KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NFL invited 338 players to its Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, but even more college players yearn for a shot in the pro ranks with a select few getting their chance Saturday at the league's Regional Combine Invitational in Kansas City.
A total of 30 players are on the list of attendees scheduled for the combine as of Thursday. The event takes place Saturday at the University of Kansas Health System Training Complex near Arrowhead Stadium. The event is not open to the public.
The Regional Combine process launched in 2011 with eight locations, but only the Kansas City event is slated for 2019. The event aims to attract the top 100 draft-eligible prospects not invited to the primary scouting combine, but a growing number of players have chosen to skip the event. Many elect to showcase their wares at their university's pro day, where they have more familiar surroundings and teammates with whom to work.
Players undergo the same test and evaluations of players attending the primary combine. Measurements, combine results and video of on-field drills are made available to all NFL teams.
Regional Combine graduates include Minnesota wide receiver Adam Thielen, Pittsburgh left guard Alejandro Villanueva and a pair of Los Angeles Rams, kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker. Chiefs offensive lineman Austin Reiter attended a Regional Combine in 2015.
While many players from big-name programs are skipping the event, several prospects from Power Five conferences do plan to attend. That group includes Mississippi State running back Aeris Williams, former LSU and Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyron Johnson, Florida State defensive tackle Fredrick Jones and Texas A&M edge rusher Landis Durham.
A familiar name also appears on the list of quarterbacks attending the combine. Vincent Testaverde, the son of former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, is one of three passers onboard for the event. He started his college career at Texas Tech before transferring to Miami and finishing his career at Albany last season. His only appearance at the FBS level came as a true freshman with the Red Raiders in 2014 when he relieved starter Patrick Mahomes, who left the game following a hit by Texas cornerback Quandre Diggs.
College players who have committed to attending the Regional Combine Invitational in Kansas City:
Full list of players invited to Saturday's regional
- QB TJ Linta, Brown & Wagner
- QB Brad Mayes, Lehigh
- QB Vincent Testaverde, Texas Tech, Miami & Albany
- RB Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh
- RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State
- WR Terrance Bynum, Florida Institute of Technology
- WR Jalen Guyton, North Texas
- WR Tyron Johnson, Louisiana State & Oklahoma State
- WR/RB Austin Walter, Rice
- T Anthony Vereen, Jamestown
- G Bruno Reagan, Vanderbilt
- G Caleb Adams, Wisconsin-Stout
- DT Fredrick Jones, Florida State
- DT Chris Nelson, Texas
- DT Dare Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt
- DT Brandon Vocco, Clarion
- DE Kyle Phillips, Tennessee
- DE Anree Saint-Amour, Georgia Tech
- DE Tim Ward, Old Dominion
- DE/LB Landis O. Durham, Texas A&M
- LB Cole Holcomb, North Carolina
- LB Connor Strachan, Boston College
- DB Jalin Burrell, New Mexico & Moore Park Junior College
- DB Tawain Gordan, Ohio Dominican
- DB Chris Johnson, Albany & North Alabama
- DB Nikolas Needham, Texas – El Paso
- DB Robert Rolle, Villanova
- DB Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
- DB Mazzi Wilkins, South Florida
