Texas Tech pair invited to NFL combine
Former Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson and former Tech running back SaRodorick Thompson are among 319 players who received invitations to this year's NFL scouting combine. The league announced the list of invitees on Wednesday.
Over his five-season Tech career, Thompson rushed for 2,664 yards and 40 touchdowns and caught 91 passes for 526 yards and one TD.
Wilson played in 10 games during the 2022 season before he suffered a broken foot. He was credited with 61 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He is projected by most NFL draft analysts as a first-round pick.
The annual scouting combine is scheduled from Feb. 28 through March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On-field workouts and testing are scheduled March 2 for defensive linemen and linebackers, March 3 for defensive backs, March 4 for quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends and March 5 for running backs and offensive linemen.
Prospects also are interviewed by NFL team personnel, given physical examinations and injury evaluations, given drug screenings and the Wonderlic test.
NFL Network will provide daily coverage.
Among Big 12 teams this past season, TCU had nine players invited to the combine, Oklahoma seven, Texas five and Iowa State and Kansas State four apiece. Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia each had two players invited.
Golf
WAIMEA, Hawaii — Wednesday's first round of the Amer Ari Invitational was canceled because of high winds as Texas Tech players approached the turn.
The scores compiled to that point will be discarded and the tournament restarted on Thursday at Hapuna Golf Course, officials said. The event is the spring season opener for third-ranked Texas Tech, one of nine teams in the field that was ranked in the top 18 in Golfweek's final ranking of the fall.
The Red Raiders were tied for fourth out of 20 teams when play was stopped. Matthew Comegys was 2 under par through seven holes, and Baard Skogen and Jack Wall both were even par through eight. Ben Hogan trophy winner Ludvig Aberg and Calum Scott both were 1-over through seven holes.
The Red Raiders were tied for fourth out of 20 teams.
In the early afternoon, sustained winds were 26 miles per hour gusting to 45 and the National Weather Service forecast called for 32-mph wind gusting to 50.
General
Texas Tech distributed more than $780,000 in Alston academic achievement awards to its athletes for the fall semester, its first since implementing the Strive program in response to a 2021 Supreme Court ruling.
Tech, in an announcement Wednesday, said 285 athletes received awards totaling $786,950.
During a normal school year, Tech has about 400 to 420 athletes, including 300 to 320 on some amount of athletic scholarship.
More awards will be given after the spring semester. Tech budgeted $1.8 million to cover the distributions for the school year. The Red Raider Club Excellence Fund is the source of the funds, Tech said.
Tech plans to pay its qualified athletes a baseline amount of $1,990 at the end of a semester for being academically eligible, on a path to graduate, in good standing on a team roster and not in the NCAA transfer portal. They can earn up to $1,000 more based on hitting grade-point average increments, performing five hours of community service and taking part in name, image and likeness education and personal and career development programs.
An athlete meeting every requirement can earn $2,990 in a semester, $5,980 in an academic year. That's the maximum amount established by the unanimous Supreme Court ruling in June 2021 in NCAA vs. Alston.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: College sports roundup: Texas Tech pair invited to NFL combine
