HESTER: Inside the mental and physical grind of the NFL Combine

By Jacob Hester

The NFL Combine: More Than a Test

The NFL Scouting Combine is more than a test—it’s a proving ground. A gauntlet of grueling physical and mental challenges designed to push people past their limits before they ever step onto an NFL field. I know this firsthand.

The First Mental Test: The Hospital Gauntlet

The first mind game started as soon as I landed in Indianapolis. Before I could even think about drills or interviews, I spent nine unrelenting hours at the hospital undergoing every test imaginable.

I had never missed a game in my life, yet I found myself repeatedly shoved into MRI machines, examined from every possible angle, and tested for things I didn’t even know could be tested.

By the time I left, I felt like I had picked up an injury rather than proved my durability. The process was designed to break you down before you ever got a chance to prove yourself on the field.

From Running Back to Fullback: A New Challenge

Transitioning from running back at LSU to fullback at the next level was another challenge I had to embrace. I knew my strength would be under scrutiny, which made the bench press a crucial moment for me.

I was locked in—hands covered in chalk, wrists getting taped, amped up to the maximum volume—preparing to put up the kind of reps that would prove I had the power to be an NFL fullback.

Then, just as I was about to start, they pulled the rug out from under us.

“Before you bench, you’ll be taking the Wonderlic test.”

Just like that, my mindset had to shift completely from raw strength to mental sharpness. No matter how much you prepare for the Combine, it always finds a way to throw something unexpected at you.

The Whiteboard Battle with Jack Del Rio

One of the most memorable moments of my Combine experience was my meeting with then-Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.

For fifteen minutes, we went back and forth at the whiteboard—him throwing every defensive scheme imaginable at me, challenging me to diagnose how I’d react. It was a battle of wits, a relentless test of my football IQ under pressure.

The Combine may be called the “Underwear Olympics,” but make no mistake—this is the most hands-on, in-person job interview you’ll ever go through. They want to know exactly how much they can put on your plate without breaking you.

Beyond the 40-Yard Dash

Of course, no Combine experience is complete without the 40-yard dash. I wasn’t thrilled with my time, and disappointment started creeping in.

But then a Green Bay Packers scout gave me exactly what I needed to hear:

“Don’t worry about your 40. We saw you get off the ground and catch Kareem Jackson from behind after he picked off a pass in November. We all know your game speed.”

That moment put things into perspective. It’s easy to get lost in the numbers, but football isn’t played in a straight line in compression shorts—it’s played on the field, with instincts, reactions, and real-time speed.

The True Test of the NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is as much about testing your mental toughness as it is about physical performance. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and at times overwhelming.

But if you can make it through those days in Indianapolis—if you can take everything they throw at you and still perform—then you know you’re ready for the next step.

Because after the Combine, the chaos fades. And you get back to what you know best—actual football, on an actual football field.