NFL hopeful Taylor Embree hauls in a touchdown pass during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. (Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE)

Beginning February 22 in Indianapolis, around 300 NFL hopefuls will gather to try to add ‘performance in a controlled environment’ to their resumes.  Already deemed worthy of an invite by a panel of scouts, these players will take a big step in solidifying their draft positioning in the minds of NFL teams.

For those who didn’t receive an invitation to the Combine, the stakes are even higher as they will look to make lasting impressions during their school’s pro day.

“This is the most important interview we’ll have in our lives,” former UCLA wide receiver Taylor Embree said after a mock run through of Combine drills organized by Denver-area trainer Loren Landow.

Of the thirty prospects at the run though, only four received an invitation to participate in Indianapolis.

“A lot of these guys are guys that have been overlooked in their careers.  We know how important this is,” said Embree who is also the son of former NFL tight end and University of Colorado head coach Jon Embree.

While relying exclusively on a school’s pro day may feel like being overlooked to a player looking to reach his dream of signing with an NFL team, it is certainly not a dead end either.

“You hear of guys getting invited to the Combine and you don’t get a Combine invite,” Embree said. “You kind of get down, but then you get here and you see the talent that’s here and how hard guys are working, and you realize not everyone goes through the same process to get to the league.”
(more…)

Oklahoma State wide receiver Josh Cooper runs with the ball after a reception in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl. (Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE)

If diamonds are only made under pressure then the NFL combine could put Cartier out of business.

For an athlete coming out of college with aspirations of making it to the NFL, the combine is the ultimate test. College statistics, wins and losses, and awards are knocked to the side as these men take to the synthetic field and interview room two weeks from now in Indianapolis.

A lot of stock is placed on how fast guys run the 40 yard dash, how many times they bench press 225 lbs., how high/far they jump, and how quickly they do the shuttle run. Then you throw them into rounds of interviews and make them take the Wonderlic test. All of this is done in front of pro coaches and scouts, and throngs of national media.

That’s pressure. That’s part of the job. That’s why many athletes hire the best in the business to get them prepared for this multi-day “audition.”

Loren Landow, the director of Sports Performance at the Steadman Hawkins in Denver has taken 30 college athletes aspiring to make it to the big stage under his wing to prepare them for the combine.
(more…)