Kentucky at the 2022 NFL Draft Combine: What to expect in Indianapolis
The 2022 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 28-30 in Las Vegas. As part of their preparation for that event, hundreds of college prospects will descend upon Indianapolis this week for a pre-draft combine prior to their respective on-campus pro days.
Here’s your guide to the week ahead.
What is the NFL combine?
It’s an annual week-long event at which hundreds of college football players are medically tested and asked to perform in drills to determine their viability as an NFL Draft prospect. They also interview with NFL teams and media during the week. Historically, it has taken place at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, but beginning with the 2023 edition, it’ll be put up for bid ala the Super Bowl.
When is it?
March 1-7.
NFL team personnel will begin interviewing with the media on Tuesday. Media interviews with prospects begin Wednesday and prospect drills start Thursday. The prospect schedule, based on position groups, is:
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends: interviews Wednesday, drills Thursday.
Offensive linemen, running backs: interviews Thursday, drills Friday (specialist drills also Friday).
Defensive linemen, linebackers: interviews Friday, drills Saturday.
Defensive backs, specialists: interviews Saturday, drills Sunday (DBs only).
Is this on TV?
Does the sun rise in the East? This event exists more as a television product than an endeavor worth the investment of time by the participants; the NFL Players Association recently endorsed a possible boycott of the event, which it described as “antiquated.”
But, yes, there will be ample TV coverage via NFL Network.
How will this year’s combine be different from previous editions?
According to an NFL memo obtained by the Associated Press in January, the league wants the combine drills to better simulate game-related movement, so wide receivers and tight ends will run crossing routes and running backs will run option routes. The AP also reported that the league will no longer submit players to the Wonderlic test, an intelligence exam whose merits have been debated over the years.
Teams determined to have displayed conduct that is “disrespectful, inappropriate, or unprofessional” during interviews with prospects, for the first time, will be subject to the loss of a draft pick (between the first and fourth rounds) as well as a $150,000 fine.
How many players were invited?
A total of 324 players were invited to this year’s combine, including 82 from the Southeastern Conference, the most of any league. The Big Ten had 54 invitees followed by the Pac-12 (36), Big 12 (35) and Atlantic Coast Conference (34).
Georgia had 13 invitees, the most of any school, followed by Alabama (11), Oklahoma (11), LSU (9) and Texas A&M (9). Five schools had eight invitees: Arizona State, Cincinnati, Michigan, Ole Miss and Penn State. Kentucky had seven invitees.
Which Kentucky players were invited to the combine?
In alphabetical order, they are: Yusuf Corker (DB), Luke Fortner (OL), Darian Kinnard (OL), Marquan McCall (DL), Josh Paschal (DL), Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) and Dare Rosenthal (OL).
Who are the Wildcats’ best draft prospects?
The first UK player off the board will be Kinnard or Robinson. Kinnard throughout the 2021 season was considered a first-round or high second-round selection but has slipped to the back end of the second round in recent mock drafts; one imagines he’ll be eager to prove he’s worthy of a first-round pick this week. Robinson, too, hopes to be a riser; most mocks have him going some time in the third round.
Pro Football Focus rates three other UK players — Paschal, Fortner and McCall — among its top 150 prospects available heading into the combine.
Which Cats could be most helped by the combine?
McCall and Rosenthal enter the week with the most question marks about their ability to perform at the next level. Size has gotten both into the door, but concerns exist about McCall’s technique while maturity level is a possible red flag with Rosenthal. The latter, especially, could benefit from a good showing through the interview process.
As for McCall, his raw strength and ability to take up space should make him a factor in terms of getting onto a practice squad this fall, if not drafted late, but like former teammate Quinton Bohanna — who made the Dallas Cowboys’ roster as a sixth-round pick last year — he’s going to have to work hard to stick around.
Any other Kentuckians involved?
Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder, who played at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, hopes to be the first quarterback selected in a draft that’s light on talent at the position. He led the Bearcats to their first College Football Playoff appearance and has drawn comparisons to Alex Smith, who’s had a lengthy NFL career.
“There is nothing special about Ridder’s size or arm talent but his improved confidence and field command has really helped him mature at the position,” analyst Lance Zierlein wrote for NFL.com. “He plays in rhythm and operates with consistently repeatable footwork and mechanics. He’s intelligent and processes quickly, which should help him find where the football needs to go regardless of passing scheme.”
Two Western Kentucky players – QB Bailey Zappe and “edge” DeAngelo Malone – are likely to be drafted come April. Zappe is considered the No. 7 overall quarterback by PFF while Malone could possibly get drafted ahead of Paschal, as far as defensive ends go.
Zappe completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 5,987 yards and 62 touchdowns, both NCAA records. Malone, a “super senior,” had 94 tackles (17.5 for a loss) and nine sacks in 2021.
Louisville defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole also was invited.
