I’ve always loved the NFL Combine. A series of events to evaluate the physical characteristics of the best college football players each year. It’s like field day when you were a kid, but with some of the best athletes in the world.
When I train players for the combine, one of the things we always do is look at previous years’ results to see how we stack up. It is a great tool for goal-setting and motivation.
This guide is simply me sharing this information with you. I went through all the previous NFL Combines (going back to 2006) to find the best Defensive Tackle Broad Jumps of all time.
Note: These are the official NFL Combine times from NFL.com. Some resources online will also include pro-day numbers, but because there are so many other variables with pro-day numbers I’ve stuck strictly to the official reps from Indianapolis.
Best Defensive Tackle Broad Jumps of All-Time
Best DT Broad Jumps in NFL Combine History
Player
School
Distance
Year
Jordan Davis
Georgia
10’3″
2022
Mario Edwards
Florida State
10’0″
2015
Ed Oliver
Houston
10’0″
2019
Taven Bryan
Florida
9’11”
2018
Larrell Murchison
NC State
9’10”
2020
Sheldon Rankins
Louisville
9’10”
2016
Renell Wren
Arizona State
9’10”
2019
Arik Armstead
Oregon
9’9″
2015
Geno Atkins
Georgia
9’9″
2010
Connor Wujciak
Boston College
9’9″
2016
Year By Year Top Defensive Tackle Broad Numbers
Here is a breakdown of the top 5 Broad Jumps from each year going back to 2006. In addition to the top 5 each year, I’ve also included any defensive tackle that jumped 9’3″ or further.
In my opinion, a great broad jump might be the most impressive thing to see in person – even more than a lightning-fast 40 or an outstanding vertical jump.
If you don’t believe me I want you to grab a measuring tape and some regular tape.
Find an open area on the floor and put down a strip of tape. Then, measure out ten feet and put down another strip of tape.
Now, stand behind the first piece of tape and just look at how far the other piece of tape actually is! The top D Tackles listed above jumped past that tape. And, by the way, don’t forget that the average NFL defensive end weighs almost 310 pounds.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that not everyone who gets invited to the NFL Combine actually jumps (although broad jumps along with running the 40 and vertical jumps are still heavily participated in by most positions).
So, some players who potentially could put up a big jump don’t have an official number on the record.
Finally, don’t forget that there are many players each year who would have put up big numbers that don’t receive an NFL Combine invite. I’ve been at many pro days where some of the numbers our guys put up would have been top 5 or even top 3 at the combine that year.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Alena Veasey / Shutterstock.com
Ryan Horton is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who has served as both a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and as the Director of Sports Science during his 20 year career at elite collegiate programs including the University of Tennessee, Temple University and Georgia Tech. He also holds an Exercise Science degree from Otterbein College where he was captain of the football team.
