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CASE STUDY

How Exos Prepared Kenneth Walker III for the Combine
Kenneth Walker III walking in the rain at the Exos facility.
THE CHALLENGE

Nine Weeks to Prove It on the Clock

Kenneth Walker III arrived at Exos as one of the most productive backs in college football, fresh off a Doak Walker Award season. But the combine strips the game down to raw numbers. And in the weeks between the college season and Indianapolis, a running back's draft stock can rise or fall on a tenth of a second.

Walker came in running a 4.59-second forty-yard dash. For a back with his accolades, that number didn't match his potential. The job was to close the gap between what he could do on the field and what he could prove on the clock in just nine weeks, with the draft on the line.
THE SOLUTION

One Team, One Plan

Exos built Walker a fully integrated nine-week program, with every discipline pointed at the same goal.

Instead of handing him off to separate specialists, we built one integrated team. His performance coaches, physical therapist, dietitian, and position skills coach worked as a single unit. Speed and strength work followed his recovery level. Nutrition supported the training load. Skill work kept him sharp for the position-specific drills scouts would be watching.

Every session built on the last, so nine weeks of preparation pulled in one direction instead of competing for his time and energy.
Kenneth Walker talking to his Exos coach, strategizing on technique to beat his forty-yard dash record.

A Custom-Built, Scalable Model

Exos doesn’t do cookie-cutter employee engagement solutions. Each of our programs is personalized to our clients’ unique needs, and they go far beyond just the fitness center. 
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Standardized Wellness Programs

Through rapidly changing eras including COVID-19, Exos consistently rolled out group fitness, nutritional support, mental well-being, and virtual employee engagement solutions to meet the evolving needs of employees. During Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination program, Exos teams supported operations by checking in employees and leading movement sessions in line.

Strategic Design & Build Services

Our world-class space design and development team designed and built six new facilities and renovated six existing ones across the U.S. This included redeploying $300,000 in exercise equipment assets, obtained through acquisitions, to generate significant cost savings and upgrade Pfizer’s portfolio of workplace amenities.

Service Request Platform

Exos implemented an online service request system to support streamlined coordination of Recharge Breaks and other wellness offerings. This platform has supported global program delivery across Pfizer's workforce.

Global Hybrid Expansion

Exos virtual coaching gave Pfizer employees across the globe access to wellness programming, regardless of location or remote status.

Centralized Management

Exos implemented a unified standard operating model across 14 locations to ensure a consistent member experience. This included revenue/expense management, programming, staffing, and data tracking.

Recharge Breaks Deployment

As of January 2025, Exos officially deployed the three standard Recharge Break formats (for energy, creativity, or calm) across Pfizer. These sessions are delivered by both on-site and virtual coaches. To date, the team has completed 198 sessions with a total attendance of 8,255.

Data-Driven Efficiencies

Our team implemented Net Promoter Score (NPS) tracking, utilization data, and outcome monitoring to continually measure impact and improve how we serve each member.
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THE RESULTS

0.21 Seconds That Changed His Draft

Walker's 4.38-second forty-yard dash at the combine put him among the fastest backs in a historically fast draft class, and it cemented his standing as one of the top runners available. He was drafted 41st overall, with his speed cited as a defining strength.

The clock finally matched the tape. And it was only the beginning: Four years later, Kenneth Walker III was named MVP of the championship game.

4.38

40-yard dash at the combine, down from 4.59 seconds in nine weeks

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Fitness Center Management

people-group

Centralized Operations

programming

Hybrid Programming

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Virtual Coaching

group-work

Group Exercise

nutrition

Nutrition & Wellness Integration

space-design

Space Design & Renovation

training

Personal Training

massage

Massage Therapy

recreation

Recreation Management

nutrition-plan

Nutrition Consults

meal-plan

Meal Planning

coaching

One-on-one Coaching

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Exos App

Results

Consistent quality, scaled delivery, and versatile impact.

63 NPS

vs. industry average of 26

14

centrally-operated fitness centers, expanded from 3 since 2000.

71,000+

global Pfizer employees served by Exos virtual coaching across 45 countries

8,200+

employees engaged through Recharge Breaks alone

11,000+

skin cancer screenings completed

26

melanoma cases detected

Train Where Champions Are Made

Whether your client is preparing for the combine or the next level of their career, our sport performance team builds the plan that gets them there.