University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Trio of Tigers At NFL Combine
Mar 01, 2018 | Football
Avery, Ferguson and Miller invited to the 2018 event in Indianapolis.
MEMPHIS – Three members of Memphis' 2017 football team are preparing for their first NFL job interviews this weekend when Genard Avery, Riley Ferguson and Anthony Miller participate in the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The on-field workouts for the 2018 event will be carried on the NFL Network.
The tandem of Ferguson and Miller will get their chances to shine first when quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends go through workouts on Saturday. Avery will be on the field the following day when linebackers and defensive linemen go through Sunday drills.
This is the second time in four seasons that Memphis has sent a trio of players to the NFL Combine. In 2015, Al Bond, Bobby McCain and Martin Ifedi all participated in the event. McCain was drafted in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins, where he has appeared in 48 career games. Ifedi was drafted in the seventh round by the then-St. Louis Rams. He spent part of the 2015 season on the rosters at St. Louis and Tampa Bay before signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. He spent last year on the Falcons' injured reserve. Al Bond spent two seasons as a free agent and recently graduated from the Memphis Police Academy.
In 2016, Paxton Lynch was the lone Tiger at the NFL Combine and was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos. In 2017, Jake Elliott and Arthur Maulet participated in the annual event that features over 300 players looking to impress NFL General Managers. Both completed last season on NFL active rosters, Maulet with his hometown New Orleans Saints and Elliott with the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In two years at Memphis, Ferguson helped Memphis to an 18-8 overall record and to the program's first-ever appearance in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Ferguson's 7,955 passing yards puts him third in the Memphis record book, behind four-year starter Danny Wimprine and three-year starter and 2016 first round pick Paxton Lynch. His 70 career passing touchdowns are second only to Wimprine. A first-team all-conference honoree as a senior, Ferguson was named to the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien and Unitas Golden Arm Watch lists and was a semifinalist for the both the Davey O'Brien award and the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy.
Ferguson graduated from first in his class of Interdisciplinary Studies majors in December. He capped his Memphis career with an appearance in the East-West Shrine Game in January.
Miller leaves Memphis with virtually all of the Tigers' receiving records to his credit. Just the third NCAA Consensus All-American in program history, Miller was named a first team All-America honoree in 2017 by the AFCA, the Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic. He earned second team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sports Illustrated and Sporting News. Named the 2017 winner of the Touchdown Club of Columbus' Paul Warfield Award and a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, Miller leaves Memphis with single game, single season and career records in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. A two-time all-conference wide receiver, Miller leaves Memphis with 238 catches for 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns. His 96 catches in 2017 surpassed his own single season record of 95 catches in 2016 and his 18 receiving touchdowns tied for the lead in FBS football in 2018.
Miller graduated from the University of Memphis in December and was invited to participate in the 2018 Senior Bowl, but a foot injury suffered in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl meant he was unable to participate in the game.
Avery was a four-year letter winner and a two-time, first-team all-conference linebacker for the Tigers. Appearing in 50 career games at Memphis, Avery finished third in school history with 21.5 career sacks and second with 45.5 career TFL. The Grenada, Mississippi native also added four forced fumbles, seven PBU, one fumble recovery and two career interceptions, both for touchdowns. He had a career-best 8.5 sacks as a senior in 2017, a year that saw him move around inside and out in the Tigers' scheme due to injuries to defensive personnel.
Avery also graduated from Memphis in December and capped his career at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in California in January.
The NFL Combine schedule for Ferguson and Miller got underway Thursday with measurements, medical examinations and team interviews. Those position groups will have their NFLPA meeting on Friday, then media availability and bench press workouts. The on-field workout will be on Saturday. The schedule for linebackers begins today with pre-exams and x-rays and some team interviews. Friday's linebacker schedule features measurements, medical exams and more team interviews. Saturday will be the linebackers' turns at the bench press and the group will finish with their on-field activities on Sunday.
The players will then return to training sites in preparation for Memphis' Pro Day, scheduled for Friday, April 6th.
The tandem of Ferguson and Miller will get their chances to shine first when quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends go through workouts on Saturday. Avery will be on the field the following day when linebackers and defensive linemen go through Sunday drills.
This is the second time in four seasons that Memphis has sent a trio of players to the NFL Combine. In 2015, Al Bond, Bobby McCain and Martin Ifedi all participated in the event. McCain was drafted in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins, where he has appeared in 48 career games. Ifedi was drafted in the seventh round by the then-St. Louis Rams. He spent part of the 2015 season on the rosters at St. Louis and Tampa Bay before signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. He spent last year on the Falcons' injured reserve. Al Bond spent two seasons as a free agent and recently graduated from the Memphis Police Academy.
In 2016, Paxton Lynch was the lone Tiger at the NFL Combine and was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos. In 2017, Jake Elliott and Arthur Maulet participated in the annual event that features over 300 players looking to impress NFL General Managers. Both completed last season on NFL active rosters, Maulet with his hometown New Orleans Saints and Elliott with the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In two years at Memphis, Ferguson helped Memphis to an 18-8 overall record and to the program's first-ever appearance in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Ferguson's 7,955 passing yards puts him third in the Memphis record book, behind four-year starter Danny Wimprine and three-year starter and 2016 first round pick Paxton Lynch. His 70 career passing touchdowns are second only to Wimprine. A first-team all-conference honoree as a senior, Ferguson was named to the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien and Unitas Golden Arm Watch lists and was a semifinalist for the both the Davey O'Brien award and the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy.
Ferguson graduated from first in his class of Interdisciplinary Studies majors in December. He capped his Memphis career with an appearance in the East-West Shrine Game in January.
Miller leaves Memphis with virtually all of the Tigers' receiving records to his credit. Just the third NCAA Consensus All-American in program history, Miller was named a first team All-America honoree in 2017 by the AFCA, the Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic. He earned second team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sports Illustrated and Sporting News. Named the 2017 winner of the Touchdown Club of Columbus' Paul Warfield Award and a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, Miller leaves Memphis with single game, single season and career records in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. A two-time all-conference wide receiver, Miller leaves Memphis with 238 catches for 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns. His 96 catches in 2017 surpassed his own single season record of 95 catches in 2016 and his 18 receiving touchdowns tied for the lead in FBS football in 2018.
Miller graduated from the University of Memphis in December and was invited to participate in the 2018 Senior Bowl, but a foot injury suffered in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl meant he was unable to participate in the game.
Avery was a four-year letter winner and a two-time, first-team all-conference linebacker for the Tigers. Appearing in 50 career games at Memphis, Avery finished third in school history with 21.5 career sacks and second with 45.5 career TFL. The Grenada, Mississippi native also added four forced fumbles, seven PBU, one fumble recovery and two career interceptions, both for touchdowns. He had a career-best 8.5 sacks as a senior in 2017, a year that saw him move around inside and out in the Tigers' scheme due to injuries to defensive personnel.
Avery also graduated from Memphis in December and capped his career at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in California in January.
The NFL Combine schedule for Ferguson and Miller got underway Thursday with measurements, medical examinations and team interviews. Those position groups will have their NFLPA meeting on Friday, then media availability and bench press workouts. The on-field workout will be on Saturday. The schedule for linebackers begins today with pre-exams and x-rays and some team interviews. Friday's linebacker schedule features measurements, medical exams and more team interviews. Saturday will be the linebackers' turns at the bench press and the group will finish with their on-field activities on Sunday.
The players will then return to training sites in preparation for Memphis' Pro Day, scheduled for Friday, April 6th.
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