Georgia's NFL Combine Freaks: Remembering the Best Performances from Bulldogs in Indy
Georgia is one of the most elite NFL pipelines. Every year, the NFL Draft is littered with former Bulldogs. Most of that has to do with their play on the field, but every now and then, a former Georgia player will boost his draft stock by putting on a show at the NFL Combine. Here are some of the best from the past.
Chris Conley - 2015 - 45 inch vertical
Chris Conley had a solid career at Georgia, but his name was certainly not at the top of the list for wideouts in 2015. His best chance at boosting his draft stock was putting on a show at the combine, and did he ever. Conley measured in at 6-foot-2, ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, and jumped 11'7" in the broad jump, but his most incredible moment came when he jumped an astounding 45 inches in the vertical. The number tied him for third all-time in NFL Combine history and helped boost him to a third-round pick.
Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia defensive lineman Nolan Smith (DL45) participates in drills during the NFL combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Owens - 2010 - 44 reps on bench
Big Jeff Owens was ahead of his time. Georgia is now known for having freaks like Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter prowling on their defensive fronts, but before them came Owens. At the 2010 Combine, weighing 300 lbs, Owens ran a 4.95 40-yard dash, jumped 30 inches in the vertical, and hit a 9'2" broad jump. It was on the bench that he would create his legacy, however. Owens repped out 225 lbs 44 times, good for fourth all-time.
Nolan Smith - 2023 - 4.39 40-yard dash
NFL Network's Rich Eisen summed this one up the best, pointing out that Nolan Smith became the heaviest player to ever run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history. Smith put on a show during his workouts, hitting 41.5 inches on his vertical and 10'8" on his broad jump, but a 4.39 40 at 238 pounds is different.
