NFL Combine 2012: Top 10 Scouting Combine Performances of All Time

Oftentimes, the NFL's Scouting Combine is one of the first topics to arise in draft conversation.

Fans, players and evaluators salivate over the telling numbers these future NFL players produce every season. The resulting numbers are certain to be linked to the prospect that produced them for his entire NFL career.

While it may not be the defining factor in a player's grade or future in the NFL, the combine is a rare chance for players to compete with the entire class on the same field. The NFL is an athlete's league and there is no part of the process more revealing than this.

Great performances can be blinding to NFL decision makers, but they can also separate the elite from the unworthy.

So who had the 10 best performances of all time? Where are those players now?

10.) Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland

As for offensive linemen, former Maryland OT Bruce Campbell was the most freakish athlete I've ever seen participate in Indy.

Campbell measured in at 6'6 3/8" tall, with 36.5-inch arms. Length wise, that's as ideal as a offensive tackle can be. Only a handful of offensive linemen show up every combine with this type of size. Even fewer put up numbers like Campbell in what are normally skill position drills.

In the 40-yard dash, Campbell was able to score among most tight ends with a 4.85 second time. For a guy that weighed in at 313 lbs., 4.85 is booking it. That's what we call a big man moving.

Campbell's 32-inch vertical leap was also an impressive number, considering that it wasn't that far behind some defensive back numbers.

Overall, Campbell did things that guys that size aren't supposed to do. That's how he made this list, but his performance was indicative of the future he'd go on to have in the NFL.

Not only did Campbell's services last until the fourth round, but he's only played in 14 games for the Oakland Raiders. Campbell might be the most athletic reserve in the entire NFL.

9.) Matt Jones QB/WR, Arkansas

Matt Jones' performance is significant not just because of his stellar numbers, but because of the position transition it sparked.

At Arkansas, Jones was a talented signal-caller. However, his style of play was unrefined and didn't translate to the NFL.

However, after blowing up the combine, the Jacksonville Jaguars decided he could play a different position.

Jones came into the combine at 6'6", which would eventually become an indicator to Jacksonville that he could be a trend-setting weapon. The former Razorback clocked a freakish 4.37 time in the 40, which was a legit jaw-dropper for NFL scouts.

To be 6'6" and to run like that is unheard of. His 39.5-inch vertical cemented him as an elite NFL WR prospect.

Jones went on to be the 21st overall selection and never lived up to that combine hype. After struggling with substance abuse, Jones' inconsistent tenures with Jacksonville and Cincinnati were both short lived.

8.) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB, Tennessee State

When the name Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie started to come up, conversation wasn't about his athletic ability. Hey, isn't he Antonio Cromartie's cousin?

Yes, Dominique is Antonio Cromartie's cousin. It didn't take Rodgers-Cromartie long to make a name for himself.

At the NFL Combine, Cromartie came into Indy with question marks. He left with one of the combine's best performances of all time. Rodgers-Cromartie was able to defensive back bests in the three-cone drill and the shuttle. His 40 time was among the elite's with a 4.33. To add to the speed, the former 1-AA star hopped a whopping 38.5 inches vertically and 10'11" in the broad jump.

Rodgers-Cromartie went on to be a top-20 pick by the Arizona Cardinals and produced a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2009. The Cardinals were forced to trade him to Philadelphia in a deal that landed them QB Kevin Kolb in the 2011 offseason.

"DRC" has a promising future with the Eagles to say the least.

7.) Vernon Gholston DE/OLB, Ohio State

Coming into the 2008 NFL Draft, Vernon Gholston had all the promise of being one of the NFL's elite pass-rushers.

He later reaffirmed that notion by putting up some gaudy digits at the combine.

Gholston measured up at 6'3", 266 lbs and shocked everyone watching with his performance.

Ohio State has produced some special athletes, but Gholston is among the best. His sub-4.6 40 time, 41-inch vertical and 37 repetitions of 225 lbs all screamed pass-rushing phenom.

The Jets didn't argue, as they took him with the sixth pick in the draft. New York's front office was ecstatic to have such a polarizing athlete available at that pick.

Needless to say, Gholston never scratched the surface of his potential as he is known as one of the biggest draft busts of all time. Defensive genius Rex Ryan couldn't revitalize his career when he took the head coaching job in New York. The Chicago Bears tried and failed, too.

Gholston's performance was enough to land him a spot on this list, but it might be the only non-bust-related list he ever makes.

6.) Adam Archuleta FS, Arizona State

Coming into the combine, Archuleta was a marginal prospect at the safety position.

