The chance of seven Oregon seniors furthering their football careers has been extended to at least Feb. 21-27.
Defensive players Blair Phillips, JD Nelson and Matt Toeaina and offensive players Jordan Kent, Enoka Lucas, Palauni Ma Sun Jr. and Dante Rosario were invited to the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Phillips performed the strongest in big games this season, including 14 tackles against Oklahoma and the blocked kick that sealed the improbable win. For the season the standout linebacker recorded a team-high 105 tackles, two sacks, an interception and both a forced fumble and recovery.
Nelson made 88 tackles this season, including three sacks. The hard-hitting free safety also intercepted a pass and forced and recovered a fumble.
Toeaina brought senior leadership to the defensive line, while adding 36 tackles and a fumble recovery against Stanford in the first game of the season.
Offensively, Kent showed improvement in only his second year on a football field. He recorded the second most yards, 491 on 44 catches, and he showed he could have big games. The senior had two 100-plus yard receiving games, while reeling in four touchdowns. Kent’s speed and size make him a strong prospect for NFL scouts.
The only problem for Kent is he’s facing a three to four month layoff because of a foot injury during the Dec. 21 Las Vegas Bowl.
Rosario’s numbers were strong as a tight end and special teams player. He caught 42 catches for 426 yards and a touchdown.
Offensive linemen Lucas and Ma Sun Jr. helped the Ducks get off to a strong start this season offensively. The pair protected quarterback Dennis Dixon as the Oregon offense began the season as one of the top units in the nation.
The combine is an opportunity for football players from all over the country to be sized up by representatives from the 32 NFL teams.
The National Invitational Camp, which originated in 1982, invites at most 335 players to showcase their skills.
The seven Ducks will participate in eight different events, including the 40-yard dash to test speed and explosion, the bench press that requires pressing 225 pounds as many times as possible, the vertical and broad jump, the three-cone agility drill, the 20- and 60-yard shuttles and drills specific to a player’s position.
Players describe the physical measurements as being “poked and prodded.” They are measured for height and weight as well as arm and hand length. Linemen and running backs are also measured for body fat percentage.
The Combine process doesn’t end there, though.
NFL team representatives conduct interviews with certain players and each team is given the opportunity to interview 60 of the prospects in attendance.
One of the more controversial tests conducted at the Combine is the Wonderlic, where players answer 50 questions in 12 minutes. The NFL’s 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tennessee Titans’ Vince Young, had his ability questioned because it was initially reported that he scored very low, answering just six questions correctly. It was later found that he scored slightly higher.
Players are also subjected to injury evaluations and urine tests.