Every year the Committee that decides who will receive a Combine invitation have the goal of inviting every player who will be drafted. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t happen that way and some Combien snubs will ultimately be drafted in the 3rd day despite missing that Combine Invite. Here are my Top 3 by position of Combine Snubs this year who could find their name called.
Quarterback
Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State
Chase Garbers, California
None of these QBs are likely to be drafted, but the HBCU QB in Glass has some good upside. Glass has a big arm and good build. He has flashed NFL arm talent at times and would have been a good invite. Cooper might end up switching positions, but it would have been nice to see him there. Garbers play fell off in the past two seasons, but he should make a camp.
Running Back
Stephen Carr, Indiana
CamRon Harris, Miami (FL)
Ricky Person, NC State
All from Power-5 schools, these three were a tad bit surprising. Carr had a solid career at Southern Cal before going to Indiana. And thought this year didn’t go his way, he could have a late round shot. Harris had a great 2020 season before taking a step back in 2021. He has good power and though the 40 time may not have been blazing, seeing Harris go through the drills would have been helpful.
Person may be the most disappointing for the early declare status. He was a high end recruit, but is more of a bruising RB. Outshined by Zonovan Knight this year, Person was a surprise declare after never really being the feature back at NC State. Ultimately, this likely dooms him to go undrafted.
Wide Receiver
Jaquarii Roberson, Wake Forest
Tay Martin, Oklahoma State
Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
This may have some of the most surprising snubs. Roberson was a consistent producer on the Wake Forest offense and had a good Shrine Bowl week. A good route runner and end zone target, Roberson even plays some special teams. He could still be a late round pick. Martin suffered a similar fate after a good career as a whole and an excellent Bowl game. He was a surprising exclusion.
Sterns helped set the record pace for QB Bailey Zappe who was invited to the Senior Bowl and Combine. Sterns is small and quick, so he isn’t the ideal NFL WR. Even so, a chance to showcase his speed and how he gets open would have been nice.
I was also hoping for a few small school Combine freaks in Dareke Young from Lenoir-Rhyne, Tanner Conner from Idaho State, and Jalen Virgil from Appalachian State. All 3 could have gotten some buzz from a good Combine.
Tight End
Lucas Krull, Pittsburgh
Derrick Deese Jr. San Jose State
Nick Muse, South Carolina
Two good pass catchers in Krull and Deese got snubbed. Krull is an excellent red zone target who was a big time target for QB Kenny Pickett this year. Deese may have been an even bigger snub with high end production this year at 730 yards receiving. He is a good athlete too and could have showcased it at the Combine.
Muse isn’t much of a snub, but he got some buzz here and there over the past two years.
Offensive Line
Ryan Van Denmark, UConn
Josh Sills, Oklahoma State
Doug Kramer, Illinois
The Offensive Line invite list was pretty solid. Van Denmark made the most of a bad UConn situation and has solid athleticism for his size, but some poor games probably were the nail in the coffin.
Sills is a great run blocker for Oklahoma State (who had numerous snubs on this list) but may not have the NFL athleticism. In a power scheme though, he could be a solid reserve. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up like Kevin Dotson a few years ago and goes higher than expected despite no Combine invite.
The Center depth in this class is historically bad, but Kramer is who forced now Steeler Center Kendrick Green over to Guard. He started off pretty hot this season but fizzled down the stretch. The Center group is thin at the Combine, but they didn’t seem to want to lean in on more average Centers there.
Defensive Line
Jordan Williams, Virginia Tech
Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
Eric Johnson, Missouri State
Some solid names here, especially as run defenders go. Williams and Taylor both had long careers with solid production, but they don’t leap off the page. With likely mediocre workout numbers, it is understandable why they weren’t invited.
Johnson had a solid Senior Bowl after being a fill-in invite. He flashed some ability that could get him drafted, but since it was later in the process, it likely led to him not getting that Combine invitation. Johnson’s Pro Day should have plenty of eyes on it though.
EDGE
Ali Fayad, Western Michigan
Big Kat Bryant, UCF
Arron Mosby, Fresno State
Fayad was an absolute monster at the Shrine Bowl. Since the Combine Invite list was likely decided before that, Fayad got snubbed when it could have been a huge opportunity. He is an EDGE rusher who can play in multiple schemes too. Keep an eye out for his Pro Day numbers.
Bryant and Mosby both are from G5 schools who were solidly productive this season with a history of making plays. Both rank higher for me than some who got the Combine invite. I think both could be late round picks and find their way onto active rosters.
Linebacker
Ellis Brooks, Penn State
James Skalski, Clemson
Kyron Johnson, Kansas
Brooks is one of the most surprising of all the Combine snubs. An initial Senior Bowl invite, Brooks looked like he belonged with fellow Nittany Lion Arnold Ebiketie who has been getting a ton of buzz. Though he isn’t a super athlete, Brooks has great instincts and is likely to be selected.
Skalski is another slower ILB who got passed over due to questions about having NFL athleticism. He was the heart of a tough Clemson defense this year though, and will likely fall as a high priority UDFA who will find his way into NFL production.
Johnson was another late Senior Bowl who flashed at times throughout the week. Though he is unlikely to be drafted, a Combine invite may have helped convince a team in the 6th or 7th round.
Cornerback
Gregory Junior, Ouchita Baptist
Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State
Ja’Quan McMillan, ECU
Junior was a later Senior Bowl invite who struggled through the week. After a dominating NFLPA Bowl week, Junior didn’t quite match up to the big time WR talents. Even so, he is a big, athletic CB who can be a project somewhere.
Jolly and McMillan (who was an early declare) don’t quite have NFL size and aren’t super quick either. Both may have had an outside shot at the Combine, but they will need big Pro Days to make a roster.
Safety
Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH)
Tariq Carpenter, Georgia Tech
D’Anthony Bell, West Florida
Weatherford is another very surprising omission. He is a big, fast in the box safety and even made the move to LB at the Senior Bowl (where he held up well). Once again, he may have received an invite had the votes come in after Senior Bowl week, but this is disappointing for him not to be invited.
Carpenter was a late Senior Bowl addition after dominating at the Hula Bowl. Similar to Weatherford, he is a bigger SS who could move to LB in the pros. Though his week in Mobile wasn’t great, Carpenter is intriguing enough to draft as a project type.
Finally, Bell was someone I was hopeful would get a chance to shine. He is lightning in a bottle with great closing speed and was dominating at his level of competition. Unfortunately, playing at such a small school likely hurt him.
As a whole, it was a solid Combine list, but there are a few snubs who will make an NFL impact. Is there anyone not listed who should have been invited? Tweet them at us over @DraftCountdown
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