Of the more than 300 athletes at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, four will be carrying the Canadian flag.
Brandon Bridge, Tyler Varga, Brett Boyko and Christian Covington will be poked, prodded, tested, grilled and worked out at Lucas Oil Stadium from February 17–23 in Indianapolis. It’s all in an effort to boost their draft stock to be selected as high as possible in the NFL Draft. But how will they fare there, and what will scouts be looking for out of them?
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock held his annual marathon knowledge-dropping session—more commonly referred to as his “conference call,” which doesn’t do it justice—previewing the combine on Monday.
Mayock shared his thoughts on where the four Canadians stand heading into the aptly dubbed “underwear Olympics.”
Brandon Bridge, Mississauga, Ont.
University of South Alabama
Quarterback
2014 season stats: In 11 starts Bridge completed 160 of 307 pass attempts for 1,927 yards and 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also carried the ball 101 times for 519 yards and four touchdowns.
Mayock: “Brandon Bridge is interesting. I saw him make a comment that said he could extend plays and he had the best arm of anybody at the combine. He’s got a live arm. He’s got a whip… six-foot-five. I’m anxious to watch him throw. He’s a project. He’s very raw. He has no clue what he’s doing. I watched I think it was his Navy game. He brought [his team] back and almost won the game late, lost on a two-point conversion. He’s got a whip—it’s just he has no idea what he’s doing yet.”
Tyler Varga, Kitchener, Ont.
Yale
Running back
2014 season stats: In 10 games Varga had 233 carries for 1,423 yards and 22 touchdowns, plus 12 receptions for 107 yards and four touchdowns.
Mayock: “Obviously Tyler Varga did a great job at the Senior Bowl. As a fullback/tailback he caught the ball well. He’s got a chance to make an NFL team.”
Brett Boyko, Saskatoon, Sask.
UNLV
Offensive lineman
2014 season stats: Started all 13 games for the Rebels—eight at left tackle and five at left guard.
Mayock: “The tackle, Boyko from UNLV, I think he’s a swing tackle. Little raw. Tall kid, stronger, probably late draftable. Look at him as a swing tackle, back-up guy while he develops.”
Christian Covington, Vancouver, B.C.
Rice
Defensive lineman
2014 season stats: In seven games Covington had 14 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. (He underwent season-ending knee surgery after suffering a dislocated knee cap against Florida International on Nov. 1.)
Mayock: “Christian Covington, I like him a lot, very smart kid. I met the kid. I know the ancestry with his father who is in the Canadian Hall of Fame. The kid is as smart as can be. He’s quick, a three-technique. Probably a mid-round guy. I wish he was healthy the last couple years full-time. I like him because he’s smart and tough. David Bailiff does a great job at Rice. And I think that kid has a good future ahead of him.”