The on-the-field work at the 2024 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.

Of the players in Thursday’s position groups, 29 are designated as edge rushers, 25 as linebackers, 24 as defensive tackles and three as defensive ends.

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

· Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell

· Alabama defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe

· Auburn defensive tackle Marcus Harris (Park Crossing High School in Montgomery)

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· Ole Miss edge Cedric Johnson (Davidson High School in Mobile)

· Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers

· Troy edge Javon Solomon

· Alabama edge Dallas Turner

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· Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville High School)

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

· Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper

· Mississippi State defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy

· Missouri linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper

· Arkansas edge Trajan Jeffcoat

· LSU defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson

· Georgia defensive tackle Zion Logue

· Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson

· LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith

· Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace

Last year, almost one-third of the SEC’s 83 combine players were in the Thursday defensive linemen/linebackers group. This year, it’s down to 21 percent of the conference’s 75 representatives.

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 25 in Detroit who are in the Thursday position groups are defensive tackles Byron Murphy II of Texas and Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois; edge rushers Dallas Turner of Alabama, Laiatu Latu of UCLA, Jared Verse of Florida State, Chop Robinson of Penn State and Bralen Trice of Washington; and defensive end Darius Robinson of Missouri.

At this point, no player designated as a linebacker at this week’s combine is expected to be a first-round choice in this year’s draft. Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper could be the first linebacker selected, but it probably won’t be until the second round.

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 compiled 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 tight ends are scheduled to meet with the NFL Players Association, hold press conferences, undergo orthopedic exams and interview with NFL team representatives.

Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs are scheduled to undergo medical examinations and meet with the media.

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

The Friday group includes cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) of Missouri, Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry (Pinson Valley) of Alabama, Khyree Jackson (Alabama) of Oregon, DJ James (Spanish Fort) and Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) of Auburn, Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) of Georgia and Ro Torrence (Bessemer City, Auburn) of Arizona State; and safeties Jaylen Key (UAB) of Alabama and Jaylin Simpson of Auburn.

The Saturday group includes quarterback Bo Nix (Pinson Valley, Auburn) of Oregon, wide receivers Javon Baker (Alabama) of UCF and Jermaine Burton of Alabama, and running back Jase McClellan (Alabama), Keilan Robinson (Alabama) of Texas and Kimani Vidal (Troy).

The Sunday group includes guard Javion Cohen (Central-Phenix City, Alabama) of Miami (Fla.), tackles Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) of UCF and JC Latham of Alabama, and kicker Will Reichard of Alabama.

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