ISFL Scouting Combine

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The NSFL Scouting Combine is a week-long showcase occurring every February, college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Simulation Football League coaches, general managers, and scouts. With increasing interest in the NSFL Draft, the scouting combine has grown in scope and significance, allowing personnel directors to evaluate upcoming prospects in a standardized setting. Athletes attend by invitation only. Implications of an athlete's performance during the combine can affect their draft status and salary, and ultimately their career.

History

Prior to the inaugural NSFL season, in 2016, teams largely had to schedule individual visits with players to run them through drills and tests, or rely on the prospect showcase games that took place long before many draftees had formally submitted their eligibility declarations. As a result, the initial NSFL Scouting Combine was a somewhat rushed affair, marred by reports of erroneous timings for the 40 yard dash, and unreliable data. The combine organisers would later manage to publish accurate results from the combine events, however it was too late for this to affect draft day decisions.

For season two of the NSFL, the scouting combine was prepared. This time, their measurement systems were fully tested, and every draftee in the class of 2017 was invited. However, technical issues prevented the data from being published ahead of the draft yet again. It was not until season four that all systems were fully prepped and structured in such a way that the data was readily available to scouts prior to the draft.

Tests and evaluations

Tests and evaluations include:

Sports writers have questioned whether these tests have any relationship with future NSFL performance, but there is some evidence to suggest that high performance at the combine often does represent a strong indicator of good performance at NSFL level for certain positions. Unmeasurables also factor in, of course, such as longevity – a particular concern of NSFL GMs – and potential for improvement, which are often assessed by each team's front office via interview more than any measurable statistic provided by the combine.

Skill events

In 2043 (S28), the organisers of the scouting combine began introducing events tailored toward evaluation of position-specific skills. The first of these was the Placekicker Challenge, which allowed a real-time evaluation of a kicker's range and accuracy in a semi-competitive setting. The full list of projected skill events the organisers plan to introduce is as follows:

  • Placekicker challenge
  • QB Accuracy challenge
  • QB Distance challenge
  • Receiver challenge
  • Coverage drill
  • Corridor drill
  • The Gauntlet

Event records

40-yard dash

At the ISFL combine, the 40-yard dash is used as a test of pure speed, in which athletes start from a stationary position and run as fast as they can for 40 yards. In the history of the ISFL, the 40-yard leaderboards have been dominated by running backs (5) and defensive backs (4), with only one other position cracking the top 10 (wide receiver). Half of the highest scores were set during the first season, and the remaining five runners all participated in the S15 or later combine.

The 40-yard dash record is currently held by Boss Tweed.

Rank Year Name Position Time Notes
1 2016 Boss Tweed RB 4.23 NSFL Hall of Famer/Later moved to Linebacker
2 2016 Stormblessed WR 4.25
2 2030 Emondov Emoji DB 4.25
2 2035 Darrel Williams RB 4.25
5 2016 Reg Mackworthy RB 4.27 NSFL Hall of Famer
5 2030 Richard D'Attoria V DB 4.27
5 2016 Omar Wright RB 4.27
5 2016 Lincoln Jefferson DB 4.27
5 2031 Sam Torenson RB 4.27
5 2033 Pete Parker DB 4.27

Note that the time of 4.27 has been equaled several times since, but these athletes are not included in the above table.

Bench press

At the NSFL combine, bench press is used as a test of strength and stamina, in which athletes lift 225 pounds (102 kg) as many times as possible. In the history of the NSFL, very few players who did not play along the offensive line have managed to achieve more than 40 "reps" (repetitions), with almost all of those happening in the first two years of the league's existence. This had led to some speculation over how "clean" the results were, in terms of measurement and possible use of performance enhancing drugs.

The bench press record is currently shared by offensive linemen Tim Pest, Antonio Sandoval, Brave Ulysses and defensive tackle Dan Miller. With the validity of Pest's numbers disputed – the player was permanently banned from NSFL after serious violations of league policy[1] were uncovered prior to the 2020 ISFL season – many consider it a 3 way tie.

Rank Year Name Position Reps Notes
1 2016 Dan Miller DT 47 NSFL Hall of Famer
1 2030 Brave Ulysses OL 47
1 2017 Tim Pest OL 47 Later given a lifetime ban from NSFL for policy violations[2]
1 2018 Antonio Sandoval OL 47 Later moved to Defensive Line
5 2016 Angus Winchester OL 46 NSFL Hall of Famer/Later moved to Linebacker
5 2018 Ricardo Sandoval DT 46
5 2016 Jogn Floggity OL 46
5 2031 Ben Tu'inukuafe OL 46
5 2033 Givussafare Rubbe OL 46
9 2016 Jayce Tuck DE 45 Later suspended for one season for policy violations[3]

Vertical jump

The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement. The top nine recorded jumps were all set during 2016 (S1), with the tenth coming in 2036 (S21).

