Where is the NFL Scouting Combine?
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The NFL Scouting Combine celebrates its 30th year in Indianapolis.
The NFL Scouting Combine is an annual showcase for draft eligible college football talent to prove their physical and mental prowess to NFL scouts and coaches. It is held in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium. This year, the event, which attracts the elite players from the NCAA ranks, will take place on between Feb. 23-29.
This event bounced around between Tampa, New Orleans and Arizona in its initial years, after its establishment in 1982. Prior to the combine, individual teams had to schedule their own workouts with players. As the combine grew increasingly sophisticated it was permanently moved to it to Indianapolis.
The event was originally held in the RCA Dome. But when the Colts moved into Lucas Oil Stadium, so, too, did the combine. It has grown more involved and sophisticated than ever. While it attracts the highest caliber of athletes flocking to Indianapolis to prove their abilities to NFL scouts, there are always some that over perform and increase their draft stock. And unfortunately, there are others who do not live up to their pre-combine hype.
The more than 300 who are invited to the combine seek to impress NFL scouts on and off the field. They undergo physical drills to test their athleticism, but also meet with scouts to have their football IQ and personalities examined. They take the Wonderlic test, which is the de facto intelligence test of the event.
It is a week long test that presents itself in many different capacities. Those invited will hope to increase their draft stock, by showcasing their athleticism, intelligence and positive personality traits. The NFL scouts hope to confirm their already established perceptions of players and perhaps discover a diamond in the ruff who impresses on all fronts, despite an under the radar reputation.