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NFL combine drills explained: Shuttle run

The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas.

USA TODAY Sports

The NFL combine features a variety of drills, but what do they all mean? Next we're going to explain the shuttle run.

The shuttle run is one of the combine's many cone drills and is sometimes referred to the 5-10-5 drill. It's referred to the 5-10-5 because the athlete's are required to run 5-yards out of a 3-point stance, touch a line, turns and run 10-yards and touch another line, then pivot and back 5 more yards to the finish.

It's a drill that typically can measure the lateral quickness and explosion of an athlete in short areas. It's a great drill for defensive backs, especially corners, who are often expected to cut and change directions at a moments notice. Ideally, you want most of the back seven in your defense to score good times in the drill.

Typically a great time for a player is sub 4.0 seconds in the drill and generally defensive backs, wide receivers, and running backs are going to score the best. Sometimes however, defensive ends can score highly on the drill such as Seattle Seahawks 2012 first round pick Bruce Irvin, who did the shuttle in 4.03 seconds.

Record holder: Kevin Kasper with a 3.73 in the 2001 combine.