[the_ad_group id=”632″]
BOCA RATON – Azeez Al-Shaair will get his first post-injury opportunity to impress NFL scouts a little early than many expected.
The NFL invited the former FAU linebacker to attend its national scouting combine, which runs from Feb. 26-Mar. 4 in Indianapolis.
Unlike most participants who will be judged primarily by what they accomplish on the field during the combine, Al-Shaair’s most important moments will come behind closed doors.
“A player who has a medical concern, there is only one way for all 32 teams to make sure that the knee, in his case, or whatever the injury may be, that he’s in the right process and he’s going to be ready eventually,” said Jason Chayut, Al-Shaair’s agent.
FAU’s career tackles leader, Al-Shaair tore the ACL in his left knee during a practice following the sixth game of the season.
He underwent surgery shortly in November and has been fervently rehabbing the knee under the care of Dr. James Andrews’ in Birmingham, Ala. and Pensacola ever since.
Along with giving NFL teams a chance to access his recovery – Chayut says Al-Shaair is ahead of schedule – the combine will also offer Al-Shaair the opportunity to impress NFL scouts with his football intellect.
Chayut hasn’t committed to specific drills Al-Shaair will participate in during the combine, opting to wait to see how far Al-Shaair progresses in the coming month. He will likely take part upper body strength tests.
“He will not running during the combine,” Chayut said. “That’s not realistic.”
Al-Shaair and wide receiver Jovon Durante, who also announced via social media on Tuesday that he has been invited to participate in the NFL scouting combine, are the ninth and 10th former FAU players invited to the combine.
will be the ninth FAU player to participate in the NFL scouting combine – the most recent being defensive end Trey Hendrickson, now with the New Orleans Saints.
In 2014 former FAU corner Keith Reaser participated in the NFL scouting combine while still rehabbing his knee following surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered a couple months earlier. San Francisco ultimately selected Reaser in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
The following year cornerback D’Joun Smith earned an invitation to the NFL scouting combine. The Indianapolis Colts ultimately chose Smith in the third round.
Recent Comments