Some NFL scouting combine performances live on as legend

The evolution of the NFL scouting combine annually is traced back to Mike Mamula.

He is often referenced as somewhat of a pioneer.

Though he had a successful career as a defensive end from Boston College, few projected him to be higher than a third-round pick in the 1995 NFL draft.

That was before he trained for months. That was before he practiced specific drills hundreds of times so that when given the chance, he would ace everything.

That was before the combine.

Mamula – 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds – ran an absurd 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times. He jumped 38.5 inches in his vertical leap.

NFL scouts took notice. And they are likely to take notice as on-field drills begin Friday.

After astonishing the NFL personnel in attendance in '95, the Philadelphia Eagles gambled on Mamula. The projected third-rounder suddenly became the ninth-overall selection in '95.

And the combine has continued to grow in the wake of his standout performance followed by his six seasons with the Eagles.

"Mamula is the guy that set the wheels in motion for these advanced combine workouts," former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt told Paste BN Sports. "And the reason why is he's one of the first that ever went through a combine training program. He blew everybody away when he did all the drills in the combine. He was a workout wonder.

"When people realized that he prepared for the combine for two months – it's an exercise in genius is what it is: agents realized that by spending $20,000 to send them to workout clinics, that $20,000 may result in a kid getting drafted No. 1, may result in him getting drafted a round or two higher and it could be a difference of millions of dollars."

The purpose of the first few combines was strictly medical. Whereas prospects would have to fly to numerous team facilities to undergo physicals, the first combines gathered invited athletes at one place, where all NFL teams had their medical staffs present. The on-field drills for those first few combines were rudimentary – think basic calisthenics for an average physical.

Today's combine includes medical evaluations, player interviews, psychological testing and on-field workouts.

Mamula's story, however, might be the biggest catalyst in spawning an entirely new industry: pre-combine training centers.

Today, there are dozens of facilities across the county, which charge tens of thousands of dollars for their expertise in grooming prospects for the event, held every February.

Mamula didn't have the benefit of an NFL combine prep program. He simply trained with former Boston College (and current New York Giants) strength coach Jerry Palmieri, whose focus was to hone his skills in the exact combine workouts. He knew what to expect.

Essentially, he prepared for the biggest job interview of his life. It was perfect logic.

And now, more people than ever before can see this all unfold at home.

Mamula went on to play six fairly productive seasons in the NFL, all with the Eagles, and racked up 31.5 sacks and one interceptions, which was returned for a touchdown.

Here are some legendary performances that helped improve a prospect's draft stock:

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, 2009

As a receiver from Maryland with just 13 career touchdowns, Heyward-Bey was a marginal prospect in the 2009 draft. But a remarkable combine day that saw him run the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds, jump 38.5 inches in the vertical leap and excel in on-field drills launched Heyward-Bey into the first round when the Raiders picked him seventh overall.

Where are they now?: In six seasons with the Raiders, Colts and most recently the Steelers, Heyward-Bey has collected 12 career touchdowns. His best season came in 2011 with 975 receiving yards including four touchdowns. He caught three passes for 33 yards in 16 games with Pittsburgh this season and is set to become a free agent.·

Chris Johnson, RB, 2008

Coming out of Eastern Carolina University in 2008, Johnson was considered to be a very good running back prospect. But his showing at the combine introduced him to the nation. Johnson is still the record holder for the fastest electronically-timed 40-yard dash mark with 4.24 seconds. To be sure, Johnson would've been drafted within the first three rounds. But his record-setting combine propelled him to the 24th selection in '08 by the Tennessee Titans.

Where are they now?: Johnson did claim some history in his time with the Titans, becoming just one of the seven players in NFL history to have cracked 2,000 rushing yards in a single season when he logged 2,006 in 2009. Johnson has rushed for 8,628 career yards and has scored 60 total touchdowns in six seasons with Titans and one with the Jets, who just declined an option on Johnson, making him a free agent.·

Vernon Davis, TE, 2006

Coming out of Maryland, he was always considered an exceptional athlete. But by the time Vernon Davis left Indianapolis, he was a guaranteed top 10 pick. He composed one of the best all-around combine performances in the history of the event, running a 4.38 second 40-yard dash, bench pressing 225 pounds 33 times and jumping an astonishing 42 inches in the vertical leap. That's part of the reason why the 49ers selected Davis with the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

Where are they now?: In nine seasons with the 49ers, Davis has experienced highs and lows. He has caught 423 passes for 5,446 yards and 55 touchdowns. But in 14 games this past season, Davis registered career lows in yards (245) and touchdowns (two). He's under contract in San Francisco for one more season.

Matt Jones, WR, 2005

Though he played quarterback at Arkansas, Matt Jones knew he would have to change his position to get drafted. And auditioning as a wide receiver, Jones lit up the combine. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound Jones ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, jumped 39.5 inches in the vertical leap and lunged 10-feet-10-inches in the broad jump. Despite the lack of experience at the position, the Jaguars plucked Jones in the first round with the 21st overall selection.

Where are they now?: In four seasons with the Jaguars, Jones played in 54 games, but started only 15. He caught 166 passes for 2,153 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Jaguars released Jones in 2009 after multiple substance abuse issues and a questionable work ethic. Jones received interest from other teams, but never played another game in the NFL.

Deion Sanders, CB, 1989

This was perhaps the greatest show of swagger at the combine. The story goes that Sanders arrived late and had to be talked into running the 40-yard dash. It was the only drill he participated in. He ran a hand-timed 4.27 and didn't stop. He reportedly kept running through the tunnel and into the locker room, Brandt once wrote. Sanders didn't need to do anything else. The Falcons selected him with the fifth-overall pick in the '89 draft.

Where are they now?: Currently working as an analyst for NFL Network, Sanders is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a remarkable 14-year career. Though he primarily played defense, Sanders scored 22 touchdowns with five teams, most notably the Falcons, Cowboys and the 49ers. Sanders collected 53 career interceptions.

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