Oregon's Jeffrey Maehl didn't show off explosive speed or strength at the NFL Combine, but he did do something nobody else has done before at the event. On Sunday, working out with the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs, Maehl set an NFL Combine record in the three cone drill, completing the exercise in just 6.42 seconds. That's faster than Patrick Peterson, Cam Newton and the rest of the NFL Draft prospects that had scouts drolling over their athleticism.
The three cone drill leaderboard wasn't necessarily littered with the burners or physical freaks, but instead allowed players who can get in and out of cuts and accelerate quickly to shine. Peterson, a consensus top-five pick, was among the best, as was Shiloh Keo, a relative unknown out of Idaho. Like the 40-yard dash, the top performers in the three cone drill were exclusively defensive backs, running backs and wide receivers, the shiftiest groups in the combine.
Here's a look at the best, led by Maehl's combine record.
Jeffrey Maehl, Oregon 6.42
Buster Skrine, Tennessee-Chattanooga 6.44
Dane Sanzenbacher, Ohio State 6.46
Terrence Tolliver, LSU 6.48
Chykie Brown, Texas 6.50
Cecil Shorts, Mount Union 6.50
Shiloh Keo, Idaho 6.55
Patrick Peterson, LSU 6.58
Curtis Brown, Texas 6.59
Marshall Williams, Wake Forest 6.61
Vincent Brown, San Diego State 6.64
Davon House, New Mexico State 6.65
Aldrick Robinson, SMU 6.65
Greg Salas, Hawaii 6.65
Graig Cooper, Miami 6.66
Among the leaders, there's an interesting mix of possession receivers and speedy cornerbacks, among others. For players such as Salas, Maehl and Sanzenbacher, the argument can be made that the three cone drill was the most important part of the workout as it allowed them to show their ability to get in and out of breaks and make quick, fluid cuts. The three clearly rose to the occasion, putting up some of the best times of the combine.
For more results from the workouts, check out the rest of our 2011 NFL Combine StoryStream. To connect with Oregon fans, check out SB Nation's Addicted To Quack.