The NFL Scouting Combine has gotten underway in Indianapolis, setting the stage for the best players in college football to put their skills on display, as well as undergo medical testing and sit down for interviews.
However, some of the players expected to be drafted very early in the first round have opted to skip the event.
USC quarterback Caleb Willians, who is predicted to be the first name off the board when the draft rolls around, is one such player. LSU quarterback and reigning Heisman Jayden Daniels has also chosen not to compete.
Marvin Harrison Jr., the top wide receiver in the class, won’t be taking part either.
While the aforementioned stars are three of the biggest names coming out of college in 2024, that they’ve chosen to sit out the NFL Combine is not that surprising. Many top prospects have skipped the event in the past in favor of turning up at their pro days.
Their absence isn’t expected to affect their draft stock either, with ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller claiming as much.
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“Not working out at the combine; and I don’t see it doing a single thing to my ranking of them,” Miller tweeted on Monday. “They’ve earned the right to tell NFL teams the resume is on tape. That said, here’s a huge opportunity for other players at those positions to make NFL teams fall in love with them.”
On-field drills for the NFL Combine will start this Thursday.
