Former Hilltopper All-Americans and two-time Conference USA Champions Forrest Lamp and Taywan Taylor will represent WKU at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Feb. 28-March 6, the National Football League announced on Wednesday.
The official invitation list, which includes 330 of the nation’s top NFL prospects, features a pair of Hilltoppers for the second consecutive season as former quarterback Brandon Doughty (Miami Dolphins, 7th round) and Tyler Higbee (LA Rams, 4th round) both attended the event in 2016 and went on to be drafted into the NFL. They are both the first players in school history to attend the combine from their position group.
Both Taylor and Lamp attended the nation’s top all-star game last month, the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and while Lamp saw his week cut short due to injury, both former Hilltoppers came away having impressed scouts.
NFLNetwork.com features scouting profiles on both Hilltoppers where Lamp is projected to be an instant starter at the next level with a 6.11 grade. Taylor’s grade of 5.66 puts him in the upper echelon of the groups where the scouts say he has a “chance to become an NFL starter.”
According to Lance Zierlein of NFL Network, Lamp “has the athleticism to handle athletic interior rushers while being able to fit into diverse rushing attacks that ask more from the guards and centers. His ability to potentially line up at tackle, guard or center will only increase his value.”
On Taylor, Zierlein adds, “(Taylor has a) high floor with the potential to be an above-average slot receiver in an offense that recognizes his flexibility.”
The duo are two of 11 players from C-USA invited to the combine, and WKU is one of three league schools to have multiple representatives at the combine (LA Tech, UTEP). Lamp is the highest rated player from C-USA by Zierlein while Taylor is third. Lamp is also Zierlein’s second-highest rated offensive lineman overall at 6.11, just behind Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk (6.2).
On-field workouts for the offensive line begin on Friday, March 3, with the bench press set for Thursday. For wide receivers, on-field workouts are set for Saturday, March 4.
WKU’s NFL Scouting Combine Participants (Year)
· OL Forrest Lamp (2017)
· WR Taywan Taylor (2017)
· QB Brandon Doughty (2016)
· TE Tyler Higbee (2016)
· RB Antonio Andrews (2014)
· DB Jonathan Dowling (2014)
· LB Andrew Jackson (2014)
· DL Quanterus Smith (2013)
· DB Joseph Jefferson (2002)
· DB Mel Mitchell (2002)
· DB Bobby Sippio (2002)
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Kyle Neaves
Associate Athletic Director, Communications
WKU Athletics
