The BOD POD to be used for 10th consecutive year of testing at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine is a vital event on the path to the draft. More than 300 prospects are expected to participate in the 2015 Combine in their quest to achieve their NFL dreams. The event will be held from Feb. 17-23, and NFL Network will provide extensive coverage of the event.

There are very few events as polarizing as the NFL Scouting Combine. Some view it as an important factor in determining the draft's most athletic players, while others suggest it's overrated, noting that a single 40-yard dash time shouldn't outweigh two, three, or four years of game tape when deciding a player's draft stock. No matter how you feel about the event, there's no denying its massive popularity, as it has grown into one of the most watched non-game sporting events. With the Super Bowl now in the rear-view mirror, every team and every diehard fan is already focused on the draft – starting with the Combine.

2015 Combine - Schedule of On-Field Workouts

• Friday, Feb. 20: Specialists, Offensive Linemen, Tight Ends
• Saturday, Feb. 21: Quarterbacks, Running Backs and Wide Receivers
• Sunday, Feb. 22: Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
• Monday, Feb. 23: Defensive Backs

Numbers Don’t Lie

COSMED USA, Inc., manufacturer of the BOD POD® Body Composition Tracking System, will complete its 10th year of athlete body composition testing at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine being held February 18-21, 2015, in Indianapolis.

The BOD POD was adopted as the exclusive body composition measurement tool for the Combine in 2006, and has been used at each subsequent Combine for assessing the %Fat, Fat Mass, Fat-Free Mass, and Total Body Mass of all Combine athletes.

In conjunction with other measurements, BOD POD assessments have become a valuable component in the Combine evaluation process and in preparation for the Draft. The simplicity and accuracy of the BOD POD has removed the guesswork in obtaining high quality athlete body composition data, thereby establishing a “standard” in body composition assessment within the collegiate and professional athletic communities.

Having a decade of consistent historical BOD POD data on almost 3,000 Combine athletes in all positions provides important information in determining normal position-specific body composition ranges, the relation of fat-free mass to athletic performance, and the correlation between fat-free mass and longevity within the professional ranks.

2015 NFL Scouting Combine - Tests/Evaluations

1. 40-yard dash
2. Bench press (225 lb. repetitions)
3. Vertical jump
4. Broad jump
5. 20 yard shuttle
6. 3 cone drill
7. 60-yard shuttle
8. Position-specific drills
9. Interviews – each team is allowed 60 interviews in 15-min. intervals
10. Physical measurements
11. BOD POD Body Composition Assessment
12. Injury evaluation
13. Drug screen
14. Examination of the joint movement (Cybex Test)
15. Cognitive Ability Test (Wonderlic Test)

Body Composition

A decade of BOD POD testing has allowed for the determination “ideal” body composition for optimal performance and longevity based on player position. For example, teams will be looking at defensive linemen weighing on average 280 lb. with athletic skills helped by % fat values as low as 6.9% and fat-free mass as high as 287 lb.

BOD POD data from the Combine show an increase in performance from athletes who fall at or below position-specific body composition norms. This trend of relating to fat-free mass to athletic performance is known as leanness to performance. Athletes in this category consistently perform better in speed, strength, and explosiveness tests, often due to strict diet and exercise programs.

Sport Science Advantage

Results from the past 9 years (2,961 players tested) were also compared to the number of years and games played in the NFL. This analysis showed a correlation between fat-free mass and longevity in the professional ranks. This finding is of tremendous importance for the training and evaluation of players, and supports the concept that a fitter athlete will last longer.

NFL teams and NCAA programs currently using the BOD POD have a clearer picture of this draft statistic and what it may mean to a player's position on their roaster. They also have a baseline assessment for managing the diet and workout regimens of their players and succeed on the playing field.

This information has helped teams in the selection and retention of top talent as a result of a scientific approach to body composition assessment using the BOD POD and greatly benefits coaches and teams by increasing athletes’ awareness of the effect of body composition on their performance, longevity, and overall health.