The three-cone drill seems simple, but it can help a fringe prospect become a big-time prospect in less than eight seconds. When the eyeballs are on you and the timing system is automatic, it provides a chance to turn heads in the NFL scouting world -- especially at key offensive positions like wide receiver and running back.
The three-cone drill is also known to the experts as the L-drill because an athlete runs a pattern much like running the shape of the letter L. How much can he accelerate, especially in a new direction? Can he control his body during a midstream change of direction? A strong showing in this drill can help an athlete’s draft status and also could improve his NFL Draft betting odds.
With the NFL Combine being canceled this spring, pro scouts turned their attention to what prospects were doing at on-campus pro days.
There are other key drills that matter when evaluating talent. The 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump, and vertical jump are also heavily scrutinized. Top prospects will train for two to three months to improve their standing in these drills.
The site DraftScout.com tracks hundreds of these pro days and is the source of our work below. NFL scouts pay close attention to this data, and it can affect NFL odds.
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The Vertical Jump - By Offensive Position
Wide Receivers
Three-cone technique -- Also known as the L-drill, the three-cone technique measures change of direction while at a high rate of speed.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of seconds):
6.42 -- Jeff Maehl, Oregon (Undrafted in 2011)
6.45 -- Scott Long, Louisville (Undrafted in 2010)
6.46 -- Dane Sanzenbacher, Ohio State (Undrafted in 2011)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of seconds):
6.51 -- Jacob Harris, Central Florida (projected HPFA)
6.66 -- Connor Wedington, Stanford (projected 7th round to HPFA)
6.67 -- Jaelon Darden, North Texas (projected 6th round)
6.67 -- Elijah Moore, Ole Miss (projected 1st round)
TOP WR PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: -800
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 6.96 (21st best for WRs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 7 overall)
Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +700
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 16 overall)
Devonta Smith, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +800
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 10 overall)
Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +5000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 6.95 (20th best for WRs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 44 overall)
Kadarius Toney, Florida
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +5000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 6.88 (13th best for WRs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st to 2nd round (No. 34 overall)
Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +8000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 48 overall)
Running Backs
Three-cone technique -- Also known as the L-drill, the three-cone technique measures change of direction while at a high rate of speed.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of seconds):
6.50 -- Chris Rainey, Florida (5th round in 2012)
6.57 -- Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (1st round in 2017)
6.62 -- Dante’ Hall, Texas A&M (5th round in 2000)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of seconds):
6.71 -- Jake Funk, Maryland (projected HPFA)
6.83 -- Michael Carter, North Carolina (projected 2nd or 3rd round)
6.83 -- Kene Nwangwu, Iowa State (projected HPFA)
6.84 -- Trey Sermon, Ohio State (projected 3rd round)
TOP RB PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Najee Harris, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +140
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 28 overall)
Travis Etienne, Clemson
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +165
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st to 2nd round (No. 33rd overall)
Javonte Williams, North Carolina
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +600
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 6.93 (tied for 8th best for RBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd to 3rd round (No. 66 overall)
Michael Carter, North Carolina
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +4000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 6.83 (tied for 2nd best for RBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd to 3rd round (No. 74 overall)
Tight Ends
Three-cone technique -- Also known as the L-drill, the three-cone technique measures change of direction while at a high rate of speed.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of seconds):
6.71 -- Nate Lawrie, Yale (6th round in 2004)
6.72 -- Dennis Pitta, BYU (4th round in 2010)
6.74 -- L.J. Smith, Rutgers (2nd round in 2003)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of seconds):
6.85 -- John Bates, Boise State (projected 7th round to HPFA)
6.90 -- Noah Gray, Duke (projected 3rd to 4th round)
6.93 -- Jack Stoll, Nebraska (projected 7th round)
6.95 -- Zach Davidson, Central Missouri (5th to 6th round)
TOP TE PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Kyle Pitts, Florida
ODDS OF FIRST TE PICKED: -10000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 7.12 (7th best for TEs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 5 overall)
Brevin Jordan, Miami (Fla.)
ODDS OF FIRST TE PICKED: +2000
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 7.57 (17th best for TEs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 3rd to 4th round (No. 107 overall)
Quarterback
Three-cone technique -- Also known as the L-drill, the three-cone technique measures change of direction while at a high rate of speed.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of seconds):
6.55 -- Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois (undrafted in 2014)
6.66 -- Tim Tebow, Florida (1st round in 2010)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of seconds):
6.95 -- Davis Mills, Stanford (projected 3rd round)
6.97 -- Brady White, Memphis (projected 7th round to HPFA)
6.99 -- Kevin Thomson, Washington (projected HPFA)
7.00 -- Ian Book, Notre Dame (projected 6th round)
7.04 -- Mac Jones, Alabama (projected 1st round)
TOP QB PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
NOTE: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance opted not to do the drill at pro days. Mac Jones (above) was by far the No. 1 elite QB prospect to attempt it (7.04 - fifth among QBs). Florida prospect Kyle Trask (7.15 seconds) was the second-best among elite prospects.
Offensive Linemen
Three-cone technique -- Also known as the L-drill, the three-cone technique measures change of direction while at a high rate of speed.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of seconds):
7.06 -- Lydon Murtha, OT, Nebraska (7th round in 2009)
7.21 -- Mike Gibson, OG, California (6th round in 2008)
7.22 -- Jason Kelce, OC, Cincinnati (6th round in 2011)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of seconds):
6.96 -- Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa (projected 2nd to 3rd round)
7.08 -- Carson Green, OT, Texas A&M (projected HPFA)
7.19 -- Matt Farniok, OG, Nebraska (projected HPFA)
7.26 -- Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota St. (projected 2nd or 3rd round)
TOP OL PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Penei Sewell, Oregon
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: -500
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 2 overall)
Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +250
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): 7.48 (17th best for OL)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 9 overall)
Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +2500
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 13 overall)
Alijah Vera-Tucker, Southern Cal
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +3500
PRO DAY 3-CONE (seconds): did not run (personal decision)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 21 overall)
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Brian McLaughlin is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of BMac and Herd’s FCS Podcast. He has covered the national recruiting scene in football and basketball for The Sporting News, headed up the PARADE Magazine High School All-America selections, and handled FCS college football for HERO Sports. Follow BMac on Twitter @BrianMacWriter.
