Jabari Arthur - not invited to combine

[ZipGrad93]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...in.3a0d323.htmlThis surprised me. I thought he was a legitimate pro prospect (and I still think so). He does have a pro day coming up, and he certainly didn't hurt himself at the Hula Bowl, so hopefully he'll still be on some teams' radar.

[Dr Z]

This surprised me.

Me too. If I remember right Hixon got an invite, but was injured. I would think if Hixon got an invite JA should have. Maybe he still will...

[InTheZone]

No, Hixon didn't get an invite, and was still a 4th round selection. Does JA have the same ability as Hix to blow away the scouts at AU's pro day and raise his stock? We'll see.

[Captain Kangaroo]

No, Hixon didn't get an invite, and was still a 4th round selection. Does JA have the same ability as Hix to blow away the scouts at AU's pro day and raise his stock? We'll see.

I think it will hurt him that he'll be 26 years old before the NFL season starts, with some still-raw receiving skills. Teams may be weary of taking a year or two to develop him if they have a similar 22 year old to choose from.

[Quickzips]

No, Hixon didn't get an invite, and was still a 4th round selection. Does JA have the same ability as Hix to blow away the scouts at AU's pro day and raise his stock? We'll see.

I think it will hurt him that he'll be 26 years old before the NFL season starts, with some still-raw receiving skills. Teams may be weary of taking a year or two to develop him if they have a similar 22 year old to choose from.

The only thing I would add to that is that I don't expect him to run a very impressive 40. I seem to remember Hixon running somewhere in the low 4.4's to high 4.3's at his pro-day and it was only after that that he started flying up the boards. I don't think Jabari has that type of speed in him. Speed isn't really his game, but with the insane emphasis on 40 times in recent years a guy who runs a 4.5-4.6 at WR, RB or DB just isn't cutting it for scouts.I'm actually as much interested to see if anyone tries to pick up Jabari and convert him to TE. He's got the frame and overall athleticism to be a really nice TE at the pro level.

[Dr Z]

I seem to remember Hixon running somewhere in the low 4.4's to high 4.3's at his pro-day

4.36 Notice the Giants were at his pro day.

[johnnyzip84]

Even if Jabari doesn't get a fair shot to make the NFL initially, he'll likely get other chances down the road if he can excel in the CFL (something I think he has an excellent chance of doing.....perhaps it'll be as a TE like QuickZips proposes). I think this is probably his best option anyway. He was a pretty high pick up there, even after just his JR season.

[Dr Z]

he can excel in the CFL (something I think he has an excellent chance of doing.....perhaps it'll be as a TE like QuickZips proposes). I think this is probably his best option anyway. He was a pretty high pick up there, even after just his JR season.

Average salary in the CFL is $55,000. I had to look this up myself to see why he passed last year.

[gozips19]

if he can run in the 4.5's some team will take a flyer on him. it's hard to find big productive wr. and speaking of size, don't be surprised to see big nate get drafted. he may not have a high motore (heart) but he has size and is athletic. with a weak wr. and dt. class, look for both to get drafted and corner and tate to get an invite.

[Dr Z]

with a weak wr. and dt. class, look for both to get drafted

I hear since it is so hard to get dt's this year a lot of NFL teams are considering switching to the 3-3-5.

[skip-zip]

Here's my question....isn't it a pretty remote chance that a guy gets drafted by a team when they didn't consider him to even be worthy of an INVITE to the combine? My guess is, that puts you pretty far off the radar. Jabari has talent, but I have never considered him a legitimate pro prospect because of his suspect hands. But, I guess there's always a possibility that he gets a shot at a team as a free agent after the draft. Now Nate....that would surprise me if he is given any shot at the NFL, based on what I've seen of him at Akron. And if he is indeed pro talent, I'd be wondering why we never saw it here.

[Dr Z]

Jabari has talent, but I have never considered him a legitimate pro prospect because of his suspect hands

Braylon Edwards drops balls that hit him in the hands every Sunday. That won't stop JA from getting drafted.If you ever stood next to JA, I think you would understand why he might get a look by an NFL team. He is built.I would have liked to see Getsy play one more year with him. I say good luck to him.

[gozips19]

it's simple really the next coach would rather have size, speed, or both. the next coach always thinks they can "coach up" talent rather than draft a guy like blackburn who has gotten the most out of his body and with a ton of heart made a nfl roster. i agree that ja doesn't have the best hands and nate doesn't have a ton of heart but they are both huge for their respective pos. ja will be drafted for sure, i am guessing 5-6th round and someone will take nate based on his size alone. remember allemen was drafted so high up because of all that he did at akron, it was his size, speed, and upside that landed him in the 3rd round (maybe 4th).....also good joke on the 3-3-5

[gozips19]

here are some links as to what some scouts are saying about Jabari and Natejabarinate

[johnnyzip84]

Here's my question....isn't it a pretty remote chance that a guy gets drafted by a team when they didn't consider him to even be worthy of an INVITE to the combine? My guess is, that puts you pretty far off the radar. Jabari has talent, but I have never considered him a legitimate pro prospect because of his suspect hands. But, I guess there's always a possibility that he gets a shot at a team as a free agent after the draft. Now Nate....that would surprise me if he is given any shot at the NFL, based on what I've seen of him at Akron. And if he is indeed pro talent, I'd be wondering why we never saw it here.

I disagree completely that we never saw NFL caliber talent out of Nate in the last 2 years. The problem was we only saw it on 1 out of every 25 plays or so. You never know, with all of the specialization in the NFL Nate might be a better fit there, where he might not have to play many downs. He'll still need to learn to work a whole lat harder regardless.

[g-mann17]

Here's my question....isn't it a pretty remote chance that a guy gets drafted by a team when they didn't consider him to even be worthy of an INVITE to the combine? My guess is, that puts you pretty far off the radar.

Except that only roughly 100 players get invited to the combine. Which is slightly less then the 3 rounds of picks would allow for on the first day. That still leaves the second day of the draft. Typically those people receiving an invite to the combine are so called "first day" picks.