Texas A&M had nine players invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month. The defensive end trio of Micheal Clemons, Tyree Johnson, and DeMarvin Leal combined for 24 sacks and gave the Aggies one of the better pass rushes in the country. Defensive tackle Jayden Peevy didn’t make a lot of mistakes and could function as either a nose or a three tech. Running back Isaiah Spiller ran for 1,000 yards not once but twice during his career in Aggieland and was a three down player who didn’t have to leave the field. Backer Aaron Hansford was the team’s leading tackler in 2021 and a two year starter. Offensive lineman Kenyon Green was a consensus All American for the last two year and was a three year fixture in the starting lineup at guard. Safety Leon O’Neal was a vocal player who set a tone on the field and is one prospect who has seen his draft stock rise somewhat since the season was over via his appearances at the combine and in the Reese’s Senior Bowl (where he was named as the best practice player in the secondary). Tight end Jalen Wydermyer was a finalist for the John Mackey Award (which is awarded to the nation’s best tight end) in his last two seasons and was the program’s best red zone threat.
Along with kicker Seth Small and tackle Jahmir Johnson (who went through the Aggies Pro Day), it’s an illustrious group that has the opportunity to make money for themselves and elevate the visibility of A&M’s program by increasing the number of players that are on National Football League roster. At the worst, even if they’re not drafted, they probably have a chance to snare rookie free agent contracts at the worst and make a training camp roster to get a shot at a career in the league.
With the draft now less than a month away, here’s a running tab on the latest information on each of them (official visits, mock drafts, etc.).
Green is on the Dallas Cowboys’ list of 30 players that can be invited in for official visits. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones indicated that unless a highly rated player on the franchise’s board falls fat enough, an offensive lineman such as Green will be Dallas’ pick in the 24th spot. However, he’s also been mocked to teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
No matter what, virtually everyone has Green going in the first round and being the first Aggie going in the event.
Leal is another player who’s on Dallas’ official visit list. He was a consensus first round pick at the start of the 2021 season and then a year of moving between the interior and outside exposed some holes in his game that will probably make him into the second day of the event. He would be a great fit for a team like Pittsburgh which uses a 3-4 (Leal played end in a similar alignment in Aggieland). However, the Draft Network has him going 48th overall to Chicago, Fansided as him going 35th to the Los Angeles Chargers, one and multiple Cleveland outlets have him going to the Browns with their 44th selection.
Spiller didn’t run at the NFL Combine due to a hamstring problem and then had 4.6 forty at the Aggies’ Pro Day. While that might scare some teams off, Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reported that Spiller was one of the Bills’ 30 official visits, that he’s had heavy interest from the Falcons, Buccaneers, and Commanders; and Zooms with the Ravens and Packers.
Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller @isaiah_spiller told @PFN365 he’ll do Texans’ local Pro Day Monday; ‘That would be great staying home, I think I could be a great asset’; top 30 visit with Bills; heavy interest Falcons, Buccaneers, Commanders; Zooms with Ravens, Packers #NFLDraftNews
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 1, 2022
Wydermyer’s stock is falling after his NFL Combine and A&M Pro Day numbers came out and he’s now considered a late day two or day three guy. Due to the Cowboys’ need at the position, he’s one of their 30 official visitors.
Johnson didn’t participate in any of the drills on Pro Day and only participated in the bench press at the NFL Combine, tossing 225 pounds for 21 reps. Most observers note that he lacks the size to be a consistent run stopper or starter at the college and so he’ll probably go late as a pass rushing specialist based on his A&M tape. However, Bleacher Report did have him going 124th overall to the Eagles.
The Fansided site for the Los Angeles Chargers had O’Neal going in the sixth round to the Bolts. That’s a typical evaluation of him in terms of being a day three selection. However, Bleacher Report had him going 101st to the Saints.
Wilson reported that Peevy worked out privately for the Colts on Monday, had an upcoming top-30 visit with the Raiders, a dinner meeting and film session with Saints prior to his Pro Day workout. He’s also slated to be a fourth round selection in Bleacher Reports’ latest mock draft.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Jayden Peevy @JAYDENPEEVY works out privately for the Colts on Monday, and has an upcoming top-30 visit with the Raiders, had dinner meeting and film session with Saints prior to his Pro Day workout: @PFN365 @AggieFootballhttps://t.co/uKZ7Io8NTY
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 27, 2022
Hansford may have helped himself coming out of the Aggies’ Pro Day more than anyone else. He gives teams a nice size/speed ratio to work with as a potential there down backer and was mocked to the Lions in the seventh round by Pro Football Network.
“The 6-foot-2, 239-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and had a 9-foot-8 broad jump and a 34 1/2 inch vertical leap after bench-pressing 225 pounds 24 times at the NFL scouting combine. Adding to his allure, Hansford has eight percent body fat.”
Johnson put up up 18 reps on the bench press and had a 8 foot, 4 inch broad jump, both of which were among the offensive linemen available in the draft. He apparently pulled his hamstring while running in the forty and didn’t participate in the rest of the drills. He’l probably get a look as a free agent.
Small didn’t get an invitation to the NFL Combine and only two kickers got drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, he did hot two 60+ yard field goals and at least helped himself in terms of getting an invite to a camp somewhere.
