Five Hokies get early invitations to NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine won’t take place until the end of February, but five Virginia Tech seniors tweeted yesterday that they’ve already been issued invitations to it.
Linebacker Bruce Taylor, wide receivers Marcus Davis and Corey Fuller and offensive tackles Nick Becton and Vinston Painter accepted invitations to participate in the week-long showcase for potential NFL draft picks in Indianapolis from Feb. 20-26.
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Combine invitations are usually only given to players who have a chance to be drafted. According to NFLDraftScout.com , Taylor, who came back from a Lisfranc injury in 2011 to make 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks his senior year, is the No. 10 inside linebacker prospect in the class.
Davis finished with 953 receiving yards, nine shy of Andre Davis‘ single-season record at Virginia Tech. He also had five touchdowns. Fuller, who took on a bigger role when D.J. Coles went out with a season-ending knee injury, put up a surprising 815 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns, playing his way into consideration at the next level.
They’re ranked as the No. 25 and 28 receivers, respectively, in the draft field by NFLDraftScout.com.
Becton and Painter were constants on the left and right sides of Virginia Tech’s injury-ravaged offensive line, quietly putting together solid seasons. NFLDraftScout.com lists them as the No. 24 and 51 tackles in the class.
Davis is projected as a sixth-rounder by the website, which has Taylor and Fuller as 6th or 7th rounders. Becton’s listed as a possible 7th round pick/free agent and Painter isn’t listed with any projection, although all of that could change with a solid showing in the combine, where NFL general managers, coaches and scouts scour talent prior to the draft.
Three more Hokies underclassmen — quarterback Logan Thomas, defensive end James Gayle and cornerback Antone Exum — could get invites if they decide to forgo their senior season and submit their name in the draft. They have until Jan. 15 to do so.
Four Hokies were invited to last year’s combine — running back David Wilson, cornerback Jayron Hosley and wide receivers Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin. The first three were drafted and Boykin latched on with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, making the team’s roster.
An official list for the 2013 combine should be released later this month or in early February.
January 1, 2013 - 12:51 AM
Davis shouldn;t even go. I believe he will hit all the marks on the metrics but I wouldn;t draft him.
Thank God M Davis didn’t break A Davis’ record.
Best wishes to all of these young men.
Thank you for your contributions to Virginia Tech football.
Best of luck to the guys headed to the combine, and to those who are not, as well. Four years in the NFL coupled with prudent financial management sets you financially for life. Here’s hoping that several of our guys get that opportunity. Here’s also hoping that all the Hokie footballers cycling out of the gridiron rotation do well in the real world.
Special mention to Logan Thomas, who got his degree a couple of weeks ago. Whether he stays for another year or tries the NFL, he’s achieved one thing already – early graduation as an athlete is never an easy accomplishment. Congrats to him.
Always interesting to see where the Hokies are drafted. I must admit, I’m surprised Corey Fuller got an invite. I like his bloodline and he impressed me but I didn’t think he got enough touches to interest the big boys. I wonder if they see him as a DB? As for Marcus Davis, it will be very very interesting to see his combine results and whether anyone takes a chance on him. Seems like with good coaching, he could be a keeper. Only time will tell.
Marcus Davis will look great at the combine. That’s his whole attraction – being the physical specimen. MD’s overwhelming weakness is in actual play on the field, and not in workout results. He’ll certainly be drafted, because the NFL lives & breathes on numbers, and there will always be some GM who thinks they can convince him to work hard. Fuller will be far superior as a pro to Davis, but Davis will get the higher draft pick and contract.
Im soo glad clemson beat the mighty LSU last nite. The SEC is overrated players always faking injuries to give sorry out of shape defenses a break in 2nd half of games and then announcers acting like ohh they cant be beat then making excuses when they realize that that team is bout to get tht ass whooped just like last nite in tht game. sorry Andy i know you came from Auburn here butt the SEC is sooo overrated its rediculous its pathetic yet last year the ACC had more pro bowlers than any other conference. Again congrats Clemson for whoopn tht A.. and go ACC!!!!