The current vertical jump record holder is Ian Bavitz.

Rank Year Name Position Height Notes
1 2016 Ian Bavitz LB 39.1 NSFL Hall of Famer
2 2016 Jayce Tuck DL 38.1 Later suspended for one season for policy violations[4]
3 2016 Hariff Ernston LB 38 NSFL Hall of Famer
4 2016 Reg Mackworthy RB 37.8 NSFL Hall of Famer
5 2016 Clee Hardrool DB 37.5
6 2016 Jaylon Lee LB 37.2 NSFL Hall of Famer
7 2016 Jonathan Saint LB 37.1 NSFL Hall of Famer
8 2016 Boss Tweed RB 36.9 NSFL Hall of Famer/Later moved to Linebacker
9 2016 Stephen Harrison LB 36.8
10 2036 Douglas Quaid DL 35.8

Broad jump

The broad jump is is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving. This list consists of nine members from the 2016 (S1) draft class and just a single member from the 2036 (S21) class.

The current broad jump record holder is Clee Hardrool.

Rank Year Name Position Distance Notes
1 2016 Clee Hardrool DB 137.9
2 2016 Hariff Ernston LB 137.3 NSFL Hall of Famer
3 2016 Josh Garden WR 137.2 NSFL Hall of Famer
4 2016 Lincoln Jefferson DB 136.1
5 2016 Ian Bavitz LB 135.7 NSFL Hall of Famer
6 2016 Reg Mackworthy RB 135.1 NSFL Hall of Famer
7 2016 Boss Tweed RB 134.8 NSFL Hall of Famer/Later moved to Linebacker
8 2016 Alex Hayden DB 134.6
8 2036 Douglas Quaid LB 134.6
10 2016 Dominic Verns DB 134.5

20-yard shuttle

The 20 yard shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodes out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

The 20 yard shuttle record is currently held by Josh Garden.

Rank Year Name Position Time Notes
1 2016 Josh Garden WR 3.9 NSFL Hall of Famer
2 2016 Reg Mackworthy RB 3.91 NSFL Hall of Famer
3 2016 Stormblessed WR 3.92
3 2016 Boss Tweed RB 3.92 NSFL Hall of Famer/Later moved to Linebacker
5 2026 Antonio Summer RB 3.95 Later given a lifetime ban from NSFL for policy violations[5]
6 2016 Omar Wright RB 3.96
6 2016 Kendrick Hendrix WR 3.96
6 2027 Aksel Danielsson RB 3.96
9 2018 Trey Willie WR 3.97 NSFL Hall of Famer
10 2016 Robert Phelps WR 3.98

3 cone drill

The 3 cone drill tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

The 3 cone drill record is currently held by Josh Garden.

Rank Year Name Position Time Notes
1 2016 Josh Garden WR 6.72 NSFL Hall of Famer
2 2016 Kendrick Hendrix WR 6.79
3 2016 Robert Phelps WR 6.8
3 2016 Bradley Westfield WR 6.8 NSFL Hall of Famer
5 2016 Clee Hardrool DB 6.81
5 2016 Hariff Ernston LB 6.81 NSFL Hall of Famer
7 2016 Jack Durden RB 6.84
7 2017 Dermot Lavelle DB 6.84 NSFL Hall of Famer
7 2036 Douglas Quaid LB 6.84
10 2016 Cooper Christmas WR 6.85

Wonderlic test

The Wonderlic Personnel Test (formerly known as the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test) is a popular group intelligence test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. It consists of 50 multiple choice questions to be answered in 12 minutes.

The Wonderlic test record is currently held by Mike Boss.

Rank Year Name Position Time Notes
1 2016 Mike Boss QB 49 NSFL Hall of Famer
2 2018 Clifford Rove QB 46
2 2016 Scrub Kyubee QB 45
2 2016 Josh Bercovici QB 45 Would later retire due to sustained concussions
2 2016 Chris Orosz QB 45
5 2016 Ethan Hunt QB 44 Would later change his name to Gosh Jarden/Moved to Wide receiver
5 2016 Jameis Christ QB 44
5 2021 Austin Roenick QB 44 Later moved to Linebacker
5 2021 Borkus Maximus QB 44
5 2021 Arbin Asipi II QB 44

It is worth noting that 44 has been tied several times since then, but these athletes are not included in this list.

Skill event records

As some skill events are decided by points tally, the best performances are noted here.

Placekicker challenge

Rank Year Name Pts %Max
1 2043 Dallas Dole 588 78%
2 2043 Rainbow Dash 571 76%
3 2043 Toy Robot 406 54%

References

  1. Link to this announcement on the forum
  2. Link to this announcement on the forum
  3. Link to this announcement on the forum
  4. Link to this announcement on the forum
  5. Link to this announcement on the forum