Former Gators Demps, Howard and Rainey Invited to 2012 NFL Combine
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 | Football
Three former University of Florida football players were invited to participate in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, held February 22-28 in Indianapolis. Running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey and defensive tackle Jaye Howard were all included on the official invite list.
Howard and Rainey, who also competed in the 2012 Senior Bowl, are both expected to participate in the Combine. Demps will not attend the Combine and instead will focus on his spring season with the Florida Track and Field team.
Each year, over 300 of the top college football players in the nation are invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. Team executives, coaching staff, player personnel departments and medical personnel from all 32 NFL teams will be on hand to test the physical and mental aspects of each player through a series of tests, drills and interviews. The top draft-eligible players are subjected to this four-day process in hopes of raising their stock for the upcoming NFL Draft.
As a senior, Demps totaled 569 rushing yards and six touchdowns and had 172 receiving yards on 16 catches. He finished his career eighth all-time at Florida with 2,470 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 6.7 yards per carry, and scored 23 rushing touchdowns, 10th-most in school history.
Howard, who garnered three SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors in his career, was fourth on the Gators in 2011 with 65 tackles, including 10.0 tackles-for-loss and a career-high 5.5 sacks in 2011. He was named an AP All-SEC Honorable Mention performer during the 2011 campaign. Howard finished his career at UF with 131 total tackles, 25.5 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks.
Rainey was chosen to the All-SEC First Team in 2011 as an all-purpose performer. He rushed for 861 yards with two touchdowns last season and finished his UF career ninth all-time with 2,464 rushing yards. Rainey also led the team with 31 receptions, totaling 381 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He holds the school and SEC record with six career blocked punts after adding two in his final season.
Howard will be among the Day 3 arrivals on Friday, February 24.
| DAY 3 ARRIVALS: Group 7 (DL), Group 8 (DL), Group 9 (LB) | |
| Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 | Travel to Indianapolis* ~ Registration ~ Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays ~ Orientation ~ Interviews |
| Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 | Measurements ~ Medical Examinations ~ Media ~ Psychological Testing ~ Interviews |
| Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012 | NFLPA Meeting ~ Psychological Testing ~ Interviews |
| Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 | Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) ~ Departure from Indianapolis |
Rainey is scheduled to be among the Day 2 arrivals on Thursday, February 23.
| DAY 2 ARRIVALS: Group 4 (QB, WO), Group 5 (QB, WO), Group 6 (RB) | |
| Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 | Travel to Indianapolis* ~ Registration ~ Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays ~ Orientation ~ Interviews |
| Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 | Measurements ~ Medical Examinations ~ Media ~ Psychological Testing ~ Interviews |
| Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 | NFLPA Meeting ~ Psychological Testing ~ Interviews |
| Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012 | Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) ~ Departure from Indianapolis |
About the NFL Scouting Combine
Participants are determined annually by a Selection Committee. The Directors of both National and BLESTO scouting services, which combined represent twenty-five NFL teams, are joined by members of various NFL player personnel departments to form the committee. The participating NFL executives can rotate on a yearly basis, and remain anonymous. All eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the committee members. Each athlete receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. While it is not a perfect science, the goal of the committee is to invite every player that will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.
