Thanks for keeping us updated David!

David Mooney ‏@Owlsportswatch 6m6 minutes ago
Former Owl DL @ccovingtondt has been invited to the 2015 NFL Combine. Congrats big guy! #dowork #NFLpipeline

Excellent

I thought he wasn't expected to be healthy enough to participate in the on-field testing? Does this mean he is just there for the interviews and physical? Should we assume that Callahan and Taylor were not invited?

(01-28-2015 10:44 PM)mrbig Wrote:  I thought he wasn't expected to be healthy enough to participate in the on-field testing? Does this mean he is just there for the interviews and physical? Should we assume that Callahan and Taylor were not invited?

The official invite list will be out the first week of February. I was told that a few athletes can be invited up until the list is posted. They save some slots incase others invited either don't accept or change their mind and decline up until the deadline. So there is still a chance they could get invited.

(01-28-2015 10:44 PM)mrbig Wrote:  I thought he wasn't expected to be healthy enough to participate in the on-field testing? Does this mean he is just there for the interviews and physical? Should we assume that Callahan and Taylor were not invited?

Even if he can't participate in the on-field portion, being there for the interviews and physical is better than not being there for the interviews and physical!

3 interesting tweets from Vance Bedford this morning...very powerful regarding the number of players to make to the NFL.

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Vance Bedford ‏@CoachBedfordUT 4h4 hours ago
. Statistically of the 100,000 high school seniors who play football every year, only 215 will ever make an NFL roster. That is 0.2%!

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Vance Bedford ‏@CoachBedfordUT 4h4 hours ago
9,000 players that make it to the college level only 310 are invited to the NFL scouting combine

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What is the percentage of college players that make it into the NFL?
Answer
As of 2012, it is 2.4%.

Good news!

Congrats to Christian! Good luck!

Congrats, Christian! Exciting news.

Well the official NFL combine list is out and Bryce and Jordan did not get invited....I don't understand. They will need to really bring it at Rice's Pro Day. I know they will do well! Here is a link that says they were snubbed....I totally agree http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-d...-surprises

While I wish him the best of luck, I wonder if Covington is making the best decision by coming out early, especially after a season mostly missed to injury. If he has a legitimate chance of playing his way into a first round slot next year, it seems worth the risk. He'll clearly be drafted, but I don't think it would be anywhere near the first round. He's too much of a risk with the current injury. With these rookie contracts, where you are drafted is big deal in how you are paid for the first 4 years in the NFL.

I am surprised that Callahan and Jordan didn't get invited. Callahan is probably being snubbed for his size, but he can change scouts' minds if he gets the chance. Like our heralded TEs of late (with one just starting in the Super Bowl!), I never thought Jordan Taylor was fully utilized in Bailiff's offensive scheme. His size must interest some scouts, but his stats are solid but not amazing. He'll have to prove his value, probably as an undrafted free agent.

I am amazed that QBs Rakeem Cato and Taylor Heinicke didn't get invited. Given the success of Russell Wilson, why aren't proven gamers like them getting more attention, even if they are on the small side. I figure they are just as much as a prospect as Johnny Manziel.

(02-08-2015 06:41 AM)Bay Area Owl Wrote:  While I wish him the best of luck, I wonder if Covington is making the best decision by coming out early, especially after a season mostly missed to injury. If he has a legitimate chance of playing his way into a first round slot next year, it seems worth the risk. He'll clearly be drafted, but I don't think it would be anywhere near the first round. He's too much of a risk with the current injury. With these rookie contracts, where you are drafted is big deal in how you are paid for the first 4 years in the NFL.

I am surprised that Callahan and Jordan didn't get invited. Callahan is probably being snubbed for his size, but he can change scouts' minds if he gets the chance. Like our heralded TEs of late (with one just starting in the Super Bowl!), I never thought Jordan Taylor was fully utilized in Bailiff's offensive scheme. His size must interest some scouts, but his stats are solid but not amazing. He'll have to prove his value, probably as an undrafted free agent.

I am amazed that QBs Rakeem Cato and Taylor Heinicke didn't get invited. Given the success of Russell Wilson, why aren't proven gamers like them getting more attention, even if they are on the small side. I figure they are just as much as a prospect as Johnny Manziel.

1. Covington was NEVER projected for the 1st round. The highest he has ever been projected was late 2nd round/early 3rd. With his multiple injuries over the past couple years, I suspect he's now more likely to go no earlier than late 3rd round, but more llikely the 4th round or even the 5th. Keep in mind most DTs in the NFL are considerably bigger physically than he is.

