4 Minnesota Gophers Have Been Invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
Josh Frey
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The full list of prospects that have received invites to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and the final tally of prospects is officially at 319. Among those prospects, there are 4 Minnesota Gophers that have been invited to the event. Here’s a quick look at all of the Gophers that got the invite.
C John Michael Schmitz
Gophers center John Michael Schmitz is widely considered to be one of, if not the best center in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s been an anchor in the middle of the Gophers o-line since he joined the team, and just last week, he continued to prove that he was a terrific prospect at the Senior Bowl. He probably won’t be a first-round pick in April, but he certainly looks like he is in line to go sometime in Day Two.
RB Mo Ibrahim
Mo Ibrahim had an extremely unfortunate end to his 2021 season, tearing his Achilles tendon in the season-opener. He was considered one of the better running backs in the country when the injury occurred, and many questions revolved around his status heading into 2022.
Well, the Gophers running back proved that he could come back from the injury and be better than ever in 2022. During this past college football season, he recorded 320 rushing attempts, 1665 rushing yards, and 20 rushing TDs. All these totals were career-highs, and it seems that there will be a team willing to take a shot Ibrahim in the draft.
S Jordan Howden
Redshirt senior Jordan Howden got an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine after another strong season in the Gophers secondary. He is one of the more experienced players in college football, playing a total of 55 games over the course of his five seasons with the Gophers.
This past season, Howden recorded 58 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 5 passes defensed, and 2 INTs. These totals all equaled or set career-highs for the safety, and while he isn’t one of the more coveted defensive backs in the class, he could be taken in Day 3.
CB Terell Smith
Gophers CB Terell Smith opted to use his extra year of eligibility, and it was the correct decision. Smith burst onto the scene in his freshman year with a strong campaign, but in the years following, he struggled with injuries and his production fell.
However, in 2022, Smith had his best season of football, and as a result, he’s gotten the invite to the combine this spring. In 2022, the Gophers cornerback recorded 38 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 5 pass defenses, and 2 INTs.
Editor’s Note: Statistics from Sports Reference-College Football helped with this piece.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.