NFL combine: Former Pac-12 players shine in Indianapolis as first round takes shape
Ohio State’s draft prospects and 40-yard dash times were among the big winners at the NFL scouting combine last week. So, too, was a conference that no longer exists.
Players from former Pac-12 schools thrived in Indianapolis — to the point that the extinct version of the conference could cast a long shadow over the NFL draft next month in Pittsburgh.
As many as 10 prospects who played in the Pac-12 in the fall of 2023, the last season of competition, are candidates for the first round — a total comparable to the number of SEC players pegged for Day 1.
They would join the 16 former Pac-12 players who were picked in the first rounds of the 2024-25 drafts and provide additional evidence that the conference didn’t collapse because it lacked talent.
(If anything, the personnel was better after the foundation began to crack than it was before USC and UCLA opted for the Big Ten in the summer of 2022.)
Not all the former Pac-12 players invited to Indianapolis last week participated in on-field drills. In fact, the most decorated of the group, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, received a loud ovation from fans while simply observing the festivities.
But with perhaps one exception, the top talents all solidified or strengthened their position as likely Day 1 selections:
— Mendoza, who spent three years at Cal (2022-24), is the presumptive No. 1 pick and destined for the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn’t participate in drills and will perform for scouts at Indiana early next month.
— Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, who played for Stanford, could be the second player off the board. At worst, Bailey will be a top-five selection after ripping through the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.
— Not surprisingly, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq dazzled the assembled NFL talent evaluators. The 240-pounder recorded a 43.5-inch vertical jump and 4.39-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a tight end since at least 2003, according to the NFL.
— Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano is pegged as a top-15 selection. His speed and agility were superb, although Fano’s arm length (a tad over 32 inches) was shorter than expected, leading to speculation that he could be drafted as a guard.
— USC receiver Makai Lemon, who didn’t run but took part in the field workouts, is slotted for the middle of the first round and could sneak into the top 10.
— Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, who was injured for much of the 2023 season — and again in 2025 — skipped the running and field workouts. He did, however, participate in the bench press. Tyson produced 26 reps of 225 pounds, one short of the combine record for receivers. He is expected to be selected in the teens or early 20s.
— Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu solidified his first-round grade with a 40-yard dash time of 4.99 seconds and, perhaps more importantly, a 10-yard split time of 1.74 seconds. (Short-area speed is essential for linemen.)
— Washington receiver Denzel Boston, pegged by many analysts as a mid-to-late first-rounder, was one of the few former Pac-12 players who didn’t quite meet expectations. Boston, whose speed is a slight concern, declined to run the 40 on the fast track at Lucas Oil Stadium, raising the bar for his on-campus workout later this month. Nor was he crisp during the pass-catching drills.
— Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor isn’t currently viewed as a first-round lock but has bolstered his stock, first with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl and then with an impressive showing at the combine, where he clocked 1.73 seconds for the 10-yard split.
— Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon, who played for USC during the 2023 season, also sits on the edge of the first round following his combine workout, which included a 35-inch vertical jump for the 314-pounder.
— Lastly, Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch, whose career began at USC, warrants a mention after clocking 4.36 seconds in the 40 and a smooth showing in the gauntlet drill. At this point in the pre-draft calendar, Branch is a fringe candidate for the first round.
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