2. I'm not a Johnny Football fan, but comparing Cato and Heincke to him is ridiculous. You do realize the level of competition faced by Manziel is just slightly better than that faced in CUSA...and Marshall's OOC schedule the past several seasons have been amongst the absolute weakest in D-1 play.

3. IMO, Taylor will be drafted, but largely for his size and athleticism. He does drop a lot of passes, and has to greatly improve his route running to be effective in the NFL.

I just wish both Bryce and Jordan got invited to the combine. Bryce is smoking fast and would have been as lucky as Phillip at the combine in the 40 and the cone drills. He would have opened eyes and climbed up the draft board. He will show his stuff at Pro day. All he needs is a opportunity and he will make a roster....I really believe this. I think his size may hurt a bit but he is so perfect for the nickel back. He has quick feet. Phillip said playing nickel is really hard at the NFL level. There is so much to learn, so much area to cover and the slot receivers are so dang quick. I also believe Jordon will get drafted. So excited for them (Bryce, Christian and Jordan)!!! Does anyone know when Rice will have their Pro day?

1. Size wise, Covington is where he needs to be. Last year's top DT pick from Boston College was about the same size, even shorter than Covington. Injuries have interfered with most of Covington's collegiate career, and the injury history is his biggest drawback on his draft status. If he had a great, injury-free 2015, he could easily jump into the first round. He's still young, but he's unlikely to go too high in this draft. Even if he makes the NFL, he won't make the big money for a while.

2. Manziel is already well on his way to being a bust, but mobile creative quarterbacks are increasingly prized. Manziel's shortcomings were obscured at A&M by perhaps the best O-line in D1 and big target receivers that could open up running lanes downfield. Cato and Heinicke made it work with far less talent around them. They were also far more disciplined than Manziel. Manziel's lack of discipline is clearly a huge problem, and the Browns would do better gambling with a prospect like Cato or Heinicke than with Manziel at this point.

3. Callahan has a better chance of sticking a NFL roster than Taylor. Taylor might be a late pick, but he still has to prove himself at a high level. He'll have to shine in camp and hope roster circumstances work in his favor.

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler was not drafted or invited to the combine. Something to keep in mind for Callahan and Taylor.

(02-08-2015 06:41 AM)Bay Area Owl Wrote:  I am surprised that Callahan and Jordan didn't get invited. Callahan is probably being snubbed for his size, but he can change scouts' minds if he gets the chance. Like our heralded TEs of late (with one just starting in the Super Bowl!), I never thought Jordan Taylor was fully utilized in Bailiff's offensive scheme. His size must interest some scouts, but his stats are solid but not amazing. He'll have to prove his value, probably as an undrafted free agent.

I am amazed that QBs Rakeem Cato and Taylor Heinicke didn't get invited. Given the success of Russell Wilson, why aren't proven gamers like them getting more attention, even if they are on the small side. I figure they are just as much as a prospect as Johnny Manziel.

If you read the article that OwlMom15 linked to, you'll see why from the very first position entry, for quarterbacks. Heinicke is the "featured snub" in this category, while the "featured surprise" is Prairie View A&M's Jerry Lovelocke. You're excused if you haven't heard of Lovelocke - here's how his 2014 stats compare with Heinicke's:

Player, Attempts, Completions, Percentage, Yardage, Touchdowns, Interceptions
Lovelocke 351 201 57.3 2473 16 9
Heinicke 457 289 63.2 3476 30 16

That's all well and good, but for NFL scouts the most important numbers are these:

Player, Height, Weight
Lovelocke 6'5" 245
Heinicke 6'1" 213

Scouts love projectibles. Lovelocke has "NFL size"; Heinicke doesn't. Lovelocke gets a combine invitation; Heinicke doesn't. It's that simple. Bryce Callahan is in the same boat as Heinicke. Jordan Taylor's non-invitation is more mysterious in that he does have projectible NFL size. Nevertheless, at worst each of them will get a free agent contract with some NFL organization and will have the opportunity to prove themselves against NFL competition.

Hadn't heard much about Christian so I looked him up on NFL.com

Quote:SOURCES TELL US "I thought Christian was an early third-day selection, but could have really improved his status if he had stayed another year. With that said, all bets are off until he gets medical clearance because of that knee." -- AFC South scout

Hmmm.....

(02-23-2015 11:20 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  Hadn't heard much about Christian so I looked him up on NFL.com

Quote:SOURCES TELL US "I thought Christian was an early third-day selection, but could have really improved his status if he had stayed another year. With that said, all bets are off until he gets medical clearance because of that knee." -- AFC South scout

Hmmm.....

Guess its too late to call a "kings X"?? lol
Best of luck to him