Congratulations to all of the Hokies who got an invite to the combine. Corey Fuller most certainly deserves a spot at the combine and he is a very draft able player. That young man came through countless times for the Hokies this year at key times during the game. No quit in him. You bet he comes from a good blood line, but that young man has earned his spot.
I see S. Carolina went right down the field and scored on Michigan quickly. I fully expect S. Carolina to squash the Wolverines. With better offensive direction, the Hokies should have squashed them too. I seriously hope the Pep Hamilton rumors are true. The Hokies can get this guy if they want him! He absolutely loves the DMV area!
The defensive end wyatt teller needs to play right from the break next year too. There should be no redshirt for him. He is one nasty SOB! I like him already. That Nandi kid from Ocean Lakes is really nasty too. I’ve seen both of these players body slam a running back! Gotta love them! And Tahj Boyd really represented that 757 last night against LSU. Kyle Long out at Oregon for the ducks is doing well. Kevin Hogan, the QB for Stanford is doing really well! Russell Wilson for the Seattle Seahawks. Some analysts are saying that Duane Brown for the Houston Texans is the best o-lineman in the NFL. I saw Bobbie Massie playing at tackle for the Cardinals. I could go on, but the point is that this state of Virginia has some serious football talent. It’s time for V-Tech to quit screwing around and join the big boys. Tech needs to go after Pep Hamilton hard, Beamer needs to let him do his thing and Tech will roll!
A place we can all agree. Hoping these guys dreams come true at the next level.
Thanks to both Ga Tech and Clemson as well as our beloved Hokies for making the ACC proud. Yeah I know the Hokies just sqeaked out an ugly offensive but beautiful defensive win. A win is a win though and when the talking heads discuss the W-L record of the ACC for this bowl season noone will be discussing the actual scores.
Kenroe: What a ridiculous post! You and BBAT must be smoking the same thing, your mind is not your own! We’ll see after the first game of 2013 who is over rated; it won’t be ‘Bama! Rock on SEC! But…….a very big congratulations to Boyd who carried the Clemson Tigers. Ah, to have a QB like him at VT. Dream on!!!!! Now sit back and watch the Big Boys play.
The SEC overrated? I’m not even going to waste my time trying to figure out where that came from. Obviously this genius lives under a rock somewhere that doesn’t get TV or wi-fi connection. Disturbing.
Tech may not be able to beat Alabama in the opener, but if they get a guy like Pep Hamilton to run the offense and Tech can keep players like a Percy Harvin, Curtis Hughes, Plaxico Burress, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jerod Mayo, Korren Kirven, Justin Turner, Tahj Boyd, Levi Brown, Quinton Spain, Ramond Deloach, Derrick Green, etc., then yeah, screw the SEC! No one in Virginia should be an SEC homer. This state puts guys in the NFL Hall of Fame, d@&$ a SEC!
Ok Ancient bobcat and George while i do agree the SEC is the best conference i also being an objective avid fan see thru alot of BS and my point was if you watched the Clemson game the one announcer not the ACC guy butt the other was acting as if Clemson had no speed and there’s no way they would move the ball against LSU and anybody who watches CF knows Clemson has plenty of speed. Jus sayn plus yes the Hokies played like crap when they got blew at LSU a few years ago butt the year before we blew them out in Blacksburg and we were leading BAMA goin into the 4th qt of thee game a few years ago soo not sayn it is’nt a great conf because it is butt there are other good teams out there outside of the SEC. And VANDY did’nt beat N.C. ST as much as they kept beating themselves and every body knows SEC players always fake injuries late in games thats no secret and there was a hugh write up about in the USA TODAY a few years ago soo if you’re so great why do you have to fake injuries if you’re soo much better?!!!!! Just sayn!!!!!!!
If FSU wins tonight, that will restore credibility for the ACC. This is one of the best bowl outings for the conference in a long time. Duke should have won and NC State was competitive. Alabama will obliterate Notre Dame though. The remainder of the SEC is average.
Did you see the Clemson v. LSU game? To watch two well coached teams fight it out is pure Heaven. It only increased by embarrassment and shame for the Hokies. How depressing ! !
We dont want the coach for South Carolina they cant run the Ball. I,m watching the Game Now. We want the one from Stanford!!
