NFL Combine: WKU's Austin Reed, LSU's Jordan Jefferson accept invites to Indianapolis
The NFL Combine is just a couple weeks away.
Two players headed to Indianapolis to showcase their talents in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts, have a Pensacola connection.
The NFL released its list of 321 prospects who have been invited to the combine, which will be from Feb. 26 to March 4. Both Austin Reed and Jordan Jefferson have been invited to the combine.
Reed played quarterback for the last two seasons at Western Kentucky University, replacing current New England Patriots QB Bailey Zappe, after he was drafted in 2022. Prior to the Hilltoppers, Reed played two seasons at the University of West Florida, leading the Argos to their first national championship in 2019 as a freshman.
During that 2019 season, Reed threw for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Reed, who played at the East-West Shrine Bowl, declared for the 2024 NFL Draft in January. He's currently projected to be a late-round pick or a priority free agent. He'd join former Argos D'Anthony Bell and David Durden as UWF players who signed as free agents into the pros.
Reed has also drawn comparisons to Brock Purdy, the dead-last 2022 NFL Draft pick, earning him the title of "Mr. Irrelevant," who just led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, but fell in overtime. Josh Allen has been another name Reed's been compared to.
"I’m really excited to go out there and represent the University of West Florida and Western Kentucky out there, and just show what I can do," Reed told the PNJ prior to the Shrine Bowl. "I hope, a year from now, those guys are my peers. … The fact that I have an opportunity to be wearing an NFL uniform and be in the league … it’s a blessing to have these opportunities.”
Jefferson, a Navarre alum, is projected to be a mid- to late-round draft pick. Jefferson played defensive tackle at Louisiana State University for his final year of eligibility. Prior to LSU, Jefferson produced a solid four-year career at West Virginia University.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jefferson is most likely to be drafted in the fifth round. The team with the highest percentage likely to draft Jefferson is Minnesota (21%), according to PFF.
Jefferson competed in the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile earlier this month, producing half a tackle for a loss in the game. During the week, Jefferson called it a “blessing” to be in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, following in the footsteps of another Navarre standout, Michael Carter, who played in 2021.
"God is truly good,” Jefferson told the PNJ. “It’s been a long time coming. I always dreamed of playing out here with the best of the best.”
Jefferson and the rest of the defensive tackle prospects, along with linebackers, will go through NFL Scouting Combine Live Drills on Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. EST). Quarterbacks, including Reed, will go through televised drills on March 2 at noon central time (1 p.m. EST).
The NFL Network will stream the NFL Combine live during the week.
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: NFL Combine invites Austin Reed, Jordan Jefferson to showcase in Indy
