Of all the football players from Alabama’s high schools and colleges who’ve tried to reach the pros, which one did the most repetitions in the bench press 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.

In the bench press, one of the six measurable drills administered at the combine, each participant seeks to press 225 pounds as many times as he can.

The record for the most reps by a player from an Alabama high school or college was established by Evan Mathis at 35 in 2005 and tied by Carl Lawson in 2017 and Braden Smith in 2018.

The combine record in the bench press is 49 repetitions by Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea in 2011. At the 2022 combine, Boston College guard Zion Johnson had the most bench-press reps with 32.

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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 bench-press performances since that year by players from Alabama high schools and colleges:

1. Carl Lawson, Auburn: 35 reps

After the 2017 combine, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted the defensive end in the fourth round. Lawson led the NFL’s rookies with 8.5 sacks and earned a place on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team. A knee injury ended his second NFL season prematurely. Lawson rebounded with five sacks in 2019, and in 2020, he had 5.5 sacks and finished second in the NFL with 32 quarterback hits. In 2021, Lawson signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the New York Jets in free agency, but he missed the season after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon in training camp. Lawson bounced back with seven sacks for the Jets.

1. Evan Mathis, Homewood High School, Alabama: 35 reps

After the 2005 combine, the Carolina Panthers drafted the guard in the third round. He was an All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler twice in his 12 NFL seasons.

1. Braden Smith, Auburn: 35 reps

After the 2018 combine, the Indianapolis Colts drafted the guard in the second round. Smith entered the lineup as the right offensive tackle in the fifth game and played every snap there the rest of the way, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie team. Smith has remained Indianapolis’ right tackle in the four seasons since.

4. Robert McCune, LeFlore High School (Mobile): 34 reps

After the 2005 combine, the Washington Redskins drafted the Louisville linebacker in the fifth round. He played in eight games in three NFL seasons and also played in the Canadian Football League.

4. Mookie Moore, Fayette County High School, Troy: 34 reps

After the 2000 combine, the Washington Redskins drafted the guard in the fourth round. He played in eight games in three NFL seasons.

4. Fred Weary, Lee High School (Montgomery): 34 reps

After the 2002 combine, the Houston Texans drafted the Tennessee guard in the third round. He played six seasons, with 43 starts, for Houston, losing almost two seasons to injuries.

4. Gabe Wright, Auburn: 34 reps

After the 2015 combine, the Detroit Lions selected the defensive tackle in the fourth round. Wright played in 15 games with four teams over his first four seasons. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2018, but he’s currently playing for the D.C. Defenders of the XFL.

8. Greg Robinson, Auburn: 33 reps

After the 2014 combine, the St. Louis Rams drafted the offensive tackle with the second pick. He moved into the starting lineup as the left offensive tackle halfway through his rookie season and spent two more seasons there before being traded to the Detroit Lions in 2017. Robinson played six games before an injury ended his time with the Lions, but he made a comeback by playing every snap at left offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns in the second half of the 2018 season and starting 14 games there in 2019. A free agent in 2020, Robinson was not signed after being charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana after being stopped in Texas while transporting approximately 157 pounds of it, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

8. Bryan Thomas, Minor High School (Adamsville), UAB: 33 reps

After the 2002 combine, the New York Jets drafted the defensive end with the 22nd pick. Thomas played 11 seasons with the Jets as a defensive end and outside linebacker, appeared in 157 games with 104 starts and recorded 33.5 sacks.

10. Eddie Freeman, B.C. Rain High School (Mobile), UAB: 32 reps

After the 2002 combine, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted the defensive end in the second round. He played in 20 games over two seasons with Kansas City.

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