The on-the-field work at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine starts on Thursday with the defensive linemen and linebackers hitting the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

NFL Network will televise the workouts from the annual event from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST Thursday.

The players will have the opportunity to participate in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, three-cone drill, shuttle run, bench press and position skill drills.

There are 51 defensive linemen and 34 linebackers at the combine this year.

Among the players in the Thursday group are nine with Alabama football roots:

· Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr.

· Alabama defensive tackle DJ Dale (Clay-Chalkville)

· Auburn linebacker Derick Hall

· Auburn linebacker Eku Leota

· Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe

· Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders (who played at Alabama in 2020 and 2021)

· Alabama linebacker Henry To’oTo’o

· Auburn defensive lineman Colby Wooden

· Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young

RELATED: WHY WILL ANDERSON IS THANKFUL ALABAMA DROPPED HIM INTO COVERAGE

RELATED: LIMITED BY CALF STRAIN, EKU LEOTA STILL HOPES TO IMPRESS AT NFL COMBINE

RELATED: OWEN PAPPOE WANTS TO SHOW WHY HE’S NICKNAMED ‘THE FREAK’

The defensive linemen/linebackers list also includes 18 other SEC players:

· Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks

· LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville

· Georgia defensive lineman Robert Beal Jr.

· Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter

· Florida defensive lineman Brenton Cox

· Florida defensive lineman Gervon Dexter

· LSU defensive lineman Ali Gaye

· Missouri defensive lineman Isaiah McGuire

· Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller

· LSU linebacker BJ Ojulari

· Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji

· South Carolina defensive lineman Zacch Pickens

· Ole Miss defensive lineman Tavius Robinson

· LSU defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy

· Georgia defensive lineman Nolan Smith

· Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat

· Tennessee defensive lineman Byron Young

· Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young

Almost one-third of the SEC’s 83 combine players are in the Thursday group.

First-rounders on the field on Thursday

Projections vary, of course, but among the players thought to be possible first-round picks when the NFL Draft starts on April 27 in Kansas City, Missouri, who are in the Thursday position groups are Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Auburn linebacker Derick Hall, Clemson defensive lineman Myles Murphy, LSU linebacker BJ Ojulari, Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson, Georgia defensive lineman Nolan Smith, Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White and Texas Tech defensive lineman Tyree Wilson.

Anderson and Carter are considered contenders to be the No. 1 pick – or they were until Wednesday, when Carter became the subject of an arrest warrant for reckless driving and racing in connection with the Jan. 15 wreck that killed Georgia teammate Devin Willock and recruiting-staff member Chandler LeCroy.

RELATED: JALEN CARTER SAYS HE WILL BE ‘FULLY EXONERATED’ FOR ROLE IN FATAL WRECK

Combine bests

The NFL has been holding a league-inclusive combine since 1985, but the records are sketchy for the early years of the event. Profootballreference.com has results since 2000, and these are the top performances in each of the combine drills since then:

· 40-yard dash: 4.22 seconds by Washington wide receiver John Ross in 2017 and Tennessee wide receiver Donte Stallworth in 2002.

· Vertical jump: 46 inches by North Carolina safety Gerald Sensabaugh in 2005.

· Bench press: 49 repetitions of 225 pounds by Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea in 2011.

· Broad jump: 147 inches by Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones in 2015.

· Three-cone drill: 6.28 seconds by Oklahoma defensive back Jordan Thomas in 2018.

· Shuttle run: 3.73 seconds by Iowa wide receiver Kevin Kasper in 2001.

The three-cone drill is meant to measure a player’s ability to change directions while the shuttle run tests a player’s lateral quickness.

Off the field on Thursday

Defensive backs and specialists are scheduled to meet with the NFL Players Association, hold press conferences, undergo orthopedic exams and interview with NFL team representatives.

The quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends are scheduled to undergo medical examinations and meet with the media.

The offensive linemen and running backs are scheduled to undergo pre-exams at the hospital, meet with the NFL Players Association and interview with NFL team representatives.

Who’s next?

The defensive backs and specialists take their turn on the field on Friday, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends hit the turf on Saturday and the offensive lineman and running backs get their chance on Sunday.

The Friday group includes defensive backs Jordan Battle, Brian Branch, DeMarcco Hellams and Eli Ricks of Alabama, Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) of Maryland and Darrell Luter Jr. of South Alabama and kicker Anders Carlson of Auburn.

The Saturday group includes quarterbacks Bryce Young of Alabama and Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) of Louisville, wide receivers Grant DuBose (Park Crossing) of Charlotte, Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) of Houston, Michael Jefferson (Murphy, Alabama State) of Louisiana and Jalen Wayne (Spanish Fort) of South Alabama and tight end Cameron Latu of Alabama.

The Sunday group includes offensive linemen Emil Ekiyor Jr. and Tyler Steen of Alabama, Tashawn Manning (Auburn) of Kentucky and Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore) of Troy and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama, Camerun Peoples (Clay Central) of Appalachian State, Tank Bigsby of Auburn and DeWayne McBride of UAB.

McBride and Bryce Young are among the players who will not participate in the on-the-field work at the combine.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.