NFL combine live updates, highlights from first day of draft practice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
NFL fans gather together or huddle in front of their televisions to witness the uniqueness of the game of football. Football isn’t the only sport that conducts “joint” interviews, workouts, medical evaluations and psychological testing of its rookies. However, this is the only sport that “combines” to become must-see television.
The combine, also known as the National Invitation Camp (NIC), has its own history like the other events. Four days of football evaluation didn’t start with a TV show like it does now. Like the NFL draft scene decades ago, the combine used to be a little thing. Prior to 1976, combine harvesters did not exist.
Prior to the 1970s, NFL teams rarely conducted any kind of physical evaluation of potential college players. During the same period, the NFL Draft also went through 17 rounds. Not today’s seven rounds.
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The NFL combine in today’s world
The first implementation of any form of physical evaluation was actually started by the New York Jets, who invited prospects to their headquarters in 1976 for interviews and testing.
“In addition to character and intelligence, another non-football factor we value is medical,” Jets director of player personnel Mike Hickey wrote in an April 1983 column in The New York Times. “We try to have every player we are interested in undergo an orthopedic physical by our team physician.”
The early years of what would eventually become the Boy Scout Federation were just a series of visits. As opposed to our current career day visits. Instead of all scouts and front office personnel traveling to Florida Pro Day or USC Pro Day, rookies will travel to their respective NFL cities to be tested.
The process is complex and expensive. In the early 1980s, Dallas Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm suggested to the NFL competition committee that the teams work together to “focus the evaluation process.”
The first combine was held in 1982 in Tampa, Florida. The first combined tournament featured 16 teams and 163 players. Over the past decade, the number of invitees has doubled to about 300.
More:2026 NFL Combine: Complete list of draft prospects
Initially there were three groups of camps. Indianapolis-based National Football Scouting Inc (NFS), BLESTO and Quadra Scouting. In 1985, all three camps were merged to save operating costs. The central location in 1985 was Phoenix, Arizona. The central location in 1986 was New Orleans, Louisiana, but in 1987 the venue moved to Indianapolis, where it remains today.
Over time, more and more aspects are added to the process. Just like the old NFL draft was a closed-door operation not open to fans, so is the combine. As the consortium itself grew, so did public interest in it.
More:How the NFL Scouting Combine Got Its Name: The schedule, history and origins of the NFL’s biggest draft event
The first televised NFL scouting combine didn’t happen until 22 years after it was first held in 1982. In 2004, the then-new NFL Network aired six one-hour scouting combine recaps at the end of each day. In 2005, the one-hour review became a two-hour review. In 2006 and 2007, Combine’s television coverage grew to over 25 hours.
In the 2020s, the combine was viewed as the second-largest and most important event in the pre-draft process. Second only to the NFL Draft itself. Comprehensive evaluation is critical to what NFL teams do with these prospects these days. Game tape is always No. 1, but a close second is the NFL Scouting Combine.
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NFL combine live updates, day one highlights
40 defensive tackles:
Albert Regis – DT – Texas A&M:First try: 4.92 / Second try: 4.88
Regis’ tackle start has “looked the best” so far (1.73). The first tackle started without dragging the feet. Lift your legs high and cross the finish line.
Good start, but not as good as the first one. His form was a little off in the first ten games, but he took advantage of his opportunities and improved on his already good results.
Caleb Proctor – DT – Southeast Louisiana:First try: 4.80 / Second try: 4.84
Clean start (1.69 split), very smooth gate. It runs smoother than difficult. The first 40 were very solid.
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Something is missing in the form’s backend. Still a good time and he’ll stick with the first 4.80 time.
Chris McClellan – DT – University:First try: 5.05 / Second try: 5.08
Started very awkwardly (1.80 points), but recovered and made up for some time in the game. His form faded early, but the drive/kicking made up for it.
The first step is faster, but there is still resistance on the second step. Really pushed past 10-20 yards.
Jackie Marshall – DT – Baylor:First try: 4.88 / Second try: 4.92
What a great run. Good start (1.69 split) throughout. Although smooth, the determined pace led to a very good time. Nearly one-tenth lower than expected.
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Tim Keenan III – DT – Alabama:First try: 5.32 / Second try: 5.31
Keenan is another bigger DT. Another less explosive start (1.84 points) but he recovered well and the goal was steady but strong.
Another good start. He looked to be ahead of his pace midway through, but started to slow down in the final ten yards. Give him a little longer.
Lee Hunter – DT – Texas Tech University:First try: 5.25 / Second try: 5.18
Seems like a bad number on the first try, but Hunter is a big guy. 6’4, 325. 1.82 10-yard split is a bit underwhelming; lacks the first-step explosion you want to see.
