Every year, the NFL combine can make or break the hopes of some of the college hopefuls that show up to display their skills in front of coaches and scouts from all 32 teams. The Washington Huskies sent a school record 13 players to Indianapolis, so Huskies Wire called on former NFL scouts Bryan Broaddus and Jim Nagy for some help on breaking down some of the biggest keys to the process.
Broaddus, a former scout with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, said the number one thing that teams gets their eyes on are the prospect’s medical reports. This is the first opportunity for teams to have full disclosure on the current health of anyone they could have their eye on before April’s draft.
Medical information is first and foremost the most valuable that the teams need to decide if they are going to invest in a player. The exams these athletes go through can show any prior injuries, some undisclosed ones from the past season and unfortunately, some times completely unknown conditions. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. appears to have benefit greatly from this process, as he cleared his medical exams according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Just behind medical testing is the interview process, where several Huskies have the opportunity to shine. Penix and wide receiver Rome Odunze both apparently stood out in front of NFL teams, and linebacker Edefuan Olofoshio entertained the media while recounting the time he outran a moose while growing up in Alaska.
Edefuan Ulofoshio tells the story of running into a moose as a kid (he grew up in Alaska) pic.twitter.com/pBc80HxGSO
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) February 28, 2024
Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl also scouted for the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Washington Commanders expanded on what teams are looking for in the interview process.
“During the interview process you’re just hoping to get to know who the player genuinely is,” he said. “Teams have been sending all their scouts into the building and hearing about at the players, from the coaches to custodians, and now finally getting to meet them in person.”
“Way more mistakes are made in the draft on the person than the player, so you’re doing everything you can in the pre-draft process to gauge the maturity level and everything that goes into the football character piece of the evaluation.”
While the agility drills have become the premier portion of the event for fans, they’re only a small part of the evaluation process for NFL teams.
“Physically, you’re looking to see things up-close that maybe you had questions about on tape,” Nagy said. “That can be a speed deficiency, lack of flexibility, or limited lateral agility.”
Broaddus added that a school’s pro day is more important for teams.
“Drills held at each school hold more value and give the coaches more of a one on one with the athletes than at the combine.”
Several Huskies have had standout performances in Indianapolis this week and will be looking to add to them when the eyes of scouts and coaches descend on Montlake later this month for Washington’s pro day on March 28.