When might these Fresno State players hear their names in the 2020 NFL Draft?

Just like other NFL Draft hopefuls, former Fresno State standout linebacker Mykal Walker never had a chance to meet with general managers and coaches for a second time.

The coronavirus pandemic put a halt to face-to-face meetings, changing the landscape of the NFL Draft that begins Thursday.

“Zoom chat with GMS, coaches and assistants,” Walker said this week. “I talked to so many different teams.”

He’s hoping one of them liked enough of what it heard to pick him this week. Round 1 is Thursday, Rounds 2-3 on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, on NFL Network, ESPN and ABC.

Walker and former Bulldogs teammate Netane Muti are on many team’s draft boards, and other former Fresno State players are hopeful of signing free-agent deals after the draft ends.

NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projects Walker to get drafted in Round 6.

Walker said he felt he had a productive combine in late February in Indianapolis, where he was listed at 6-foot3 and 230 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds.

At Fresno State, Walker finished with 91 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and five pass deflections.

Walker said he hasn’t had time to think about his early football career because “I’m still getting calls from different teams.

“I have tremendous family that’s been with me from the start. I just know when I get my name called I’m going to have that chance and really reflect and remember the past. For me it’s remembering where I came from and just be grateful that I’m here now.”

Muti could go in early rounds

Despite injuries at Fresno State, offensive lineman Netane Muti is rated as a draft prospect.

Nevermind the Achilles (2018) and Lisfranc (2019) injuries, Muti proved his worth when he started 14 games at left guard in 2017.