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Hunter has made significant progress. Similar slower split, but he drove hard in the final stretch. Reduce time by seven percent.
Grayson Holton – DT – Oklahoma State:First try: 4.83 / Second try: 4.86
It fails on first startup. Oddly enough, it’s weird, but it works. Halton’s score is very good, just under 4.9 points.
A less than ideal start, but an equally odd kick towards the end. This time it started out painful because the backend was pretty much the same.
David Gusta – DT – Kentucky:First try: 4.88 / Second try: 4.90
The first run was really stable. Good start, getting more aggressive with every passing yard. 4.88 is very stable.
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The second attempt was a very different run. Same good but not explosive start, but this time taking definite strides.
Bryson Eason – DT – Tennessee:First try: 5.12 / Second try: 5.09
Ethan’s movements are relatively smooth for a man his size. Controllable and stable. At 6’3″ and 315m, this is a solid run. If Eason can get below 5.10, he could be important.
Same controlled, steady run, only this time he got off to a clean start and improved his time. As previously predicted, it fell below the 5.10 mark. 5.09 on the second try.
Zane Durant – DT – Penn State:First try: 4.76 / Second try: 4.77
Durant arrived with explosive expectations. Another angry runner. “We’re not expecting turbulence, but we’re expecting a fast 40. Both will require seat belts,” Daniel Jeremiah said on the broadcast.
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Durant once again posted an impressive 4.8 per game. Almost in transcript form. A great start and he was motivated every step of the way.
Brandon Cleveland – DT – North Carolina:First try: 5.11 / Second try: 5.22
Cleveland maintained good upper body posture and didn’t recover from his crouch until the finish line. The movements are steady and under control.
Cleveland looked to be off to a good start, but something happened in the middle third. It looked like a hamstring strain, but he overcame it and didn’t fully pull up until just after the finish line. Eisen and Jeremiah can be heard saying “Oh, that’s great” almost simultaneously.
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Dermot Capehart – DT – Clemson:First try: 4.85 / Second try: 4.86
Capeheart was the first of the 40 to actually move. Cape Hart’s first start was similar to Barrett’s, but Cape Hart fully recovered before the 10-yard mark and was really confused. Run like you’re angry at the ground.
Cape Hart has a way of running, but it works. The same angry, hard steps. Once he picks up speed, it looks awkward, but he’s moving.
Nick Barrett – DT – South Carolina:First try: 5.11 / Second try: 5.11
Barrett got off to a rocky start on the first try but recovered after the second move. The 5.11 time wasn’t great, but if he could clean up the start, he could save a few percent.
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Barrett’s second attempt was identical to the first. In time and form. The start was better, the first step was better, but something was lost at the end of the run. “I think he’s a 5.11 runner…” Rich Eisen said as he crossed the finish line.
Caleb Bank – DT – Florida:First try: 5.05 / Second try: 5.13
Banks had false breakdowns on each of his first two starts on the first try. On his third start, Banks ran a pretty good time for his size. He looks like a big DT running 40 meters, but his form remains the same.
Banks struggled in his second campaign, improving his time by almost a full tenth. Seemed to lose form and faltered in the final third.
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Cameron Ball – DT – Arkansas:First try: 5.11 / Second try: 5.13
Ball’s first attempt was a bit concerning. However, after starting well, his form collapsed after the 10-yard kickoff and didn’t come back until around 30 yards. Improvements can be made based on the second attempt.
The second run wasn’t much better, but still acceptable. Clean start but slow going in the first five races. Got out of it early.
Defensive tackle leads the way with 40 final tackles: Zane Durant – 4.75, Caleb Proctor – 4.80, Grayson Holden – 4.82, Dermot Capehart – 4.85, David Gusta – 4.88
Reporting by Stacey Dales: 6-foot-3, 335 Florida State defensive tackle Caleb Banks will play today despite suffering a broken foot in September. He will be a complete participant. Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald will not compete in the 40m but is expected to participate in sandbag drills to show off his explosiveness.
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Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah have started live on NFL Network. First up is defensive tackle. There are some big names on this team, some that could even make it into the first round. Jeremiah ranks Lee as the No. 1 DT in his class. Kayden McDonald, Caleb Banks, Peter Woods and Christen Miller rounded out the top 5. Except for Hunter, everyone needs to prove their strength in this combine.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive players with the most to prove
2026 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule
Remember this popular tweet from Joe Burrow Joint:
Comprehensive news: According to the New York Post, Eagles general manager has changed his stance on retaining WR AJ Brown.
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More NFL combine news:
How to watch the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Combine can be streamed live through Fubo, which offers a free trial. NFL Network will also broadcast combine games on NFL+, the league’s premium subscription service.
