Several local college, high school products invited to 2025 NFL Combine

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As the NFL page turns toward the 2025 football season, invites to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis have been sent to players heading into the league.

That list of 329 prospects was invited to the event, which will take plane in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 to March 3, and includes players from Kansas, K-State and Mizzou, as well as players who played high school football in the Kansas City area.

Of the 15 quarterbacks invited, three have local ties. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook is the first Tiger to be invited at the position since Drew Lock was in 2019. Will Howard, who starred with the Ohio State Buckeyes in their run to a national championship this past season but began his college career at K-State, is one of the other quarterback invites. Graham Mertz, who was a Simone Award winner in 2018 as the best high school football player in the Kansas City metro, was also invited to the combine following a collegiate career at Wisconsin and Florida.

Cook is one of four Missouri Tigers to be invited to the combine. Joining him in Indianapolis will be wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr., along with offensive tackle Armand Membou.

One of Howard’s previous teammates at Kansas State, running back DJ Giddens, is one of three Wildcats invited to the event. Giddens was invited after a 2024 season that saw him rush for 1,343 yards and 7 touchdowns. K-State’s other two combine invitees were cornerback Jacob Parrish and safety Marques Sigle.

Star Kansas running back Devin Neal is among the four invitees for the Jayhawks following a four-year career in his hometown. Neal will be joined by offensive tackle Logan Brown, cornerback Cobee Bryant and cornerback Mello Dotson.

Standout Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel, a Park Hill High School product, was also invited to the NFL Combine. Noel was a Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024 and an honorable mention All-Big 12 wide receiver.

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