Ten MAC Students Invited To 2019 NFL Combine
TEN MAC STUDENTS INVITED TO 2019 NFL COMBINE
Ten former MAC football students will represent the Conference at the upcoming NFL Combine from Feb. 26-March 4 in Indianapolis. The NFL Combine annual event at Lucas Oil Stadium will feature over 330 of the top NFL prospects in a showcase of their talent and to meet coaching and personnel staff from all 32 NFL teams.
MAC students invited to the 2019 NFL Combine:
Akron - DE Jamal Davis
Buffalo - QB Tyree Jackson
Buffalo - WR Anthony Johnson
Central Michigan - DB Sean Bunting
Central Michigan - DB Xavier Crawford
Eastern Michigan - DE Maxx Crosby
Northern Illinois - OT Max Scharping
Northern Illinois - DE Sutton Smith
Toledo - WR Diontae Johnson
Toledo - WR Cody Thompson
DE Jamal Davis, Akron:
Davis appeared in all 12 games last season and was named All-MAC Second Team as he ranked third on the Zips with 82 tackles, including 48 solo tackles. Davis led Akron with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss, while adding one interception, seven passes defensed and one forced fumble.
QB Tyree Jackson, Buffalo:
Jackson is one of 17 quarterbacks scheduled to participate and one of only three from a non-Autonomous school. The 2018 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jackson threw for 3,131 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2018. His 28 touchdowns were second in school history for a single season and his 35 combined passing and rushing touchdowns were the most in program history for a single season.
WR Anthony Johnson, Buffalo:
Johnson is one of 48 wide receivers scheduled to participate. He had another stellar season for the Bulls, leading the team with 57 receptions for 1,011 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018. In only 25 career games, Johnson finished his career ranked fourth in school history in career receiving yards with 2,367 and third in career touchdowns with 25. He was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection.
DB Sean Bunting, Central Michigan:
Bunting appeared in all 12 games in 2018 for the Chippewas and was named All-MAC First Team as he collected 37 tackles, including 26 solo tackles, with three tackles for loss. He added two interceptions, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick.
DB Xavier Crawford, Central Michigan:
Crawford played in 11 games last year for Central Michigan and was named All-MAC First Team as he totaled 24 tackles, including 18 solo tackles. Crawford added three tackles for loss, one interception, 13 passes defensed and two recovered fumbles.
DE Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan:
Crosby started all 12 games for Eastern Michigan last season and was named All-MAC First Team as he led the Eagles with eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss. His eight sacks tied for sixth in the MAC, while his 19 tackles for loss ranked second in the league and tied for 10th in the nation. Crosby added 70 total tackles, including 31 solo tackles, with one interceptions, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles, one recovered fumble and one blocked kick.
OT Max Scharping, Northern Illinois:
Scharping is a three-time All-MAC First Team selection who has started 53 consecutive games and played every snap (998 plays) and helped lead NIU to the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship. Scharping completed his master's degree in exercise physiology and fitness leadership in December. He earned his undergraduate degree in kinesiology with a 3.99 grade point average, and currently has a 3.89 mark in his master's coursework. Also in December, Scharping was named Academic All-America First Team and was honored in New York City at the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, where he was one of 13 National Scholar-Athletes across all divisions of college football, and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Scharping was named one of the Top 10 offensive linemen in the FBS by USA Today, he did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure versus Utah, BYU or Florida State in 2018. The Huskie left tackle also scored on a two-point conversion in NIU's 24-21 victory over Ohio.
DE Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois:
Smith was a first team All-American selection by AP, ESPN, SI.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and a second team choice by Walter Camp, the AFCA, PFF and the FWAA in 2018 and was a consensus All-American in 2017. A native of St. Charles, Mo., Smith was the ninth Huskie to earn the Vern Smith Leadership Award given to the MAC's most valuable player and repeated as the MAC Defensive Player of the year.
WR Diontae Johnson, Toledo:
Johnson was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, including All-MAC First Team as punt returner and kickoff returner for the Rockets. Johnson had 13 punt returns for 241 yards and an 18.5 average with one punt return for a touchdown, while adding 16 kickoff returns for 412 yards for a 25.8 average with one kickoff return for a touchdown. Johnson appeared in all 13 games last season and was also named All-MAC First Team as a wide receiver as he led the Rockets with 49 receptions for 761 yards (15.5 avg.) and added eight touchdown recepitons.
WR Cody Thompson, Toledo:
Thompson was a two-time All-MAC First Team selection at wide receiver for the Rockets. Thompson caught 181 passes for 3,312 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns in his career. As a senior, he had 48 receptions for 647 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was named second-team Academic All-America.
