The linebackers hit the weights at the NFL Scouting Combine today with the bench press. Lifting a bar with 225 pounds of weight, the players see how many times they can press the bar while other players, coaches, scouts and Front Office personnel watch with interest. The record was set yesterday by defensive tackle Stephen Paea (Oregon State), who put up an astounding 49 repetitions. The best linebacker total so far has been Ohio State's Ross Homan with 32 reps.
Disappointing were Oregon's Casey Matthews' 13 measly reps. Matthews comes from a long NFL pedigree, with brother Clay most recently bench pressing the Lombardi Trophy for his Super Bowl 45 Champion Green Bay Packers. This might not change his draft status as one of the other top rated linebacker prospects, Von Miller (Texas A&M) only put up 21 repetitions.
See the story and list of LB's who have lifted on NFL.com.