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 38th time.

For the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, players will arrive for testing and interviews in four groups and will be on the field from Feb. 27 through March 2.

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

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

Abdullah’s jump is one-half inch better than three other players with Alabama football roots, including Alabama defensive end Mark Anderson. Anderson measured 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine. Abdullah checked in at 5-9 and 205 pounds in 2015.

At last year’s combine, Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner joined the top 10 of the Alabama-roots vertical-jump rankings, which, because of ties, now includes 14 names. Turner had a 40.5-inch effort at 247 pounds.

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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.

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. Abdullah has 1,994 yards and eight touchdowns on 494 carries, 203 receptions for 1,468 yards and 11 touchdowns and an average of 25.1 yards on 151 kickoff returns during his career, which reached its 10th season in 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders.

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 New England 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 2020 draft. 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. In a plea agreement, Riggs pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled or prohibited substance resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2023, to no less than three years and no more than 10 years in state prison.

RELATED: HENRY RUGGS III NOW INCARCERATED 1 MILE FROM WHERE HE PLAYED FOR THE RAIDERS

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.

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. In the past four seasons, Dean has started every game he’s played and signed a four-year, $52 million contract after the 2022 season.

7. Jakorian Bennett, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (Mobile): 40.5 inches

After the 2023 combine, the Las Vegas Raiders drafted the cornerback in the fourth round. The former Maryland standout has played in 24 games, with 11 starts, in two seasons.

7. Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama: 40.5 inches

After the 2023 combine, the San Francisco 49ers drafted the cornerback in the fifth round. A knee injury kept him off the field until the 10th game of the season. He saw mainly special-teams work after that, including in the 49ers’ two victories in the NFC playoffs and the 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Injuries limited Luter to three games in 2024

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, then played in eight games, with one start, for the Ravens in 2023 and 13 games, with one start, for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.

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 114 regular-season games with one start in his seven seasons. He’s played 625 defensive snaps and 2,086 special-teams plays in those games. Neal also has played in 10 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. After leading the Giants in receiving yards as a rookie, Slayton did the same in the 2020, 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2024, Slayton had 39 receptions for 573 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.

7. Dallas Turner, Alabama: 40.5 inches

After the 2024 combine, the Minnesota Vikings drafted the pass-rusher with the 17th pick. Turner played a reserve role for Minnesota as a rookie. He recorded three sacks and intercepted one pass.

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