Chapter 165: The Fruits of Hard Work
Kamara's performance was impressive, clocking a 40-yard dash at 4.56 seconds, a 20-yard shuttle at 4.35, a 3-cone drill at 7.09, a vertical jump of 39.5 inches (100 cm), a broad jump of 3.33 meters, and 15 reps on the bench press.
Not only did Kamara surpass Fournette in speed and explosiveness, but even his bench press—typically seen as his weak point—stood out. Though he couldn't match Fournette in raw strength, Kamara maintained agility while still displaying considerable power, leaving a strong impression with well-rounded data.
His metrics were excellent across the board.
Taking a closer look, Kamara was slightly slower than Fournette in the 40-yard dash, but he led in the first 10- and 20-yard segments, demonstrating superior short-distance acceleration. This showed that Kamara had better initial explosiveness than Fournette, though he lacked endurance in longer sprints—something that's not as critical for a running back, who mainly operates in short bursts of 10 to 20 yards.
Scouts and head coaches at Lucas Oil Stadium quickly took note. While everyone had been focused on the top three running backs, Kamara's breakout performance created the camp's first big surprise.
And when they reviewed Kamara's Wonderlic score, there was another surprise—
Twenty-four points, an excellent score for a running back.
In an instant, the "low-profile and under-the-radar" Kamara found himself squarely in the spotlight.
No wonder he was so exhilarated.
It was clear that Kamara had been waiting for this moment. His confidence, his pride, his ambition—they all had a foundation. Since arriving in Indianapolis, he had been targeting the "Big Three" running backs, determined to outperform them and prove himself.
This is the essence of rookie training camp. Free from team allegiances, every player has the opportunity to showcase themselves on this stage.
And Kamara had seized his moment.
Not content with just his test scores, Kamara performed a series of flips and acrobatic jumps, further showcasing his flexibility and coordination and proving he had more in his arsenal.
Then, like a victor, he strutted halfway around the field, finally coming to a stop in front of Lance and McCaffrey.
Aware that scouts and coaches were watching, Kamara didn't make any overtly provocative gestures. He simply made a "call me" gesture—thumb to ear, pinky to mouth—and looked Lance straight in the eyes, a confident smile creeping up at the corners of his mouth.
His expression and demeanor seemed to say:
Hear that? It's the sound of NFL teams calling my agent. Lines are busy; can't keep up with demand!
With light steps, Kamara retreated, grinning as he walked off, his statement loud and clear without uttering a single word.
Lance remained calm, as though he were watching a circus performance. "Nice celebration; pretty creative."
Turning, Lance noticed McCaffrey's eyes gleaming with excitement, radiating fierce competitiveness.
Youthful enthusiasm—a spark ready to ignite.
And sure enough—
Kamara's satisfaction didn't last long. Before Lance even stepped up, McCaffrey's performance hit Kamara's numbers hard.
The young, powerful McCaffrey was inspired, putting on a display that captivated everyone.
He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds, a 20-yard shuttle in 4.22, a 3-cone drill in 6.57, a vertical jump of 37.5 inches (95 cm), a broad jump of 3.07 meters, and 10 reps on the bench press.
McCaffrey outpaced Kamara in every speed metric, showcasing his lightness and agility in undeniable ways.
While he was slightly weaker in explosiveness and strength—just as expected—the difference was minor. McCaffrey made his strengths known and set himself apart, rendering Kamara's stats less remarkable by comparison.
The Big Three running backs lived up to their reputation.
Kamara's pulse quickened, his mouth dry with uncertainty. He'd thought he was impressive, but McCaffrey had just upstaged him effortlessly.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
Looking again at Lance, Kamara felt a hint of doubt.
But McCaffrey, looking relaxed and unfazed by Kamara's frustration, turned to Lance with a small smile and a tinge of regret.
"The bench press—I can usually get twelve reps in training, but I got too pumped and lost my energy early on."
"Ah, I still lack experience."
Smack!
McCaffrey gave Lance a high five, exhaling deeply with a hint of regret, though his optimism remained unshaken.
McCaffrey clenched his fist in support of Lance. "Go get it!" His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he clapped and cheered, choosing not to sit down but instead standing nearby to watch, genuine excitement in his stance.
Clearly, McCaffrey wasn't the only one. Other running backs, currently not undergoing tests, also looked Lance's way, eager to see him perform.
It wasn't just the players, either; you could sense the entire stadium's attention shifting to Lance. Everyone was waiting for this moment.
In the month leading up to this, there had been countless camps and endless rookie player data circulating, with nearly every NCAA junior and senior player mobilizing, drawing the attention of all football fans.
But Lance, who had been the season's biggest mystery, had kept a low profile, staying out of sight.
NFL insiders wondered: Was this wise?
Was Lance serious about the draft? Did he have something to hide? Why had he refused team visits?
Speculation and rumors ran wild.
As Donald Yu had predicted, the more impressive Lance's season, the wilder the attention, questions, and criticism became.
Interestingly, Lance remained grounded and calm throughout. Not only did his agent refrain from making any statements, but Saban and Burns also chose to stay silent.
This mystery only fueled speculation. By the time Lance arrived in Indianapolis, he had become everyone's imagined rival, yet the attention and anticipation surrounding him kept rising, making him the hottest focus in this year's rookie camp.
And now—
Finally!
Lance was finally stepping into the spotlight, set to reveal himself at the nationally televised rookie camp, ready to showcase the results of his secluded training.
Clearly, this was a double-edged sword.
The suspense surrounding Lance had driven NFL interest to a fever pitch. The attention on him, already intense, had now reached an all-new level. However, if Lance failed to meet expectations—even if his stats were impressive but slightly short—say fans expected a stellar score of 95, but he scored a respectable 92—he could still disappoint.
At that point, the backlash could be inevitable, potentially affecting his draft position.
Could Lance meet these expectations? Would his intensive training pay off?
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