Remembering NFL mix viral stars, how their careers panned out

The 2024 NFL mix begins Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Participation within the mix is by invitation solely. The NFL has invited 321 prospects to run by a wide range of evaluations — together with on-field exercises — in entrance of common managers, coaches and scouts. Particular person drills start on Thursday at 3 p.m. EST with the defensive linemen and linebackers.

Via the years, standout performances on the mix have led to elevated buzz and rising shares heading into draft day.

Some outings affirm the potential that’s already recognized by draft specialists. However others can dramatically impression the start of a rookie’s profession.

This is a glance again at some viral NFL mix stars and the place they’re now.

Chris Johnson, 2008

The working again from the East Carolina Pirates turned heads throughout his mix efficiency.

He ran a then-record 4.24 seconds within the 40-yard sprint and likewise had high scores amongst working backs within the broad soar and vertical leap. Johnson’s iconic run served because the pantheon for the 40-yard sprint for almost a decade.

Simple to see @ChrisJohnson28 was going to be a particular participant after his 4.24 40.

📺: 2024 #NFLCombine begins February 29 on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/v1IyQ0gkTo

— NFL (@NFL) February 21, 2024

The Tennessee Titans chosen him with their twenty fourth total decide. Johnson lived as much as the hype, recording six straight 1,000-yard dashing seasons, together with 2,006 yards in 2009 — seventh most all-time for a person season. He additionally had an NFL-record 2,509 scrimmage yards that season.

Via a 10-year profession, Johnson made the Professional Bowl 3 times and All-Professional as soon as. He retired in 2018. Johnson’s 40-yard sprint stays probably the most viral in NFL mix historical past, however 9 years later, a large receiver topped it.

John Ross, 2017

The Washington Huskies huge receiver made it look informal throughout his record-breaking 40-yard sprint. He ran it in 4.22 seconds, surprising the NFL Community commentators and followers on social media.

Johnson tweeted three eye emojis after the sprint.

John Ross. Nonetheless the 40 king. 👑

On at the present time in 2017, @WatchJRoss set the report with a 4.22 time.

📺: #NFLCombine beginning at 4pm ET on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/6Y8HVZ4IBQ

— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2022

👀👀👀

— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) March 4, 2017

Ross did not full the remainder of the drills because of sore calves suffered through the run, however it did not impression his inventory an excessive amount of — the Cincinnati Bengals chosen him with the No. 9 total decide.

He struggled in his rookie season, showing in solely three video games with two whole targets. His lone dashing try went 12 yards however resulted in a fumble.

Ross adopted a 2018 season the place he had seven receiving touchdowns with a career-high 509 receiving yards in 2019. Out of the league after the 2021 season, Ross signed with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2023, however he retired in July of that 12 months.

Byron Jones, 2015

Speak about leaping excessive — Jones did it each actually and figuratively through the 2015 draft course of.

The UConn Huskies cornerback recorded a broad soar of 12 ft, 3 inches, surpassing the mix report by 8 inches and the world report by 1 inch. He additionally had a vertical soar of 44.5 inches, simply half an inch shy of the most effective mix mark since 2006.

Byron Jones hit 12’3″ on the broad soar again in 2015 😳 pic.twitter.com/QdeOb921bw

— PFF (@PFF) February 25, 2020

Predictably, Jones’ outing moved him excessive up the draft. Initially slated because the Twenty fifth-best cornerback by NFL.com, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the twenty seventh decide. He was the fourth nook to be taken off the board.

Jones earned a Professional Bowl and AP All-Professional second-team look in 2018 with the Cowboys. The Miami Dolphins launched him final March.

Dontari Poe, 2012

At 346 kilos heading into the 2012 mix, the Memphis Tigers defensive lineman put collectively a efficiency deemed “epic” by then-ESPN analyst Todd McShay.

Poe ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.98 seconds and had 44 reps on the 225-pound bench press, 16 above the typical for defensive tackles within the 4 earlier combines. His show caught the eye of President Barack Obama.

“They simply had the mix and so they had been speaking about some man who’s like 340 and runs a 4.8 and has a 3-foot vertical,” Obama mentioned on a 2012 episode of “The Invoice Simmons Podcast.” “I do not know what you do if a man like that hits you.”

Poe was projected in the midst of the primary spherical, however the Chiefs ended up deciding on him at No. 11 after the pre-draft course of. Poe had two Professional Bowl appearances throughout 9 seasons. The Cowboys launched him in 2020.

A high USC Trojans offensive lineman, Vorhees suffered a torn ACL within the midst of a shuttle drill, hindering his means to take part in the remainder of the mix.

However he returned the following day, convincing the staff physician to let him compete within the bench press. He missed breakfast as a result of he had a gathering with a physician, so Vorhees mentioned all he ate was a bag of Fritos earlier than the raise.

Vorhees ended up with a 2023 mix excessive of 38 reps with one wholesome knee, going viral on social media. It caught the eye of three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr J.J. Watt.

What a transfer.

Not even having the ability to plant his ft within the floor, carrying a full leg brace and nonetheless doing extra reps than anybody on the whole mix.

Would have been really easy to really feel sorry for himself, pack it in and head house.

As a substitute he does this.

🫡 https://t.co/5Vc7Q7Ibqb

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 7, 2023

The Baltimore Ravens chosen him within the seventh spherical. He missed all the 2023 season with the ACL harm.