Michigan’s coaching staff is schooling S. Carolina playing two qb’s to keep them fresh and dropping eight men sometimes into pass coverage challenging the Gamecocks to run without Lattimore.
Yeah, S. Carolina can keep him.
Man, Clowney just stuck that rb from Michigan!
Kenroe, re-read your first post. Show us all from a reliable source that the SEC fakes their own injuries anymore than other conferences. Also, please, please, show us all on here any facts that disprove the the SEC with ALL the important standards for measuring combined is NOT the premier conference in college football. No, I did not say the SEC is the only good conference, there are, such as the Pac 12. The ACC at this point not even in the same ballpark with these teams. What standards are you going by, BBAT’s? Your second post makes as little or less sense than your first, all you stated is in the past, where most of you Beamerheads live. This is NOW! As I stated earlier, congrats to Clemson for a very, very good game and victory. One of the best bowl games this year for sure, unlike another ACC bowl winner you seem to put above anything else. Simply a pathetic game to watch. You can’t have it both ways.I don’t suppose you are watching two very good games now are you? Get real. Lastly, I commend these VT players for being invited to the combine, at least they have a shot at much more than could be accomplished at VT. I wish them the best.
You be the MAN Ancient Bobcat!! Some can give out the negatives, some can take it. Long live the chokie nation!! Need more Austin Peay’s!! Wait they are playing ODU, Liberty and W&Mary. Should be another sell out.
@Eagle: More stellar schedules sounds like. Guess it’s NC trash talk again with those so highly ranked opponents. Beamer needs to destroy that trophy case ’cause it ain’t never going to hold anything but more dust bunnies, which should be almost to the overflow point by now.
Eagle be jealous that your team the BooHoos dont know how to schedule. I know Alabama is such a pushover funny how you forget to say them in the schedule.
Beamer Best all-time: yup, best all time at losing the big games year after year. I really don’t think you can put the pathetic bowl game in a positive light. I need to change my name here, don’t want to be associated with antiquated, ancient football philosophies.
SEC is the conference of national champions. The ACC is a conference of good Basketball. If you want to see how good your Hokies are just join the SEC. Tech want find their cupcakes in the SEC.
Eagle, why is it you lack the maturity to pull for your team without dissing another? You’re a Georgia fan as I recall, pull for them and leave the other teams out of it. BTW your team this year played Buffalo, one of the worst teams in FBS and Florida Atlantic which hasn’t had a winning season since ’08. Next year it’s App. State…
I admit to seeing only snippets of Stanford this year, but am watching them now. I see nothing exciting about their O or anything really different. Looked up the stats for the year and they’re ranked 83rd in total O opposed to VT’s 71st. They’re 68th in scoring O. I just wonder what I’ve missed about Pep Hamilton and while he’ll be a major improvement at VT. I know, I know my Mother would be an improvement but just wondering how/why Hamilton will be the guy to supposedly help take VT to the next level. Anyone?
That’s a legit question SW, but they have won 2 out of the last 3 BCS bowl games and probably should have won all 3. Maybe the caliber of athletes are just that much better out there. Wisconsin did have a stout defense.
I really wanna see the ACC do well in the overall bowl count this year, but I just can’t bring my self to pull for the Seminoles.
I know it’s probably a waste of time and effort but Go Huskies!
Northern Illinois reminds me of a bowl game back in the early nineties when Morise De Shazo Led the Hokies against the Tennessee Vols. The Hokies looked so overmatched just stepping on the field against the Vols from the mighty SEC, much like the Huskies did tonight against the Seminoles. Most likely will end with the same result….an ars whipping. Still ain’t pulling for the semen holes though.
You’re not missing anything Scott it’s just that most of the people on here think they know everything there is to know about college football even though most weren’t around back when Tech was playing in half filled stadiums and getting pounded by everyone. No one can be thankful for what we have and the amount of work Beamer had to put in to get us to where we are and the fact that he’s done it the right way. It’s the age old adage of people are never satisfied, people would complain even if we had a couple of NC’s.
There aren’t any Georgia fans on here hating on VT. There’s no reason for Georgia fans to even think about VT. Eagle is somebody ashamed of his team and it’s probably one that VT dominates