The second annual Big 12 Pro Day kicks off Tuesdsay in Frisco, Texas, with former Colorado quarterback and potential top-10 NFL Draft pick Shedeur Sanders scheduled to attend. Similar to the NFL combine, Sanders isn’t planning to go through any of the typical skill and field workouts such as the 40-yard dash, but he will be able to meet and interview with NFL coaches, scouts and executives on site. His father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is also expected to attend.
The Big 12’s four-day showcase will be held Tuesday through Friday at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters. More than 200 Big 12 football players from the 2024 season are expected to participate, with nearly 300 representatives across all 32 NFL teams on hand. NFL Network will broadcast live coverage of workouts from 1 to 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday and Thursday.
The league started the event last year as an opportunity for players who didn’t receive invites to the NFL combine or might not draw significant attention to a campus pro day or private workout.
“The number of athletes who get invited to the combine is relatively small,” said Scott Draper, the Big 12’s chief football and competition officer. “This allows those kids to have a combine feel and attention that they wouldn’t normally get.”
In year two, the conference also has the benefit of some bigger names at the top of the marquee. Sanders is the headliner, but another handful of projected Day 2 prospects are slated to participate, including Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea (No. 52 on Dane Brugler’s top 100 big board), Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish (No. 86), Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant (No. 96) and West Virginia offensive lineman Wyatt Milum.
A conference that boasted arguably the best collection of running backs in 2024 will also be well represented at the position, with Corey Kiner (Cincinnati), Devin Neal (Kansas), DJ Giddens (Kansas State), Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State) and Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech) all scheduled to participate.
More than anything, the event aims to give those mid- to late-round or undrafted free agent prospects the chance to improve their draft stock, including the likes of Arizona State defensive back Shamari Simmons, BYU defensive lineman Tyler Batty, Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra, Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers and Utah defensive lineman Junior Tafuna.
“Partnering with the NFL for Big 12 Pro Day is a great asset,” said Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark. “Their platform allows us the opportunity to amplify our league storytelling and elevate our student-athlete experience.”
Evaluators from the UFL and CFL professional leagues will also be in Frisco, as well as talent scouts from WWE and NASCAR.
“Some guys will come out of this that aren’t going to play football,” said Draper. “But maybe they can be on a NASCAR pit crew. This is about giving these kids a chance to continue their experience in sports, whatever that might be.”
(Photo of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
