Projecting The NFL Scouting Combine: Special Teams

NFL teams have placed more emphasis on special teams with 16 draft picks over the past three years

Welcome to NFLDraftScout.com's "Projecting The Combine" series, which features predictions at each position for who will be invited to Indianapolis for the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. Next up is special teams. Over the past five years, the Combine has averaged 12 special team invites (four special team players drafted per year).

In 2018, the Combine featured 12 special team players invited to Indianapolis, including seven who were selected in last year’s draft.

Below is a breakdown of combine invites and the number of special team players drafted over the past five years. By taking the average number, we try to predict the special team invites for the 2019 Combine with their projected draft grade in parenthesis.:

Special Team Players invited To NFL Combine

2018: 12

2017: 11

2016: 13

2015: 13

2014: 10

Selected In NFL Draft

2018: 7

2017: 4

2016: 5

2015: 2

2014: 3

2019 NFL Scouting Combine Prediction: Special Teams

The Top 5

1. Austin Seibert, K, Oklahoma (Day 3) – Leading scorer in school and Big 12 history with 499 career points. Ranks second in school history in PAT percentage (.984) and in career field goals made (63), fourth in career field goal percentage (.797) and fifth in career punting average (41.7).
2. Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah (Day 3) – Grew up playing Australian rules football, two-time All-American and Ray Guy Award finalist; also kicks off and is the holder for field goals and PATs.
3. Matt Gay, K, Utah (Day 3) – Former college soccer player walked on with the Utes in the 2017 preseason camp and went on to become Utah’s first Lou Groza Award winner and a consensus All-American.
4. Jake Bailey, P, Stanford (Day 3) – Was All-Pac-12 second team in 2018 with 45.5 yards/punt on 57 attempts, which was first among Pac-12 players and seventh nationally. In addition, 58 of 83 kickoffs went for touchbacks.
5. John Baron, K, San Diego State (Day 3) – This kicker deserves some shine, as Baron II has connected on 50-of-60 field goals for his career (83%), including a perfect four-for-four from beyond 50 yards (career high of 54).

The Rest

1. Cole Tracy, K, LSU (Day 3)
2. Jack Fox, P, Rice (UDFA)
3. A.J. Cole, P, North Carolina State (UDFA)
4. Roger Newsome, P, Notre Dame (UDFA)
5. Ian Berryman, P, Western Carolina (UDFA)
6. Jae Jung Yoon, K, Notre Dame (UDFA)
7. Patrick Eby, LS, Coumbia (UDFA)

2019 NFL Combine Projections:

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Offensive Line
• Defensive Line
• Linebackers
• Defensive Backs

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