The NFL Combine wrapped up recently, and like every year, people are gushing over some of the freakish performances that were on display. Players like edge rusher Jordan Willis and safety Obi Melifonwu are popular names following their big numbers.

With recent draft focusing on a youth movement, the knock on Pittsburgh’s defense being “old and slow” is long gone. Over the past few years, the defensive side of the ball has gradually increased in speed and athleticism.

Combine measurements don’t always translate to on-the-field success, but a current Steeler had some of the best combine performances in history: Bud Dupree.

Dupree’s play has proven his athleticism has made him a dynamic edge rusher, and has helped transform Pittsburgh’s defense; but it all started with freakish feats at the combine.

40 yard dash: 4.56

Le’Veon Bell‘s 40 yard dash time was 4.6.

That’s not a misprint.

The fact that Dupree put up a 40 yard dash on par with a running back shows how athletic he truly is. That year he was only beat by Vic Beasley (4.53) and Kwon Alexander (4.55).

That number also would’ve had him in the top tier among the 2017 draft prospects. The only players who topped his numebrs are Jabrill Peppers (4.46) who really isn’t a linebacker, Haason Reddick (4.52), and Jordan Willis (4.53).

Vertical jump: 42.0

At the combine, Dupree had the 2nd-highest vertical jump in 2015, only bested by Davis Tull (42.5). This number is better than any number among the 2017 prospects, including the near-consensus #1 overall pick, Myles Garrett (41.0).

Vertical jump isn’t simply about high a player can jump. It measures a player’s ability to burst off of the line of scrimmage. While Dupree has struggled at times as a pass rusher, nobody has ever questioned his explosiveness.

Broad jump: 11’6″

The broad jump is where Dupree truly shines. His distance is the 5th best in the combine since 2003.

The only player with a longer broad jump than @UConnFootball DB Obi Melifonwu at the combine since 2003? His college teammate, @Byron31Jump pic.twitter.com/sAJzxyQmuQ

— NFL Research (@NFLPlus) March 6, 2017

While Dupree may not have the record number, he was also the heaviest player among the top five!

While Byron Jones may have jumped 9″ higher than Dupree, he also weighs 70 pounds more than Jones. When adjusting the performance based on weight, Dupree had the best vertical jump at the 2015 combine, beating Jones and Chris Conley.

That year, the next highest player was Davis Tull (11’0″).

Dupree beat him by a full six inches.

No 2017 prospect came close to beating Dupree’s number. The closest was Haason Reddick (11’1″) and Myles Garrett (10’8″); both first round prospects.

Conclusion

So what does this mean for the upcoming NFL Draft? Does it signal a lack of athletes?

Hardly.

This year’s draft projects to be the deepest at several positions. What the combine figures reveal is that Bud Dupree is a special athlete who has yet to be matched in several categories when comparing those statistics on an even playing field.

Yet, the fastest players, or strongest players, don’t turn out to be the best players at the professional level. Fans who have followed the Steelers for many years may remember Pittsburgh spending a second round pick on one of the fastest rookies, WR Limas Sweed, who failed to translate his quickness into an NFL career. Those same fans may be quick to also point out that Antonio Brown was taken in the sixth round, and turned out to be one of, if not the best receiver in the game today.

Regardless, Dupree’s story is still being told; but remembering he was one of the top prospects in his draft class, and holds several statistics which dominate those who have come after him, gives him a foundation of which to build that story upon.