Texas Tech University Athletics
Five Red Raiders Headed to NFL Combine
February 23, 2006 | Football
Feb. 23, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech will be well-represented today when five former Red Raiders workout and interview with NFL teams at the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. The group represents the most players from Texas Tech invited to the combine under head coach Mike Leach.
While only five players are headed to the combine, several seniors from the 2005 squad are currently undergoing workouts with Texas Tech Football head strength coach Bennie Wylie. Free safety Dwayne Slay, projected by many as an early-round pick, says the group has been training hard in preparation for the draft.
"We've had tremendous focus during our workouts," Slay said. "Bennie has done a good job of getting us there. The workouts have been vigorous, twice a day, everyday. If we're not ready now, we won't be ready."
Slay is hoping the hard work pays off next week. "I've been working out hard and am going into the combine with the right attitude. I just want to go there and do the best I can."
Offensively, RB Taurean Henderson and OT E.J. Whitley begin their respective workouts Sat., Feb. 25, while safeties Vincent Meeks and Slay and cornerback Khalid Naziruddin will workout Tue., Feb. 28. The running backs also will workout Feb. 26.
The NFL Combine is the annual job interview process for potential NFL players and is held each year in Indianapolis at the RCA Dome. Players display their skills and talents in front of team coaches, scouts and executives. Approximately 330 players have been invited to this year's event. Eleven of the Big 12's schools will be represented with three schools sending six players, followed by Tech with five and Texas A&M and Nebraska with four each.
