Four Cougs earn invites to the NFL Scouting Combine

Less than a month from now, four Cougs will make the trek to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. The league announced yesterday that quarterback Luke Falk, defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa, offensive tackle Cole Madison and wide receiver Tavares Martin, Jr. would be participating in the combine.

Falk’s invite follows what was, by most all accounts, a very impressive performance in the week leading up to the Senior Bowl in Mobile last month (Falk skipped the game to attend Tyler Hilinski’s funeral). Madison also participated in the Senior Bowl, putting in an equally impressive performance.

Mata’afa racked up double digit sacks for WSU as a defensive tackle in 2017 but he’s listed as an outside linebacker ahead of the combine, for what it’s worth. Mata’afa figures to line up outside at the next level and, at 6’1”, 250 pounds, he’s a near carbon copy of Bruce Irvin. It will be interested to see what scouts think of Mata’afa during and after the combine in terms of where he’ll play at the next level.

Martin’s invitation is more of a surprise, as was his declaration for the draft after he was either dismissed or asked for his release in December. Whether Martin will be participating in WSU’s Pro Day ahead of the draft remains to be seen but, at the very least, he’ll be in Indianapolis for NFL teams to get a closer look at him.

The combine is spread over four days with different position groups on each of the days. Madison’s day will be Friday, March 2nd, with Falk and Martin the following day and Mata’afa on Sunday.