Four (4) Gophers invited to NFL Combine


Awesome. Getting invited to the combine doesn't guarantee you will get drafted but it at least means teams want to get a good look at you.

Glad Blaise is going to get the chance to take part along with Otomewo since they were both injured during their all-star game weeks.

And hopefully Faalele and Mafe test out really well and can keep improving their draft stock. They seem like the only locks to get drafted but hopefully all 4 hear their name called during the draft.
 








I'm surprised Coney Durr didn't get an invite.....I bet he makes a NFL roster.
Only so many invites to go around and probably a lot of DBs that teams want to get a look at. I agree there is a good chance Coney finds his way onto an NFL roster.
 



If not a lock to be drafted, I will be surprised if Andries isn't selected. If he tests well and I can see him being taken very early on Day 3 or late on Day 2. Pros love positional flexibility and Andries has shown he can play well at mist any position across the line.
 


I'm surprised Coney Durr didn't get an invite.....I bet he makes a NFL roster.
Durr and then Sam Schluter have a decent chance to get drafted at the end of the draft. Both have a ton of college tape for teams to evaluate them. Durr, in particular. Teams always covet corners who can play press man on the edge and aren't afraid to tackle. I'm willing to bet Durr would rank fifth behind these top four.
 

Does anyone know the mechanics of how specific players get an invite? Is there an NFL combine committee? Do teams submit names of players they'd like to see? I'm completely ignorant of the process.
 



Does anyone know the mechanics of how specific players get an invite? Is there an NFL combine committee? Do teams submit names of players they'd like to see? I'm completely ignorant of the process.
Quick google search says there is a committee that selects the players. My guess would be teams probably submit names to this committee as well but they then make the final decisions on who gets an invite and who doesn't.
 

Durr and then Sam Schluter have a decent chance to get drafted at the end of the draft. Both have a ton of college tape for teams to evaluate them. Durr, in particular. Teams always covet corners who can play press man on the edge and aren't afraid to tackle. I'm willing to bet Durr would rank fifth behind these top four.
Never know what is going to happen in the late rounds, but even if they both go undrafted they will each have a shot of landing on some team as an UDFA. One advantage to being an UDFA is that you have a bit more freedom to try and land on a team where you will have a good opportunity of making it.
 

Does anyone know the mechanics of how specific players get an invite? Is there an NFL combine committee? Do teams submit names of players they'd like to see? I'm completely ignorant of the process.
The NFL Scouting Combine is run by Jeff Foster, who is president of National Football Scouting. He and is team are pretty inclusive about how they determine the list, taking input from all 32 teams and college coaches. They also formed a committee, people like Gil Brandt are pretty influential in the process. The end result is what everyone considers the most "draftable" players.

All of these players have been fully scouted by teams, it's just the chance to see them in person all at once. The medicals and in-person interviews are by far the most important aspects for teams.
 

Never know what is going to happen in the late rounds, but even if they both go undrafted they will each have a shot of landing on some team as an UDFA. One advantage to being an UDFA is that you have a bit more freedom to try and land on a team where you will have a good opportunity of making it.
Yeah, my post was a response to someone else about Durr. I understand how UDFA works. The point we were discussing is that Durr will likely be attractive to teams and where he ranks among Gophers prospects. Corners are hard to find.
 

The NFL Scouting Combine is run by Jeff Foster, who is president of National Football Scouting. He and is team are pretty inclusive about how they determine the list, taking input from all 32 teams and college coaches. They also formed a committee, people like Gil Brandt are pretty influential in the process. The end result is what everyone considers the most "draftable" players.

All of these players have been fully scouted by teams, it's just the chance to see them in person all at once. The medicals and in-person interviews are by far the most important aspects for teams.
I also wonder if they have a guy like Durr from a larger school/conference and another CB from a smaller conference that are rated similar, they'll take the guy from the smaller school to get a better look at him.
 
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I'm surprised Coney Durr didn't get an invite.....I bet he makes a NFL roster.
I'm rooting for Coney too. The guy has been nothing but a solid person/player for the Gopher football program all these years. After Claeys/Sawvel were gone I thought for sure he would move on, but he bought into Fleck's culture and speaks nothing but good things about our program and university.

And, unfortunately, as MNVCGUY said, only so many invites to go around. Coney, Ko, et al will have their day to shine on Minnesota's Pro Day - Wednesday, March 16 at 9:00 a.m.
 

Ko Kieft should have been one of the invitees
I would suspect that there are about half a dozen NFL teams or more that are quietly hoping nobody else has Kieft on their radar and hope he slips through the cracks. The ability to excel at a what some might say is an elite level at one particular skill (in Ko's case, blocking TE) is a valuable commodity. Zero chance he's not on a roster this August
 


.....Schluter have a decent chance to get drafted at the end of the draft. Both have a ton of college tape for teams to evaluate them.
Schlueter used the whole 6 years and had lots of exposure as a 2 year starter. He's not what you'd call a late round project and highly unlikely he's getting drafted.
 


Mafe hype continues. At this point it will be very surprising if he doesn't hear his name called by the end of day 2 and the way things are trending it seems more and more possible that he could get picked late in round 1 even.

Great pub for the U to have one of those breakout draft stars who get a lot of attention as they rocket up draft boards and projections.

Combine that with the attention Faalele already gets due to his size and this draft has the potential to be a really good one for the U in terms of mentions leading up to the draft.
 

Mafe hype continues. At this point it will be very surprising if he doesn't hear his name called by the end of day 2 and the way things are trending it seems more and more possible that he could get picked late in round 1 even.

Great pub for the U to have one of those breakout draft stars who get a lot of attention as they rocket up draft boards and projections.

Combine that with the attention Faalele already gets due to his size and this draft has the potential to be a really good one for the U in terms of mentions leading up to the draft.
True. Combine all that with Antoine, Rashod, and if Tyler can break out, Minnesota is on the national stage. Not a power yet, but also not just a 1 hit wonder. They are showing they are turning out year after year. Throw out a couple more linemen next year and maybe CRAB and maybe a running back (that's with putting zero research into who is eligible and who is actually good enough), and the U will open some national eyes more consistently.
 
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I would suspect that there are about half a dozen NFL teams or more that are quietly hoping nobody else has Kieft on their radar and hope he slips through the cracks. The ability to excel at a what some might say is an elite level at one particular skill (in Ko's case, blocking TE) is a valuable commodity. Zero chance he's not on a roster this August
Psssst! Vikings.
 


I would suspect that there are about half a dozen NFL teams or more that are quietly hoping nobody else has Kieft on their radar and hope he slips through the cracks. The ability to excel at a what some might say is an elite level at one particular skill (in Ko's case, blocking TE) is a valuable commodity. Zero chance he's not on a roster this August
Zero chance?
 




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