Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Draft Invites

It wasn't too long ago that only a handful of college players were invited to New York for the NFL Draft. Then the NFL got the brilliant idea to invite a bunch. And they have. Yesterday the league announced that 30 prospects have confirmed they will attend the draft, the most ever. Here they are:

Blake Bortles  QB  Central Florida
Johnny Manziel  QB  Texas A&M
Teddy Bridgewater  QB  Louisville
Jimmy Garropolo  QB  E. Illinois
Greg Robinson  OT  Auburn
Jake Matthews  OT  Texas A&M
Taylor Lewan  OT  Michigan
Morgan Moses  OT  Virginia
Cyrus Kouandjio  OT  Alabama
Sammy Watkins  WR  Clemson
Mike Evans  WR  Texas A&M
Odell Beckham  WR  LSU
Brandin Cooks  WR  Oregon St.
Marqise Lee  WR  USC
Jordan Matthews  WR  Vanderbilt
Cody Latimer  WR  Indiana
Eric Ebron  TE  North Carolina
Jadeveon Clowney  DE  South Carolina
Kony Ealy  DE  Missouri
Timmy Jernigan  DT  Florida St.
Ra'Shede Hageman  DT  Minnesota
Kahlil Mack  LB  Buffalo
C.J. Mosley  LB  Alabama
Ryan Shazier  LB  Ohio St.
Justin Gilbert  CB  Oklahoma St.
Kyle Fuller  CB  Virginia Tech
Jason Verrett  CB  TCU
Bradley Roby  CB  Ohio St.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix  S  Alabama
Calvin Pryor  S  Louisville

No running backs! This game sure has changed. I'd heard that Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald had turned down an invite. As did his teammate, quarterback Tom Savage. I assume that UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr did the same. He most certainly would have been extended an invitation. Some of these players want to spend this big event in a more personal setting with family. Hell, Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas was fishing when he got the call from the Cleveland Browns in 2007. Next time we see these players will be in Radio City Music Hall with their dreams about to come true.




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