The NFL Draft Combine’s official record in the bench press category belongs to former Oregon State defensive lineman and NFL veteran Stephen Paea, who boosted 49 reps of the standard 255 pounds to claim the record in 2011’s version of the event that was, until this year, held annually at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Though the official combine record is secure for at least another year, given the league’s suspension of the 2021 scouting showcase amidst the ongoing pandemic, University of Georgia offensive line prospect Ben Cleveland is nonetheless coming for Paea’s crown.
Reports of Cleveland’s weight room exploits are legion around UGA, and indications are that those close to the situation expect the Senior All-SEC guard to challenge Paea’s record on the bench, a mark that has withstood all comers for a decade.
In fact, word has begun to bubble up from within the program that Cleveland has surpassed the 49 rep mark as part of his preparation for Georgia’s Pro Day, which is scheduled to take place in Athens on March 17.
Though it is unclear the extent to which claiming such a record might impact his standing ahead of April’s NFL draft, a strong showing could serve to contextualize the strength, endurance, and level of training apparently in his on-field performance.
Is Cleveland’s strength apparent in his play as NFL Draft approaches?
Even a cursory look at Cleveland’s collegiate game film speaks to the on-field application of his training efforts. A monster of a prospect, standing 6-foot-6 and tipping the scales at 354 pounds, he consistently leverages both his length and functional strength to his advantage in overwhelming opposing defenders at the point of attack.
Very capable of moving the opponent in front of him in the running game, he also demonstrates a great understanding of spacing and angles by squeezing down on inside-shaded defenders and walling off inside threats in his zone-blocking assignments. Neither is Cleveland a slouch in terms of pass protection, where he gets into his sets quickly and uses his noticeable upper body strength to jam incoming rushers while working his grip to establish an inside position.
In the event that the results of his pro-day performance spur league talent evaluators to take another look at Cleveland’s film, there is a good chance that they will like what they see. While he is not a top interior offensive lineman in this year’s class, he’ll certainly gain some steam if he smashes the bench press record.