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The University of Utah Athletics
Former Utes Set For NFL Combine This Week
2/26/2019 10:30 AM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – Six former Utah football players will take part in the most important job interviews of their careers at the 2019 NFL Combine this week. The event, which runs from Feb. 26-March 4 is in Indianapolis.
Cody Barton, Jackson Barton, Marquise Blair, Matt Gay, Chase Hansen and Mitch Wishnowsky are currently getting the process underway along with over 300 other prospects, all vying for a spot in the pros. These six Utes have already shown that they can battle among the best in the NCAA, but this week they will get the chance to show their skills to hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches, starting with field work on Friday, March 1. Â
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Combine workout schedule:
» Friday, Mar 1: RB, OL, ST, PK (Jackson Barton, Matt Gay, Mitch Wishnowsky)
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WR, TE
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB (Cody Barton, Chase Hansen)
» Monday, Mar 4: DB (Marquise Blair)
Pre-Combine Comments:
Cody Barton | Linebacker | NFL Draft Page
"Tough inside linebacker who relies on strength, effort and early diagnosis to rack up tackle production. Barton has played inside and outside, but he's too small for SAM and may not be fluid enough for WILL linebacker duties. He's not a bad athlete, but he's limited. He's instinctive and his strengths give him a chance in the future, but he has to gain more functional mass and play lights out on special teams." – NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
"I like how he plays and I put a backup/special teams grade on him. I like his play strength and he's going to be much faster than people might think." - AFC area scout
Jackson Barton | Offensive Line | NFL Draft Page
"Barton could see a conversion to right tackle in the pros, but his poor pad level coupled with his height is a combination that will be difficult to survive no matter where he plays. He's tough and has adequate strength to battle for position as a run blocker, but NFL opponents are sure to take advantage of his lack of leverage and his issues against inside moves and rush counters. Finding a spot on the 53 man roster might be difficult but he could find additional work on a practice squad." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Marquise Blair | Safety | NFL Draft Page
"Athletic, full-throttle prospect with the mindset of a linebacker in a free safety body. Blair plays the game with an aggressive field demeanor that fuels his passion to race into the action, ready to strike on sight. However, his lack of discipline hurt his team with targeting penalties and by over-running responsibilities against the run and pass. Because of his slender frame, some teams are concerned that durability could become an issue considering how he throws his body around. With that said, he's long and rangy in coverage, and embodies the mindset that defensive coordinators want from their units." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
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Matt Gay | Kicker | NFL Draft Page
"Surprising omission from the Senior Bowl, Gay is a big boy with an even bigger leg who has the ability to drive both the long field goal and the long kickoff. The former soccer player has an awkward, three-step approach to strike field goals which may require some work to make a roster on the next level." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Chase Hansen | Linebacker | NFL Draft Page
"Competitive overachiever who lacks the desired size to match his downhill mentality. Hansen is caught somewhere between puffed-up strong safety and undersized WILL linebacker. His coverage background and his nose for the football could help him find work as a nickel linebacker with special teams value." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Mitch Wishnowsky | Punter | NFL Draft Page
"Wishnowsky's punting style is more about control than power and once he gets into the league and eliminates the Aussie punts, we will see his hang time take a big step up. While teams might like to see a little more leg from him when it is time to flip the field, his consistency and ability to work with control as a pooch punter will be more meaningful." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
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Cody Barton, Jackson Barton, Marquise Blair, Matt Gay, Chase Hansen and Mitch Wishnowsky are currently getting the process underway along with over 300 other prospects, all vying for a spot in the pros. These six Utes have already shown that they can battle among the best in the NCAA, but this week they will get the chance to show their skills to hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches, starting with field work on Friday, March 1. Â
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These SIX future #UtesInTheNFL are headed to the #NFLCombine ??
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) February 8, 2019
Read: https://t.co/WV6EewSyre pic.twitter.com/MqVRFnC9lL
Combine workout schedule:
» Friday, Mar 1: RB, OL, ST, PK (Jackson Barton, Matt Gay, Mitch Wishnowsky)
» Saturday, Mar 2: QB, WR, TE
» Sunday, Mar 3: DL, LB (Cody Barton, Chase Hansen)
» Monday, Mar 4: DB (Marquise Blair)
Pre-Combine Comments:
Cody Barton | Linebacker | NFL Draft Page
"Tough inside linebacker who relies on strength, effort and early diagnosis to rack up tackle production. Barton has played inside and outside, but he's too small for SAM and may not be fluid enough for WILL linebacker duties. He's not a bad athlete, but he's limited. He's instinctive and his strengths give him a chance in the future, but he has to gain more functional mass and play lights out on special teams." – NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
"I like how he plays and I put a backup/special teams grade on him. I like his play strength and he's going to be much faster than people might think." - AFC area scout
Jackson Barton | Offensive Line | NFL Draft Page
"Barton could see a conversion to right tackle in the pros, but his poor pad level coupled with his height is a combination that will be difficult to survive no matter where he plays. He's tough and has adequate strength to battle for position as a run blocker, but NFL opponents are sure to take advantage of his lack of leverage and his issues against inside moves and rush counters. Finding a spot on the 53 man roster might be difficult but he could find additional work on a practice squad." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Marquise Blair | Safety | NFL Draft Page
"Athletic, full-throttle prospect with the mindset of a linebacker in a free safety body. Blair plays the game with an aggressive field demeanor that fuels his passion to race into the action, ready to strike on sight. However, his lack of discipline hurt his team with targeting penalties and by over-running responsibilities against the run and pass. Because of his slender frame, some teams are concerned that durability could become an issue considering how he throws his body around. With that said, he's long and rangy in coverage, and embodies the mindset that defensive coordinators want from their units." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
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He's one of 6 Utes making an appearance in next week's #NFLCombine ??@Legit_King1 #SafetyPride #MakingABetterU pic.twitter.com/3Bptulbexd
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) February 23, 2019
Matt Gay | Kicker | NFL Draft Page
"Surprising omission from the Senior Bowl, Gay is a big boy with an even bigger leg who has the ability to drive both the long field goal and the long kickoff. The former soccer player has an awkward, three-step approach to strike field goals which may require some work to make a roster on the next level." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Chase Hansen | Linebacker | NFL Draft Page
"Competitive overachiever who lacks the desired size to match his downhill mentality. Hansen is caught somewhere between puffed-up strong safety and undersized WILL linebacker. His coverage background and his nose for the football could help him find work as a nickel linebacker with special teams value." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
Mitch Wishnowsky | Punter | NFL Draft Page
"Wishnowsky's punting style is more about control than power and once he gets into the league and eliminates the Aussie punts, we will see his hang time take a big step up. While teams might like to see a little more leg from him when it is time to flip the field, his consistency and ability to work with control as a pooch punter will be more meaningful." - NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein
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Players Mentioned
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