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We're a little over a month-and-a-half away from the 2015 NFL Combine, and the invites are starting to come in for some of the Mountain West's standout players. Here's a look at the first three players to grab invitations.
Cody Fajardo - QB - Nevada Wolf Pack - 6'2" - 215 lbs
Fajardo entered the season with legitimate draft hype, but a disappointing senior season has left him needing a big performance at the combine to secure a selection in the draft. This isn't to say he played poorly at Nevada. Fajardo turned in an impressive 9,569 passing yards, 3,482 rushing yards, and 101 touchdowns over his career and brought a consistency to the quarterback position over his four seasons as the starter that plenty of schools can only dream of.
Fajardo, who was a finalist for the 2014 CLASS Award, is ranked 13th in Mocking The Draft's list of top-QB prospects available. Even if he doesn't impress scouts as a quarterback, his athleticism could convince a team to take a chance on him at a different skill position.
Garrett Grayson - QB - Colorado State Rams - 6'2" - 220 lbs
Grayson enters the combine as one of the more intriguing second-tier quarterbacks in the draft. While he's currently looking at a mid-round selection, an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl, Shrine Game, and combine could have his stock skyrocketing up as high as a second-round pick.
Grayson turned in a monster senior season for Colorado State, connecting on 64.3% of his passes for 4,006 yards and 32 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. Along the way, he showcased plenty of skills that have evaluators interested, including an accurate arm to most parts of the field and a strong pocket presence.
He collected plenty of recognition over the year, being named the 2014 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, a First-Team All-Mountain West player, and a Heisman Trophy Aspirant. Over at Mocking The Draft, he is listed as the 7th-best QB prospect for the 2015 NFL Draft.
Ty Sambrailo - OT - Colorado State Rams - 6'5" - 315 lbs
Sambrailo enters the combine with arguably the best chance amongst Mountain West players of being selected in an early round. He was the anchor of the offensive line in Colorado State's high-octane offensive attack, and barring a poor effort in the Senior Bowl or combine, he figures to be a second or early-third-round selection.
Sambrailo was named to the All-Mountain West First-Team following his senior campaign. Mocking the Draft has him listed as the 63rd-best available prospect in the draft, as well as the 9th-best tackle.