Four Players Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Football 2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM

Feb. 6, 2015

WACO, Texas - Four key members of Baylor's back-to-back Big 12 championship teams have been invited to work out for coaches and front office personnel at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine Feb. 17-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Friday.

The quartet of Bears includes WR Antwan Goodley, LB Bryce Hager, QB Bryce Petty and P Spencer Roth.

The players' invitations gives Baylor multiple players attending the combine for a seventh consecutive season. In head coach Art Briles' seven years in Waco, a total of 22 Baylor players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Last season, BU had a program-high six players invited to the combine with five of those players being drafted. This year's total of four ties 2012 for the second-most combine invitees.

The combine is a chance for executives, coaches, player personnel staff and medical personnel from all 32 teams to evaluate the nation's top collegiate football players eligible for the upcoming draft. The six-day job interview involves a series of tests, drills and meetings with more than 600 NFL personnel.

The group of four invitees helped Baylor to the greatest two-year run in program history. The Bears claimed back-to-back Big 12 titles, while winning a program-record 11 games in both 2013 and 2014. BU has also led the nation in offense for the past two seasons, while claiming the highest end-of-year rankings in program history (No. 7 in AP and No. 8 in USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll) in 2014.

Goodley and Petty both represented the Bears in the Reese's Senior Bowl on Jan. 24, while Hager and Roth played in East West Shrine Game on Jan. 17.

Goodley, a four-year letterwinner from Midland, Texas, finished his BU career fourth in receiving touchdowns (21), fifth in yards per game (49.3), sixth in receiving yards (2,366) and ninth in receptions (150). During an injury-shortened senior campaign, he caught 60 passes for 830 yards and six touchdowns. Goodley had a breakthrough junior campaign as he totaled 71 catches, 1,339 yards and 13 TDs. He was a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards, while earning All-America honors.

As the leader of Baylor's defense, Hager led the team with 114 tackles in 2014 as the starting middle linebacker. He added 12 TFL, 2.0 sacks, one interception, two force fumbles and eight QB hurries. For his efforts, Hager was named a second-team All-American and an All-Big 12 second-team honoree. He completed his Baylor career with 322 tackles (202 solo), 7.0 sacks and five forced fumbles. Hager's solo tackle count ranks as the sixth-most in BU history.

As a two-year starter for the nation's top offense, Petty racked up impressive numbers, including a 21-4 record as a starter. For his career, Petty passed for 8,195 yards on 530-of-845 (.627) passing with 62 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. In his two All-American seasons, Petty tallied numerous honors including being named the 2015 Cotton Offensive MVP, the 2014 Bobby Bowden Award winner and the 2013 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner. He was also finalist for the Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award in his senior season.

Petty left Baylor first in TD-INT ratio (6.20), first in yards per attempt (9.71), first in interception percentage (.0118), first in total offense yards per play (8.223), second in passing yards (8,195), second in completion percentage (.627), second in total offense (8,528), second in touchdown responsibility (83) and second in passing touchdowns (62). The career interception percentage of 1.18% set a new NCAA?record (min. 660 att.), passing Billy Volek from Fresno State (1.3%, 1996-99) and his 9.6 career yards per attempt set a new Big 12 record, breaking Oklahoma's Sam Bradford's (2006-09) mark of 9.4.

Roth was a four-year starter at punter for the Bears. For his career, Roth punted 164 times with an average distance of 43.7 yards per boot - fourth-best in BU history. He only had 16 touchbacks, while placing 55 punts inside the 20 and having 41 go for 50+ yards. He earned All-Big 12 first-team honors in 2014, while punting 47 times for an average of 43.4 yards per punt. As a junior, Roth played in 12 of 13 games (missed one game due to team not punting). He was named honorable mention All-America and consensus first-team All-Big 12. He averaged 45.8 yards on 52 punts (2,379 yards).

Fans can follow events at the NFL Combine live on the NFL Network as well as on NFL.com.

BAYLOR AT NFL COMBINE (2009-2015)
2015: WR Antwan Goodley, LB Bryce Hager, QB Bryce Petty, P Spencer Roth
2014: S Ahmad Dixon, CB Demetri Goodson, TE Jordan Najvar, WR Tevin Reese, OG Cyril Richardson, RB Lache Seastrunk
2013: WR Lanear Sampson, WR Terrance Williams
2012: OL Philip Blake, RB Terrance Ganaway, QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright
2011: DL Phil Taylor, OL Danny Watkins
2010: WR David Gettis, OL J.D. Walton
2009: OL Dan Gay, OL Jason Smith