NFL scouts pick most memorable pre-draft, combine workouts

NFL team decision-makers are digging into 2023 draft preparations as combine workouts kick off in Indianapolis Thursday. Of course, everything will come back to the game tape, but prepare yourself for a few «wow» workouts to really get people talking this week, even if it's just one part of the evaluation.

Every scout, coach and executive has prospect workout moments they remember from over the years. I'm talking about the rare, are-you-kidding-me, OMG moments that have never left them. That includes amazing feats in standardized combine drills, private workouts or even viral video clips. These moments might not have even influenced prospect grades at the end of the day, but they still live on as legendary exploits and measuring sticks for elite physical traits.

Which workout moments stand above the rest, from the blazing 40-yard dash times to the incredible shows of strength? We surveyed more than four dozen coaches, scouts and personnel executives (some retired) in recent weeks to find their most memorable moments. Here are the ones that popped up the most.

Almost none of those surveyed saw it with their own eyes, but Bo Jackson's otherworldly 40-yard dash lives on in scouting lore. The Auburn running back has said he was asked to run it on his way to track practice in 1986, and the clocking on his first run was just over 4.3 seconds — though he slowed up before finishing to avoid running into the wall at the end of the gym. He recalls that they opened the door at the school's indoor facility to allow him enough room to run through the finish line on his second run. The electronic timer had him at 4.13 seconds.

There is plenty of skepticism about just how fast Jackson ran — and what is even possible. There have been