UH’s Ward gets invite, but there’s a catch
College QB has no problem with making switch to wide receiver
University of Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. landed an invite to the NFL scouting combine, with a slight twist.
The dual-threat quarterback is listed as a wide receiver candidate by the NFL, which released its list of 330 combine participants Wednesday. The combine is Feb. 28 to March 6 in Indianapolis.
Ward finished with 22 touchdown passes and 10 touchdown runs last season, averaging 296.4 passing yards and 43.2 rushing yards per game for the Cougars. The Tyler native piled up 8,705 career passing yards with 52 touchdowns and 26 interceptions, rushing for 2,375 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Ward will have to prove to NFL scouts that his athleticism and elusiveness as a quarterback will translate well to the wide receiver position and potentially as a kick returner. Testing, individual drills, private workouts and interviews will be pivotal to Ward’s draft stock.
“I know probably at the next level I’ll have to change positions, but that’s fine with me,” Ward said recently. “I think if I just work out and do what I have to do, I’ll be able to play anywhere.”
Meanwhile, the prospects of Cougars linebacker Tyus Bowser are rising after a strong week at the Senior Bowl. Despite missing roughly a month of games due to a broken orbital bone suffered during a fight with a teammate, Bowser (6-3, 244) led the team with 8½ sacks.
Also invited from UH is cornerback Howard Wilson, who led the team with five interceptions.
Texas A&M landed nine invites to the combine, including the potential top overall pick in defensive end Myles Garrett.
Garrett was an AllAmerican and All-Southeastern Conference selec- tion who had 15 tackles for losses and 8½ sacks as a junior despite dealing with a knee injury.
Texas Tech quarterback Pat Mahomes, who is creating buzz in NFL circles and could be a first-rounder, was also invited.
The only Univeristy of Texas player invited is running back D’Onta Foreman. The Texas City native was named an AllAmerican and won the Doak Walker award, rushing for 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns while losing six fumbles as he played through a wrist injury.
Along with Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who was captured on video punching a woman, Baylor wide receiver Ishmael Zamora wasn’t invited to the combine.
Mixon broke a woman’s jaw and cheekbone, entering an Alford plea on a misdemeanor charge. He was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and undergo counseling, avoiding jail time.
Zamora was suspended for three games last season after video surfaced of him beating and kicking a dog. Zamora was charged with a misdemeanor and was cited for animal abuse.
Other notable invitees: TCU offensive tackle Aviante Collins (Willowridge) and Lamar cornerback Brendan Langley, a Georgia transfer and converted wide receiver who played in the Senior Bowl.