Nfl Combine: Ohio State duo shine, dates, invites and workouts
With the college football season complete, the 2026 nfl combine stands as one of the last major chances for draft prospects to make an impact on NFL teams. Thursday’s workouts produced head-turning performances — and the event’s schedule, locations and broadcast windows have been set for the coming days.
Thursday workout highlights
Thursday’s on-field session was led by Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, former college teammates who tied for the fastest 40-yard dash times of the day. The pair finished with official times of 4. 46 seconds, and both were the fastest among linebackers, edge rushers and defensive linemen. Unofficially, both Styles and Reese posted 4. 47 times on earlier attempts; Styles produced his 4. 47 in a second attempt and was near the top of the field in vertical jump and broad jump as well.
Other standout performances included Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks, Texas Tech edge David Bailey, UCF edge Malachi Lawrence and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton. Questions also surfaced about other prospects: just how impressive was David Bailey, and why is Jermod McCoy skipping on-field drills in Indianapolis?
Nfl Combine schedule and times
The event’s public dates are listed in slightly different windows: one listing shows Feb. 23 through March 2, with on-field workouts from Feb. 26 through March 1; another listing frames the combine as taking place from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 1. Live coverage is scheduled to begin at 3 p. m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 26 and to run until 5 p. m. ET on Sunday, March 1.
Location, invites and attendance
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the home of the Colts; the combine has been staged annually in Indianapolis since 1987. The NFL invited a total of 319 prospects to attend this year’s event. Among those who scored invitations are Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles.
How to watch and stream
The combine drills, press conferences and on-field analysis are available on NFL Network, and streaming content presented by Microsoft Copilot will be available on NFL+ for connected TVs and mobile devices, including coverage of drills, live press conferences, insider analysis and breakdowns of on-field drills.
Measurements, stock reports and reaction
Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. had an arm-length measurement of 30 and 7/8 inches on Thursday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Observers in Indianapolis have already begun issuing stock reports: Chad Reuter provided a stock report from Indianapolis on who boosted their draft stock and who slipped after the first day of workouts. One notable reaction came from Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who called out NFL Network for a side-by-side look that placed his draft profile next to Sonny Styles; Hamilton tweeted "I just got brutally framemogged" on Feb. 27, 2026 using the handle @kyledhamilton_.
Mock-draft chatter has followed the on-field work. Yahoo Sports lists Arvell Reese from Ohio State as going No. 4 overall in its latest mock draft, a placement the outlet tied to his 40-yard dash performance. Analysts and writers in Indianapolis have also produced quick reads: Eric Edholm identified 21 prospects expected to showcase speed; Dan Parr offered five takeaways from Daniel Jeremiah’s combine press conference; and Bucky Brooks, in his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, projected the Jets to grab an explosive pass rusher and a playmaking pass catcher while the Rams spend two picks on one position group.
Next days of workouts
Workouts will continue through the weekend with position groups scheduled across the remaining days: tight ends and defensive backs on Friday, quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs on Saturday, and offensive linemen on Sunday. Position-specific drills will supplement the standard tests as prospects attempt to improve their draft standing with teams, general managers, coaches, scouts and player evaluators watching in Indianapolis.
Follow-up coverage and daily stock reports are expected as the combine progresses and more measurements, times and decisions emerge from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
