At the NFL Scouting Combine, University of Kentucky Defensive Tackle David Gusta displayed an uncanny feat of strength.
He bench pressed 225lbs 37 times.
This blend of strength and endurance may be something only a seasoned gym rat can appreciate. There's no cheating here - the bar must reach the chest and arms fully extended on each one. What's even more impressive is the power he is generating; these are explosive reps.
If someone at your gym benched 225 for 37 reps you would go home and text your friends about it. Believe it or not, the combine record is 49 reps set by Stephen Paea in 2011.
Gusta also ran an impressive 4.88 40-yard dash at over 300lbs.
In a previous article, we mentioned how the scouting combine has lost its luster due to top prospects not participating.
However, it is an opportunity for players like Gusta, who has been mock drafted as a seventh round pick or undrafted free agent. A strong combine performance, as he has now delivered, can really elevate his stock.
Gusta's profile is particularly intriguing when you consider the raw athleticism packed into his 300-plus pound frame. A sub-4.9 forty time at that weight puts him in rare company among defensive tackles, and when you pair that with elite upper body strength, NFL scouts start to take notice. Teams are always hunting for late-round gems, and Gusta is quickly positioning himself as exactly that.
A good coach will be able to harness that strength and athleticism and turn Gusta into an NFL athlete. At the late stages of the draft, scouts and teams are often banking on traits they can work with, rather than the perfect prospect.
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