's 11 feet, 9 inches is the second-longest at the combine since 2006, behind former Connecticut teammate Byron Jones (12-3).
Best vertical jump
S Melifonwu, Connecticut -- 44.0 inches
WR Speedy Noil, Texas A&M -- 43.5 inches
S Marcus Williams, Utah -- 43.5 inches
WR Davis, Georgia State -- 41.0 inches
DE Garrett, Texas A&M -- 41.0 inches
Melifonwu's vertical jump is tied for the fourth highest since 2006.
Longest arms
OT Julian Daveport, Bucknell -- 36 1/2 inches
OT Roderick Johnson, Florida State -- 36 inches
OT Sharpe, Florida -- 35 3/8 inches
Jerry Ugokwe, William & Mary -- 35 3/8 inches
Biggest hands
OT Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh -- 11 3/8 inches
TE Roberts, Toledo -- 11 1/2 inches
OG Mama, USC -- 11 inches
OT McDermott, UCLA -- 11 inches
OLB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin -- 11 inches
Watt’s brother J.J. -- yes, that J.J. Watt -- just edges out his younger sibling. J.J.’s hands measured 11 1/8 inches at the 2011 combine.
Needs more reps
RB McCaffrey managed just 10 reps on the bench press, joining just five other running backs since 2006 who managed 10 or fewer.
Most athletic specialist
P Justin Vogel, Miami -- 4.70 40-yard dash, 34-inch vertical
Most athletic "small" skill player
WR Ross (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), Washington -- 4.22 40, 37-inch vertical
RB McCaffery (6-foot, 200 pounds), Stanford -- 4.48 40, 37.5-inch vertical, 10 foot, 1 inch broad jump, 6.57-second 3-cone drill
Ross' 4.22 40-yard dash beat's Chris Johnson's combine record of 4.24 seconds, which was set in 2008. Ross also posted a 37-inch vertical, a feat no receiver shorter than 6-foot was able to accomplish between 2006-16. Adidas promised an island to any combine participant who could break Johnson’s record while wearing their shoes. Ross broke the record, but he won’t get an island. He was wearing Nike shoes.
Most athletic lineman
DE Garrett, Texas A&M -- 4.64 40, 41-0 vertical leap, 33 bench press reps
Garrett joined Mario Williams as the only player over 270 pounds to have a vertical jump of at least 40 inches. Williams went first overall to the Texans in the 2006 draft. Garrett's 40 time of 4.64 seconds was slightly faster than Williams, who ran a 4.66