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 basically an Olympic decathlon for potential NFL Rookies.
Some may call it overrated, and that’s debatable, but you definitely get some insight into the physical characteristics of guys at each position.
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 2007) to find the top Defensive End (also referred to as EDGE players on the NFL combine page) Bench Press performances 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.
Most Defensive End Bench Press Reps All-Time
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine History |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Margus Hunt |
SMU |
38 |
2013 |
| Vernon Gholston |
Ohio State |
37 |
2008 |
| Kaleb Ramsey |
Boston College |
36 |
2014 |
| Carl Lawson |
Auburn |
35 |
2017 |
| Nick Perry |
USC |
35 |
2012 |
| David Veikune |
Hawaii |
35 |
2009 |
| Scott Solomon |
Rice |
34 |
2012 |
| JJ Watt |
Wisconsin |
34 |
2011 |
| Kentwan Balmer |
North Carolina |
33 |
2008 |
| Myles Garrett |
Texas A&M |
33 |
2017 |
Year By Year Top Defensive End Bench Press Numbers
Here is a breakdown of the top 5 Bench Press reps from each year going back to 2007. In addition to the top 5 each year, I’ve also included any defensive end that benched more than 29 reps.
Related –> NFL Combine Averages By Position at 2023 NFL Combine
2023
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2023 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Tyler Lacy |
Oklahoma State |
30 |
2023 |
| Keion White |
Georgia Tech |
30 |
2023 |
| Adetomiwa Adebawore |
Northwestern |
27 |
2023 |
| Zach Harrison |
Ohio State |
25 |
2023 |
| Myles Murphy |
Clemson |
25 |
2023 |
Related –> NFL Combine Averages By Position at 2022 NFL Combine
2022
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2022 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux |
Oregon |
27 |
2022 |
| Dominique Robinson |
Miami (OH) |
25 |
2022 |
| Cameron Thomas |
San Diego State |
24 |
2022 |
| Micheal Clemons |
Texas A&M |
24 |
2022 |
| DeAngelo Malone |
Western Kentucky |
23 |
2022 |
2020
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2020 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Kenny Willekes |
Michigan State |
32 |
2020 |
| Jabari Zuniga |
Florida |
29 |
2020 |
| Qaadir Sheppard |
Ole Miss |
28 |
2020 |
| James Smith-Williams |
NC State |
28 |
2020 |
| La’Darius Hamilton |
North Texas |
27 |
2020 |
| Julian Okwara |
Notre Dame |
27 |
2020 |
2019
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2019 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Porter Gustin |
USC |
31 |
2019 |
| Nick Bosa |
Ohio State |
29 |
2019 |
| Josh Allen |
Kentucky |
28 |
2019 |
| Rashan Gary |
Michigan |
26 |
2019 |
| Malik Carney |
North Carolina |
25 |
2019 |
| LJ Collier |
TCU |
25 |
2019 |
| Clelin Ferrell |
Clemson |
25 |
2019 |
| Justin Hollins |
Oregon |
25 |
2019 |
| Wyatt Ray |
Boston Collge |
25 |
2019 |
| Sutton Smith |
Northern Illinois |
25 |
2019 |
2018
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2018 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Kylie Fitts |
Utah |
31 |
2018 |
| Da’Shawn Hand |
Alabama |
28 |
2018 |
| Kentavius Street |
NC State |
28 |
2018 |
| Ogbo Okoronkwo |
Oklahoma |
27 |
2018 |
| Ola Adeniyi |
Toledo |
26 |
2018 |
| John Franklin-Myers |
Stephen F Austin |
26 |
2018 |
| Leon Jacobs |
Wisconsin |
26 |
2018 |
| Hercules Mata’afa |
Washington State |
26 |
2018 |
2017
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2017 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Carl Lawson |
Auburn |
35 |
2017 |
| Myles Garrett |
Texas A&M |
33 |
2017 |
| Derek Rivers |
Youngstown State |
30 |
2017 |
| Solomon Thomas |
Stanford |
30 |
2017 |
| Jeremiah Ledbetter |
Arkansas |
29 |
2017 |
2016
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2016 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Ronald Blair |
Appalachian State |
32 |
2016 |
| Matt Judon |
Grand Valley |
30 |
2016 |
| Dean Lowry |
Northwestern |
30 |
2016 |
| Ufomba Kamalu |
Miami |
26 |
2016 |
| Yannick Ngakoue |
Maryland |
26 |
2016 |
2015
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2015 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Trey Flowers |
Arkansas |
28 |
2015 |
| Anthony Chickillo |
Miami |
27 |
2015 |
| Marcus Hardison |
Arizona State |
27 |
2015 |
| Danielle Hunter |
LSU |
25 |
2015 |
| Owa Odighizuwa |
UCLA |
25 |
2015 |
| Ryan Russell |
Purdue |
25 |
2015 |
2014
