ISFL Scouting Combine

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:

• 40-yard dash
• Bench press (225 lb repetitions)
• Vertical jump
• Broad jump
• 20-yard shuttle
• 3 cone drill
• The Wonderlic test

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 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
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

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
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
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.

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%