Despite no suit, NFL publishes full list of 323 prospects who have earned invitations



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The last NFL event not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the cancellation of the 2021 combine, the league released a list of players who would have deserved invitations.

From top quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, the almost certain first pick in Jacksonville’s overall draft and Justin Fields of Ohio State to guys who served last season as Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, there are 323 players from 100 schools.

While they won’t have the chance to be seen and examined at Indy, the fact that they’re on this list means there will be interest in them in late April and the NFL Draft.

Instead of running 40-yard dashes, lifting weights and doing other activities, many on national television, on the combine, players will be evaluated on professional days across the country. Some have even participated or will attend mini-combines that are not NFL sanctioned.

Fields would have had 13 Buckeyes combine teammates, the most for any school, followed by Georgia with 12, Alabama and Notre Dame (11 each) and Florida (9).

Cornerbacks received the most invitations with 44, including all Americans Shaun Wade of Ohio State and Patrick Surtain of the Alabama national champion. Offensive tackles are next most popular with 36; that position was a stronghold of the 2020 draft and could be led by Sewell again this year.

Other potential first-round quarterbacks on the list include Zach Wilson of BYU, Trey Lance of North Dakota State and Mac Jones of Alabama.

There’s even a guest long snapper: Thomas Fletcher of Crimson Tide.

Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith and Tide teammate Jaylen Waddle are among the big receivers who would have been at the combine, along with her All-America counterpart Elijah Moore of Mississippi.

Several FCS and Lower Division schools have players on the roster, including North Dakota State, Illinois State, Grambling State, Nicholls State, Central North Carolina, northern Iowa, Charleston (Division II), central Missouri (Division II), and Wisconsin-Whitewater (Division III).

Prospects are already tested at unsanctioned events that the NFL has banned officials from attending. At the EXOS mini combine in Arizona, wide catcher Rashod Bateman of Minnesota, guest at the combine, used a hand-timed 40 and a 4.39 laser. DE Milton Williams of Louisiana Tech, also guest at Indy, had a 35 inch vertical jump and ran a 4.63. And Tylan Wallace, the much-loved Oklahoma state sniper, ran a 4.39.

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