Six Ducks Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

[Charles Fischer]

Oregon Athletics Press Release

 

EUGENE, Ore. — Six members of the 2021 Oregon football team have officially received invitations to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

 

A total of 324 prospects are invited to attend this year’s combine, which will take place from March 1 through March 7 and will be broadcast on NFL Network. Oregon’s six invitees are the second-most in the Pac-12, behind only Arizona State (8).

 

WR Johnny Johnson III

» 25 catches for 311 yards and a TD in 10 games in 2021

» 139 career receptions, 10th-most in Oregon history

» 1,928 career receiving yards, 121 shy of the UO top 10

» 15 career TD catches, including seven in 2019

 

S Verone McKinley III

» 2021 consensus first-team all-America

» One of 10 consensus all-Americans in program history

» 2021 Jim Thorpe Award finalist

» Tied for the 2021 FBS lead with six interceptions

» 2021 Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference first team

» 2021 AP All-Pac-12 first team

» 11 career interceptions, one shy of the UO all-time top 10

» 77 tackles in 2021, second-most among Pac-12 defensive backs

» 168 career tackles, including 97 solo

» Competed at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl  

 

DE Kayvon Thibodeaux

» 2021 unanimous first-team all-America

» Fourth unanimous all-American in program history

» 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist

» 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award finalist

» Two-time Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference first team

» Three-time AP All-Pac-12 first team

» 2021 Pro Football Focus Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year

» 2020 Morris Trophy winner

» 2019 Coaches Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year

» Tied for seventh in program history with 19.0 career sacks in 31 games

» 7.0 sacks in 2021, tied for third-most in the Pac-12

» Fourth in the Pac-12 in 2021 with 12.0 tackles for loss

 

RB CJ Verdell

» Rushed for 406 yards and six TDs on 78 carries in five games in 2021

» Sixth in Oregon history with 2,929 career rushing yards

» 30 career total touchdowns, including 27 rushing

» One of just five Ducks to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (2018-19)

» 2019 Pac-12 Championship Game MVP, rushing for 208 yards and three TDs

 

WR Devon Williams

» Led Oregon in 2021 with 35 receptions for 557 yards and four TDs in 12 games

» 31 catches for 509 yards and four TDs in final eight games played of 2021

» Also led the team in 2020 with 286 receiving yards in six games

» 50 career catches as a Duck for 843 yards and six TDs

 

CB Mykael Wright

» Third on the team in 2021 with 65 total tackles, including three for loss

» Two career interceptions and 19 career passes defended

» 35 career kickoff returns for 982 yards and two TDs (both in 2019)

» One of only three Ducks ever to return to kickoffs for a TD in a single season

» 2020 Coaches and AP All-Conference first team

» Leads the Pac-12 with 20 forced incompletions since 2019, according to Pro Football Focus

» 83.6 grade by PFF since 2019, fifth-best in the Pac-12

[savagefund]

This made me do a little research about the PAC and the invites.  Surprising to me who had the most.

 

Arizona - 0   ASU - 8   Cal - 0   Colo - 1

 

Oregon - 6   OSU - 1   Stan - 1   UCLA - 5

 

USC - 5   Utah -2   UW - 4   WSU - 3

[David Marsh]

On 2/9/2022 at 1:27 PM, savagefund said:

This made me do a little research about the PAC and the invites.  Surprising to me who had the most.

 

Arizona - 0   ASU - 8   Cal - 0   Colo - 1

 

Oregon - 6   OSU - 1   Stan - 1   UCLA - 5

 

USC - 5   Utah -2   UW - 4   WSU - 3

Certainly interesting... But ASU, UCLA, and UW are all pretty heavy in terms of their upper classmen. Last year a lot of players in the Pac-12 in particular opted to return for another year due to Covid and a short season. 

 

Johnson is the ONLY player on Oregon's list that does not have any eligibility left. Everyone else on that list can return for another year or two which is kinda crazy. 

[savagefund]

Guess I have too much time on my hands.  Another PAC breakdown.

 

QB - 0   RB - 4   WR - 4   TE - 4

 

OL - 5   DL - 4   LB - 5   

 

DB - 10   ST - 0

[Duck1984]

My guess is that two Ducks will be drafted, two will sign as undrafted free agents, and two will look outside the NFL to continue football careers.

There is a high likelihood of more NFL talent on the Duck roster in 2022 and 2023 than ever before.  Gotta give it to the prior staff for bringing in high caliber players.
 

 

 

[30Duck]

On 2/9/2022 at 1:58 PM, savagefund said:

Guess I have too much time on my hands.

Nah, effective time management.

[David Marsh]

On 2/9/2022 at 2:52 PM, Duck1984 said:

My guess is that two Ducks will be drafted, two will sign as undrafted free agents, and two will look outside the NFL to continue football careers.

There is a high likelihood of more NFL talent on the Duck roster in 2022 and 2023 than ever before.  Gotta give it to the prior staff for bringing in high caliber players.
 

 

 

I see KT, McKinley and Wright will be drafted. 

 

I see Verdell being a late draft pick at best but probably being a free agent. 

 

JJ3 is probably a free agent. 

 

If Williams had opted to stay at Oregon and had a fantastic year next year I would say surefire draft pick... but I feel he is at best a free agent. Lets face it the Oregon offense hasn't done receivers any favors over the past few years. He has the physical attributes to get him in the door as a free agent the way I see it. Now, does he have the work ethic to earn himself a spot on a team... that is far far more difficult to say. I wouldn't be surprised if he turns up in the Canadian football league to be honest. 

 

[30Duck]

 

[Haywarduck]

I just hope our student athletes have better development going forward. All these guys seemed to have potential which wasn't brought out during their time at Oregon. With a more stable, and able coaching crew the recruits should do better going forward. They also need better trusted consults about their potential at the next level. Best of luck to all these guys at the next level and their next chapters in life!