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2014 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Kaleb Ramsey |
Boston College |
36 |
2014 |
| Stephon Tuitt |
Notre Dame |
31 |
2014 |
| Eathyn Manumaleuna |
BYU |
29 |
2014 |
| IK Enemkpali |
Louisiana Tech |
28 |
2014 |
| Chris Smith |
Arkansas |
28 |
2014 |
2013
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2013 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Margus Hunt |
SMU |
38 |
2013 |
| Abry Jones |
Georgia |
30 |
2013 |
| Stansly Maponga |
TCU |
30 |
2013 |
| Trevardo Williams |
Connecticut |
30 |
2013 |
| Datone Jones |
UCLA |
29 |
2013 |
2012
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2012 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Nick Perry |
USC |
35 |
2012 |
| Scott Solomon |
Rice |
34 |
2012 |
| Olivier Vernon |
Miami |
31 |
2012 |
| Tyrone Crawford |
Boise State |
28 |
2012 |
| Jamie Blatnick |
Oklahoma State |
28 |
2012 |
2011
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2011 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Justin Watt |
Wisconsin |
34 |
2011 |
| Patrick Kerrigan |
Purdue |
31 |
2011 |
| D’Aundre Reed |
Arizona |
30 |
2011 |
| Allen Bailey |
Miami |
27 |
2011 |
| Cheta Ozougwu |
Rice |
26 |
2011 |
| Ricky Elmore |
Arizona |
26 |
2011 |
| Brandon Blair |
Oregon |
26 |
2011 |
2010
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2010 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| CJ Wilson |
East Carolina |
32 |
2010 |
| Everson Griffen |
USC |
32 |
2010 |
| Daniel Te’o-Nesheim |
Washington |
29 |
2010 |
| Hall Davis |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
28 |
2010 |
| Jammie Kirlew |
Indiana |
26 |
2010 |
| Clifton Geathers |
South Carolina |
26 |
2010 |
| Alex Carrington |
Arkansas State |
26 |
2010 |
| Kevin Basped |
Nevada |
26 |
2010 |
2009
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2009 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Brandon Williams |
Texas Tech |
38 |
2009 |
| David Veikune |
Hawaii |
35 |
2009 |
| Brian Orakpo |
Texas |
31 |
2009 |
| Lawrence Sidbury |
Richmond |
28 |
2009 |
| Michael Johnson |
Georgia Tech |
28 |
2009 |
| Jarron Gilbert |
San Jose State |
28 |
2009 |
2008
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2008 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Vernon Gholston |
Ohio State |
37 |
2008 |
| Lawrence Jackson |
USC |
31 |
2008 |
| Derrick Harvey |
Florida |
31 |
2008 |
| Jeremy Geathers |
UNLV |
29 |
2008 |
| Bryan Mattison |
Iowa |
26 |
2008 |
| Kenny Iwebema |
Iowa |
26 |
2008 |
2007
| Most DE Bench Reps in NFL Combine 2007 |
| Player |
School |
Reps |
Year |
| Charles Johnson |
Georgia |
33 |
2007 |
| Adam Carriker |
Nebraska |
33 |
2007 |
| Tim Crowder |
Texas |
32 |
2007 |
| Anthony Spencer |
Purdue |
30 |
2007 |
| Brian Robison |
Texas |
27 |
2007 |
Notes
If you look closely at the numbers from year to year, you might start to think college linebackers are actually getting weaker. Well, that’s not necessarily the case. It’s more about participation.
For example, back in 2014, there were a total of 22 defensive ends who participated in the 225 rep test. In 2022, there were 8.
Why is that? What happened in 2022?
The NFL Combine changed its schedule to try to shorten the amount of time players have to spend in Indianapolis. This led to measurements (like height and weight), bench press and on-field workouts taking place all on the same day.
This led to many players in 2022 opting out of the bench press so it wouldn’t affect their on-field workouts. According to scouts I’ve spoken with over the years, the value placed in on-field drills drastically outweighs how many reps players can bench 225 pounds.
So, most players (only 3 defensive tackles participated on bench) chose to focus on things like running a fast 40, having good jumps (both vertical jump and broad jump) and performing well in the position drills.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that not everyone that gets invited to NFL Combine actually bench presses. So, some players that potentially could put up a lot of reps don’t have an official number on the record.
On top of that, there are many players each year that would have put up big numbers that don’t receive an NFL Combine invite. I’ve been at many a pro day where we had guys who put up numbers that would have put them right at the top of the rankings.
References
NFL.com
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