Kentucky Wildcats Shine at NFL Combine

Jager Burton and Jalen Farmer post impressive performances ahead of NFL Draft

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Former Kentucky offensive linemen Jager Burton and Jalen Farmer turned heads at the 2026 NFL Combine, with Burton ranking as one of the most athletic centers in Combine history and Farmer posting elite testing numbers among offensive guards. Both players are expected to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Why it matters

Kentucky's football program has struggled in recent years, but the strong showings by Burton and Farmer at the Combine demonstrate that the Wildcats still have elite-level talent on their roster. Their performances could help raise the profile of the Kentucky program and lead to more NFL draft selections in the future.

The details

Jager Burton, a former Kentucky center, ran a 4.94-second 40-yard dash, jumped 9'3" on the broad jump, and posted a 28-inch vertical leap. These numbers ranked him as the 6th most athletic center in the Combine's RAS (Relative Athletic Score) database since 1987. Meanwhile, Kentucky guard Jalen Farmer also impressed, running a 4.93-second 40-yard dash, the 4th fastest time among offensive linemen. The NFL ranked Farmer as the 4th highest-performing guard at the Combine, giving him an elite RAS score.

  • The 2026 NFL Combine took place in early March 2026.
  • Jager Burton and Jalen Farmer are eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in April 2026.

The players

Jager Burton

A former center for the Kentucky Wildcats football team, Burton is considered one of the most athletic centers to ever test at the NFL Combine based on his impressive performance in drills like the 40-yard dash and vertical leap.

Jalen Farmer

A former offensive guard for the Kentucky Wildcats, Farmer also had a standout performance at the NFL Combine, posting one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among offensive linemen and earning an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) from the league.

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What they’re saying

“Jager Burton is a OC prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.91 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 7 out of 676 OC from 1987 to 2026.”

— RAS.football (Twitter)

“The #Patriots met with Kentucky IOL Jalen Farmer at the Combine, per @thepatriotsbeat. The 6'5 312-pound guard started 2 years on the right side and measured in with 34 1/4" arms. Farmer described Mike Vrabel as 'intense' during their meeting.”

— Carlos A. Lopez (Twitter)

What’s next

Both Jager Burton and Jalen Farmer will look to continue impressing NFL teams in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, where they are expected to be selected on the third day.

The takeaway

The strong performances by Burton and Farmer at the NFL Combine show that Kentucky still has elite-level talent on its roster, despite the team's recent struggles. Their success could help raise the profile of the Kentucky football program and lead to more NFL draft selections in the future.