Of all the football players from Alabama’s high schools and colleges who’ve tried to reach the pros, which one has had the best vertical jump at the annual NFL Scouting Combine?

A new group of players will have an opportunity to become the answer to that question next week in Indianapolis, where the NFL Scouting Combine will be held for the 36th time.

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For the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, players will arrive for testing and interviews in four groups and will be on the field from March 2 through 5.

Since 2000, the best vertical jump by a player with Alabama football roots is 42.5 inches, which was accomplished by Ameer Abdullah in 2015.

The combine’s vertical-jump record is 46 inches by North Carolina safety Gerald Sensabaugh in 2005.

One of the six measurable drills administered at the combine, the vertical jump is intended to measure leg strength and lower-body burst. Perhaps surprisingly, the drill is considered particularly insightful for defensive linemen.

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Records from the early combines can be sketchy, but complete data is available starting with the 2000 event. These are the top 10 vertical jumps since that year by players with Alabama football roots:

1. Ameer Abdullah, Homewood High School: 42.5 inches

After the 2015 combine, the Detroit Lions drafted the Nebraska running back in the second round. He was the NFL’s top kickoff returner as a rookie and led Detroit in rushing in 2015 and 2017 around a two-game, injured-shortened season. In 2018, Abdullah had only one rushing attempt while playing for the Lions and Vikings but has come back to work over the past four seasons as a reserve running back and special-teamer for Minnesota, the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders. Abdullah has 1,594 yards and six touchdowns on 413 carries, 144 receptions for 1,076 yards and eight touchdowns and an average of 24.6 yards on 142 kickoff returns during his career.

2. Mark Anderson, Alabama: 42 inches

After the 2006 combine, the Chicago Bears drafted the defensive end in the fifth round. He had 12 sacks as a rookie and 10 sacks for the Patriots in 2011, his next-to-last NFL season.

2. Kerry Rhodes, Jess Lanier High School (Bessemer): 42 inches

After the 2005 combine, the New York Jets drafted the Louisville safety in the fourth round. Rhodes intercepted 23 passes in eight seasons, starting all but two of his 118 games.

2. Henry Ruggs III, Lee High School (Montgomery), Alabama: 42 inches

After the 2020 combine, the Las Vegas Raiders chose Ruggs with the 12th pick in the draft, making him the first wide receiver chosen that year. In his rookie season, Ruggs caught 26 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and ran nine times for 49 yards. In his rookie season, Ruggs caught 26 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and ran nine times for 49 yards. In 2021, Ruggs had 24 receptions for 469 yards and two touchdowns in seven games when his season abruptly ended after he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death following a fatal traffic accident in Las Vegas. Ruggs still is awaiting a preliminary hearing in his case.

5. Sammie Coates, Leroy High School, Auburn: 41 inches

After the 2015 combine, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the wide receiver in the third round. Coates didn’t play much as a rookie, but he was leading the NFL in yards per catch in 2016 before broken fingers derailed his production after the fifth game. Coates caught six passes for the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and one for the Houston Texans in 2018. He played for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020 and signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League earlier this month.

5. Jamel Dean, Auburn: 41 inches

After the 2019 combine, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted the cornerback in the second round. Dean hardly played with Tampa Bay’s defense in the first half of his rookie season. But after starting five of the final six games, he finished tied for fourth in the NFL with 17 pass breakups. In 2020, Dean started seven regular-season games and four playoff contests, including Tampa Bay’s 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. He’s intercepted two passes in each of the past two seasons as a regular in the Bucs secondary.

7. Jeremiah Moon, Hoover High School: 40.5 inches

After the 2022 combine, the Florida linebacker was not drafted. Moon spent the 2022 season on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, and he signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January.

7. Siran Neal, Eufaula High School, Jacksonville State: 40.5 inches

After the 2018 combine, the Buffalo Bills drafted the cornerback in the fifth round. Neal has played in 80 regular-season games with one start in his five seasons. He’s played 522 defensive snaps all over the Bills’ secondary and 1,372 special-teams plays in those games. Neal also has played in eight postseason games.

7. Carlos Rogers, Auburn: 40.5 inches

After the 2005 combine, the Washington Redskins drafted the cornerback with the ninth pick. Rogers started 123 games in 10 seasons and was a Pro Bowler in 2011.

7. Darius Slayton, Auburn: 40.5 inches

After the 2019 combine, the New York Giants drafted the wide receiver in the fifth round. A hamstring injury delayed Slayton’s debut to Game 3 of the season, then he caught 48 passes for 740 yards and eight touchdowns. No rookie from Auburn had ever caught more than five TD passes in the NFL, and no rookie in 2019 caught more TD passes than Slayton did. He followed his rookie campaign with 50 receptions for 751 yards and three touchdowns in 2020 before posting 26 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. In 2022, Slayton bounced back to lead the Giants in receiving yards for the third time in four seasons as he had 46 receptions for 724 yards and two touchdowns.

7. Ben Tate, Auburn: 40.5 inches

After the 2010 combine, the Houston Texans drafted the running back in the second round. He suffered a broken ankle in his first preseason appearance and missed the 2010 season. Tate returned to spend three seasons as Arian Foster’s backup, and injuries to Foster gave him the opportunity to run for 942 yards in 2011 and 771 yards in 2013. But after becoming a free agent, he played for the Browns, Vikings and Steelers and rushed for 390 yards in 2014, his final season.

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