The second annual Big 12 Pro Day is set to get underway this Tuesday in Frisco, Texas, at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters. Among the attendees is Shedeur Sanders, the former Colorado quarterback who is a strong contender for a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. While Sanders won’t be showing off his speed in the 40-yard dash or participating in other traditional drills, he will have the chance to meet with NFL staff, including coaches, scouts, and executives. His father, Deion Sanders, who coaches Colorado, is also expected to make an appearance.
Spanning from Tuesday through Friday, this four-day event will feature over 200 football players from the Big 12’s 2024 season, with nearly 300 representatives from all 32 NFL teams expected to attend. The event has garnered enough interest that the NFL Network will be broadcasting live from 1 to 4 p.m. ET on both Wednesday and Thursday, providing wall-to-wall coverage of the activities.
The concept of the Big 12 Pro Day was born last year as a platform for players who, for various reasons, might not be invited to the more traditional NFL combine or attract sufficient attention during a campus pro day or private workout.
“Relatively speaking, not many athletes get combine invitations,” says Scott Draper, Big 12’s chief football and competition officer. “This event gives those players a chance to experience a combine-like environment and receive the focus they otherwise might miss out on.”
Adding some star power to this year’s event is Sanders, who is definitely the headliner. However, there are other notable prospects slated to participate. Among them are offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona, who ranks No. 52 on Dane Brugler’s top 100 big board, Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish, Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant, and West Virginia’s offensive lineman Wyatt Milum.
The conference is also showcasing its strong ensemble of running backs this year. Representing this position are Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner, Kansas’ Devin Neal, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks, all eager to make their mark.
The primary goal of this event is to help those prospects expected to go in the mid to late rounds, or even those considered undrafted free agent material, boost their draft profiles. This includes players like Arizona State defensive back Shamari Simmons, BYU defensive lineman Tyler Batty, Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra, Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers, and Utah defensive lineman Junior Tafuna.
“Partnering with the NFL for Big 12 Pro Day has been incredibly beneficial,” says Brett Yormark, Big 12 commissioner. “Their platform enables us to enhance our storytelling and enrich the experience for our student-athletes.”
Interestingly, the event isn’t limited to just NFL prospects. Evaluators from the UFL and CFL professional leagues will be present, as well as scouts from WWE and NASCAR.
“There might be some participants who don’t end up in football,” Draper mentions. “But they might find their calling on a NASCAR pit crew. The essence of this event is about exploring various pathways in sports.”
(Photo of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
