.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Three Gophers Invited To NFL Combine
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Three former University of Minnesota football players were invited to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. David Cobb, Maxx Williams and Damien Wilson were all extended invitations to attend the annual event which is held in Indianapolis from Feb. 17-23 and broadcast on the NFL Network.
Cobb set program single-season records for rushes (314) and rushing yards (1,626) in 2014. Cobb scored 13 touchdowns (tied for third most in a season) for Minnesota last year and had seven 100-yard rushing games (tied for second most in a single season). He also caught 16 passes for 162 yards and completed one pass for 9 yards as he was named All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches and media. Cobb received the team's Bronko Nagurski Award (team most valuable player) and Bruce Smith Award (outstanding offensive player) and was also named the Bob McNamara Offensive Back of the Year.
Cobb, who will be one of 36 running backs at the combine, is expected to be Minnesota's first running back selected in the NFL Draft since Laurence Maroney was taken in the first round (21st overall pick) by New England in 2006.
Williams, who was an All-American on the field and in the classroom, is one of 18 tight ends invited to the combine. He played in 12 games in 2014 and led the Gophers in receptions (36), receiving yards (569) and touchdowns (8) en route to being named First Team All-American by Sporting News, the Football Writers Association of America and by Phil Steele. Williams also became the third sophomore ever to be named a Mackey Award Finalist and was named a First Team Capital One Academic All-American. Williams, who left Minnesota after his redshirt sophomore season, played in 25 games for the Gophers and ended his collegiate career with 61 receptions for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Wilson, who played two years at Minnesota after transferring from junior college, is one of 35 linebackers invited to the combine. Wilson started 12 of 13 games and led Minnesota with 119 tackles (most tackles by a Gopher since Kim Royston made 123 in 2011) and 10.5 tackles-for-loss. He tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks, broke up three passes, recovered two fumbles, forced one fumble and made one interception. He was named to the media's All-Big Ten First Team and the coaches' All-Big Ten Second Team and received the team's Carl Eller Award (outstanding defensive player) and Linebacker of the Year honors.
