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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Triplett NFL Combine Diary
2/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Former Golden Gopher linebacker Nate Triplett has been preparing for an opportunity to play in the National Football League since shortly after the Gophers returned from the Insight Bowl on Jan. 1, 2010. A few weeks later, he found out he would be invited to the NFL Combine, which began Wednesday in Indianapolis.
The Combine is a job fair of sorts for prospective professional football players. Players go through physical examinations, X-rays, interviews with team personnel, measurements (height, weight, arms, hands, the Wonderlic Test and a meeting with representatives of the NFL Players Association before they get to the physical testing. That physical testing consists of the 40-yard dash, a three-cone drill, 20-yard and 60-yard shuttles, bench press repetitions at 225 pounds, vertical jump and the broad jump.
Triplett was preparing for his trip to Indianapolis Wednesday when he filed the diary report below. Triplett, former teammates Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence and the rest of the linebackers will begin their NFL Combine experience Friday. Former Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker reports to Indianapolis Thursday.
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Nate Triplett, NFL Combine Diary - Feb. 24, 2010
To be honest, things have not been much different than what workouts during the off-season would have been like at school. There has been more of it and a whole lot less school, obviously, since I already graduated.
Other than the location, it has been mostly the same stuff. I've just really been focusing on trying to get bigger, faster and stronger.
We usually have our first workout at about 9 o'clock until Noon-ish. We have lunch and then we have a couple hours in the afternoon to do things we need to do. Then, we'll lift again in the afternoon, usually around 4 and that's another two-and-a-half or three-hour workout.
Filling my spare time is a little different in a new environment, here in Chicago. We've gone out a couple times with the trainers and done things like bowling. There have been a lot of movies. It's just harder for me to find something to do since I'm new to the area.
I've been tapering off with the workouts a lot. Last week was a tougher week. But this week, I'm just doing a lot of cardio work and making sure my footwork is good ... nothing real strenuous.
I shouldn't say I've gotten bigger. I've actually shed a couple pounds since I've been training here. Getting faster and quicker is one of the biggest things for the Combine. The 225-pound bench press reps are the only real strength test. Dropping a couple pounds has maybe gotten me an extra step on my speed and quickness.
I feel really good about the way I have trained for it. I feel like I've gotten stronger. Numbers-wise, I'm not really sure. The times we've done testing here have been when we were pretty beat up, so it has been hard to tell. I think I'm actually quite a bit stronger. It will be good to see what I'm able to do in Indianapolis.
I haven't done a lot of mental preparation for the Combine. I have done the Wonderlic before, back at school. With meetings and interviews, I did a lot of that stuff in Texas at the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game. That was kind of a practice run for the Combine when it comes to talking to the teams. Of course, I'll be talking to a lot more people at the Combine.
I'm doing all right physically. I had an ankle problem during the season and I spent the first couple weeks up here really focusing on rehab with the ankle. I played on it the rest of the season. So when I got here, I wanted to make sure it would not be a problem. It's fine now. I feel really good.
I'm very excited to go to Indianapolis and the Combine. It's a real accomplishment and is exciting when you get that invitation. I'm still excited about it. I think it will be a real good experience for me.
It will be great to get out there with all those other guys who are being looked at just like I am. It should be good experience and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Whatever happens, happens. I feel like I've prepared the best I can.
- as told to Andy Seeley
