Six Mizzou football players earn NFL Combine invitations, two for KU
Six former Missouri football players were invited to the NFL Combine, announced by the league on Friday. It’s the next step for prospects to showcase skills in front of scouts along with interviewing with teams ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The six former Tigers invited are quarterback Kelly Bryant, offensive lineman Trystan Colon-Castillo, offensive lineman Yasir Durant, defensive lineman Jordan Elliott, linebacker Cale Garrett and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.
The trio of Colon-Castillo, Elliott and Okwuegbunam left Mizzou early, forgoing eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.
The NFL Combine takes place Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis. Then it’s the NFL Draft, which will be April 3-5 in Las Vegas.
A total of 337 players were invited to the showcase, where executives, coaches, scouts and other personnel from all 32 NFL teams convene.
Aside from physical tests — from the 40-yard dash, cone drill, bench press, etc. — there are also interviews with teams. In the past, the combine has had a reputation of teams asking tricky, unorthodox questions to see how a prospect reacts and answers.
While an invitation to the NFL Combine is a positive step to getting drafted, it’s not an end-all, be-all metric. Several draft-eligible Mizzou players were not invited, including cornerback DeMarkus Acy, wide receiver Johnathon Johnson, offensive lineman Tre’Vour Wallace-Sims, kicker and punter Tucker McCann and wide receiver Jonathan Nance.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t get drafted. After the NFL Combine, there are also pro days, where draft-eligible players work out in front of scouts in one of the final phases before the draft.
Each of Mizzou’s six combine participants were also given a grade and quick scouting report from NFL analyst Lance Zierlein. Garrett didn’t have either listed as he missed the majority of the 2019 season with a pectoral injury.
Here’s what those grades and scouting reports looked like:
Kelly Bryant. 6-3, 225. Grade: 5.40, priority free agent. Zierlein: “He has NFL size and toughness, but the tape does not work in his favor and his chance may come as an undrafted free agent.”
Trystan Colon-Castillo. 6-4, 315. Grade: 5.40, priority free agent. Zierlein: “Sawed off center-only prospect lacking contact balance and functional length for prolonged battles against NFL size.”
Yasir Durant. 6-7, 330. Grade: 6.14, good backup who could become starter. Zierlein: “Durant is somewhat limited as a mover and isn’t going to excite many teams as a run blocker, but his length and anchor strength in pass protection is what will be most appealing.”
Jordan Elliott. 6-4, 315. Grade: 6.38, will be starter within first two seasons. Zierlein: “Elliott is scheme-diverse and offers high upside with the talent to become a starter in Year 1 or 2.”
Albert Okwuegbunam. 6-5, 255. Grade: 6.30, will be starter within first two seasons. Zierlein: “Scouts question his overall toughness as a player, but the potential is very high, which makes him a classic boom-or-bust prospect.”
Two Kansas players were also invited to the combine: offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji and linebacker Azur Kamara. Adeniji was graded a 5.90, projected to be a backup or special-teams player. Kamara was not listed with a grade. No player from Kansas State earned an invite.