Combine 101: Vertical Jump
Leading up to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, theScore's staff will take you through all the events the top prospects will participate in. The combine takes place in Indianapolis from Feb. 17-23.
Combine Events
40-Yard Dash | Bench Press
Vertical Jump | Broad Jump
3-Cone Drill | Shuttle Run
Vertical Jump
Players will try to display their explosiveness and athleticism in the vertical jump, where they stand flat-footed and leap in the air. The vertical jump has been used as an evaluation tool for wide receivers, cornerbacks, running backs and, in certain situations, outside linebackers.
Top All-Time Performers
| Player | Position | Year | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Sensabaugh | CB | 2005 | 46' |
| Cameron Wake | OLB | 2005 | 45.5' |
| Donald Washington | CB | 2009 | 45' |
Notable Performances
Cameron Wake's excellent jump goes unnoticed
Cameron Wake is one of the league's best defensive ends, starring for the Miami Dolphins since 2009. Wake had an outstanding combine, recording the second-best vertical in combine history. However, he somehow went unrecognized.
Wake, at the time going by his full name Derek Cameron Wake, jumped 45.5 inches in 2005, but went undrafted. After a very successful stint in the CFL, Wake was signed by the Dolphins and has become the envy of 31 other teams.
Vernon Davis ascends in vertical jump, draft boards
It's rare for tight ends to be drafted within the first 15 selections, but Vernon Davis's outstanding combine helped the Maryland standout skyrocket up most people's draft boards.
Davis recorded a vertical jump of 42 inches, to go along with a 4.38 40-yard dash. The San Francisco 49ers selected him with the sixth pick in the 2006 draft, and the two-time Pro Bowler has been a staple of the offense since.
2015 Top Prospect Prediction
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Green-Beckham has been out of football for a season after the NCAA made him sit out a year upon transferring from Missouri to Oklahoma. However, the 6-foot-6 receiver possesses rare athletic ability that had some analysts comparing him to Randy Moss out of high school. The 21-year-old could be a top-10 selection with an outstanding combine and interview.