Most athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine simply confirms what scouts already know. The real draft-board movement comes from medical evaluations and private team interviews—results rarely disclosed to the public.

But occasionally, prospects shock the evaluation community with their on-field performance in Indianapolis. These nine players bucked the trend at the 2026 Combine, for better and worse.

Risers

Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

While four receivers ran faster than Caldwell's 4.31-second 40-yard dash, they averaged just 6 feet tall and weighed 182 pounds. Caldwell checked in at 6-foot-5, 216 pounds—a frame most speedsters don't carry.

His explosiveness was undeniable. He led all 2026 Combine participants with a 1.48-second 10-yard split, posted a 42-inch vertical jump, and recorded an 11-foot-2 broad jump. The Cincinnati receiver spent just one season at the FBS level before declaring, making him a developmental prospect likely destined for Day 3 of the draft. But his workout performance could vault his selection board position by 100-plus spots.

Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin

Scouts already knew Demmings as an FCS All-American who impressed at the Senior Bowl last month. His Combine numbers eliminated any remaining doubt about his draft grade.

A 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 42-inch vertical jump, and 11-foot broad jump proved the cornerback's elite athleticism. Those results could push him into the top 100—a feat no Stephen F. Austin player has achieved since 1998.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State

The Penn State pass rusher didn't need Indianapolis to secure his draft status. His 23.5 career sacks and seven forced fumbles over four seasons already branded him as one of the class's most refined and powerful edge defenders.

What caught scouts off guard: his explosiveness. Dennis-Sutton led all edge rushers with a 10-foot-11 broad jump, ranked among the best at his position in the vertical (39.5") and 40-yard dash (4.63), and at 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, showed surprising lateral agility with a 6.90-second 3-cone drill—faster than 10 of the 12 receivers and cornerbacks tested in that same drill.

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

Alabama's Ty Simpson threw the most polished passes at the Combine. Arkansas' Taylen Green was the most athletic. Scouts anticipated both results, so neither will meaningfully shift draft boards.

Klubnik's performance, however, was both impressive and unexpected. He displayed precision and timing to all levels with enough arm strength to make every NFL throw. The Clemson quarterback made a calculated gamble by skipping the athletic testing portion entirely, forcing evaluators to focus exclusively on his passing mechanics.

It was a high-risk move. Had Klubnik struggled, it would have backfired. Instead, he reminded scouts he's a passer first—despite his 17 rushing touchdowns at Clemson proving his dual-threat capability.

Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana

As one of just eight FCS players invited to the Combine, Proctor needed to prove he belonged on the same field as elite competition. He delivered.

The Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle ran a 4.79-second 40-yard dash—the second-fastest time among all defensive tackles tested—and finished in the top five at his position in all four events he competed in. The same first-step quickness that produced nine sacks last season, leading the Southland Conference, was verified in Indianapolis. A top-100 selection is within reach.

Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas Tech

Rodriguez's dominant 2025 film guaranteed a top-100 selection. But his reputation as a cerebral linebacker—evidenced by an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles—obscured his elite athleticism until the Combine.

At 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, Rodriguez excelled in marquee events: a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and 38.5-inch vertical jump. But linebackers live or die by lateral agility, and Rodriguez was exceptional here with a position-best 6.90-second 3-cone drill and 4.19-second short shuttle. His untimed linebacker workout ranked among the best of the entire draft class. Rodriguez jumped into this scout's personal top-50 Big Board with his Combine performance.

Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

The Stanford tight end entered the Combine with a blocking-first reputation. His college résumé reflected it: just four touchdowns over his career.

At 6-foot-6, 267 pounds, Roush proved capable of far more. A 38.5-inch vertical jump, position-best 7.08-second 3-cone drill, and 4.70 40-yard dash (with a 1.61-second 10-yard split) suggest NFL production potential. The Computer Science major also impressed scouts in interviews.

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

Few running backs improved their stock faster than Washington, who led all RBs with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash—faster than any player weighing over 220 pounds at the entire Combine.

His explosiveness was evident across the board: 39-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-8 broad jump. With Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love expected to be the first running back selected this spring, Washington has inserted himself into the conversation for the second back off the board. A second-round selection is now realistic after his Combine display.

Fallers

Lee Hunter, NG, Texas Tech

The Combine is inherently unfavorable terrain for wide-bodied run-stuffers. Hunter's showing confirmed why: his athleticism lagged significantly behind his positional peers.

The 6-foot-3, 318-pound defensive tackle finished last or near-last among 15 tested tackles in three measured events. His 21.5-inch vertical jump was a full six inches shorter than any other defensive tackle tested this year—historically anemic for his size. Hunter projects as a future starting NFL nose guard, but a first-round selection is now unlikely.

LT Overton, DL, Alabama

Overton spent most of his Alabama tenure as an outside pass rusher, but his Combine numbers suggest a different future.

A sluggish 4.87-second 40-yard dash and 1.7-second 10-yard split indicate the 6-foot-3, 274-pound defensive lineman would fit better inside at tackle in the NFL. While his 33 1/4-inch arms and physicality support the transition, it represents a significant adjustment. Projected by some as a possible top-50 pick before the Combine, Overton now figures to slide into the middle rounds.