All that changed after the Arizona State Sun Devil was able to combine a 4.42 40 with a vertical just shy of 40 inches. Rarely do you see prospects come and post numbers in every category that are eye-popping—that's just what Archuleta did. His bench press numbers were off the charts also, as he put up 225 lbs a staggering 31 times.

After impressing everyone in all NFL circles, the stud was able to make himself the 20th overall pick to the St. Louis Rams.

Archuleta's career wasn't stellar, but he contributed for St. Louis, Washington, Chicago and Oakland.

5.) Chris Johnson RB, East Carolina

Out of the lowly East Carolina, Chris Johnson wasn't given the attention he deserved. He made that obvious in Indianapolis.

Johnson's performance was mainly defined by his blazing 40-yard dash time of 4.24 seconds. That's an absolutely ridiculous time and the Tennessee Titans saw what Johnson could be.

What doesn't get mentioned was Johnson's overall numbers at the combine. He ranked in the top half of every category for his position, including  a 10'10" broad jump.

Tennessee was able to justify taking a risk on Johnson with the 24th pick, a risk that later paid off in a big way.

Johnson went on to win a rushing title in 2009, and make multiple pro bowls. His combine performance goes down as one of the best ever. Johnson might do the same as a player.

4.) Mario Williams DE, NC State

Mario Williams is currently one of the NFL's best football players. It all started with a gutsy decision, helped by his amazing display at the combine.

Scouts around the league were aware of the fantastic ability Mario Williams had, but no one could have projected the numbers he posted in Indy. Williams was able to clock a sub-4.7 40 time, which, at 6'6", is stellar.

Williams added to an awkwardly impressive 40 by recording the highest vertical leap at the combine with 40.5 inches. In the bench press, Williams vaulted himself into the ranks as the strongest guy by throwing up 35 repetitions.

Houston Texans GM Charlie Casserly sifted through the trash by picking the future perennial Pro Bowler in Williams. Casserly passed on a disappointing Reggie Bush and an immature Vince Young to select Williams.

In the end, Williams' combine performance went a long way to helping the Houston Texans get their franchise on track with the No. 1 overall pick.

3.) Darrius Heyward-Bey WR, Maryland

By most accounts, Darrius Heyward-Bey was a third- to fourth-round WR prospect coming into the combine. However, like most of the guys on this list, Heyward-Bey's stock boomed after his league-shaking showing.

Heyward-Bey's hands were in question before the draft, but he took the doubters' minds off his deficiencies by rocking the 40. He recorded a combine-best 4.3-flat and in the process, caught the eye of a certain owner with a weakness for speed.

Oakland GM Al Davis decided to move Heyward-Bey up from a third-round player, to the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. That's what makes Heyward-Bey's combine performance so special. He was able to hop up to the top of the draft based on his amazing display.

Unfortunately, Heyward-Bey's combine didn't define the rest of his career. So far, he's been a massive disappointment for Oakland, often being a liability with his obvious talent to drop everything.

2.) Vernon Davis TE, Maryland

To this day, Vernon Davis' performance still gets brought up during every combine. It was by far the best show of athleticism a tight end has ever shown at this level.

At 6'3" and 255 lbs, Vernon Davis has size that allows him to do many things at the NFL level. However, what separates Davis from the rest of the league is his 4.38 40-yard dash. That's a time most defensive backs would kill to have.

He combined his record-setting 40 time with another record: a 42-inch vertical bound that was the best I've ever personally seen a tight end display.

Davis' career-altering performance justified his worth as the No. 6 overall pick of the San Fransisco 49ers. The third Maryland Terrapin on this list was a great selection, as most would argue he's turned into the NFL's best tight end.

1.) Calvin Johnson WR, Georgia Tech

Coming out in the 2007 NFL Draft, everyone involved was aware that we had a special player on our hands.

Calvin Johnson is one of the best WR prospects of all time. In the evaluation process, Johnson was able to show the ability to be all a WR can be.

At the combine, the plan for Johnson was to pass on running the 40 because he had nothing to gain. He was already regarded as one of the best prospect the class had to offer. Johnson decided to borrow another participant's cleats and he proceeded to clock a stunning 4.35 40 with someone else's shoes on.

Johnson's 6'5" frame is impressive, but what he did with his frame is more impressive. The Georgia Tech alumnus was able to show off his 11'7" broad jump, which was just short of the world record. His vertical was in excess of 42 inches.

All this success did translate, as Johnson is now one of the NFL's best players.