2016 NFL Combine Bench Press Analysis: Linebackers

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2016 NFL Combine Stock Report:
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2016 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
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2016 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
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2016 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
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This is the 2016 NFL Combine Bench Press Recap for the linebackers. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.



2016 Combine: Bench Press Analysis – Linebackers

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

  • For a point of comparison, here are some of the totals from other recent linebacker prospects:

  • Demario Davis 32
  • Luke Kuechly 27
  • Chris Borland 27
  • Denzel Perryman 27
  • Ryan Shazier 25
  • Khalil Mack 23
  • Bruce Irvin 23
  • Shane Ray 21
  • Lavonte David 19
  • Trent Murphy 19
  • Dante Fowler 19
  • Anthony Barr 15

  • UCLA’s Myles Jack is the favorite to be the first linebacker selected, and he cranked out 19 reps of 225 pounds. Jack (6-1, 245) was heavier than expected, but in a good way. Jack’s bench press total wasn’t alarming, but it wasn’t impressive.

  • The leader of all the linebackers was Clemson’s B.J. Goodson. He totaled 30 reps. The 6-foot-1, 242-pounder showed some impressive strength to get his Combine started well.



  • The second-highest total came courtesy of Miami’s Raphael Kirby. He churned out 27 reps in a good performance. Kirby needs to differentiate himself at the Combine and force teams to take notice, so the bench press was a nice start.

  • Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright (6-0, 239) dropped weight for the Combine, and maybe that hurt his bench press output. Still, Wright totaled 22 reps, which is a respectable amount. Wright needs a good Combine with a clean medical evaluation.

  • Considering Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker (5-11, 227) is undersized, it was impressive that he totaled 23 reps on the bench press. Other lineman who weighed around 250 didn’t pop the bar up as much as Striker did, so this illustrates that Striker has put time in the weight room. However, on the down side, it makes you wonder if his frame is maxed out, and he won’t be able to add much more weight in the NFL.



  • There were two underwhelming totals from early-round picks in Ohio State’s Darron Lee and USC’s Su’A Cravens. Lee (6-1, 232) had 17 reps, while Cravens (6-1, 226) posted 16 reps. It would be nice to see each one get to 20 reps at their pro days.

  • Kentucky linebacker Josh Forrest (6-3, 249) was a thumper who is a physical defender in the tackle box. As a big middle linebacker, it was surprising that Forrest finished dead last with 11 reps. That is an alarming total for Forrest. He needs to improve on that significantly at his pro day.









    Back to the 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Combine Page.



    2016 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2016 NFL Combine Stock Report:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2016 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2016 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2016 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
    RB | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2016 NFL Combine Previews:
    Day 1: OL and RB | Day 2: QB, WR and TE | Day 3: DL and LB | Day 4: DB

    2016 NFL Rumor Mill:
    Rumor Mill by Pat Yasinskas | Rumor Mill by Tony Pauline









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