Alabama and Georgia will be well-represented next month when the National Football League holds its annual combine in Indianapolis.
The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs, who competed for college football's 2017 national championship in January, combined for a whopping 24 player invitations to the NFL's premier scouting showcase. Alabama's 14 invitees top all colleges, with Ohio State next with 11 representatives and Georgia and LSU with 10 apiece.
Florida State and Miami each has nine players invited to the combine, while Penn State has eight and Auburn seven.
The NFL announced its combine invitees Tuesday. The on-field workouts in Indianapolis have been scheduled for March 2-5.
Representing Alabama will be running back Bo Scarbrough, receivers Robert Foster and Calvin Ridley, defensive tackles Joshua Frazier and Da'Ron Payne, defensive end Da'Shawn Hand, linebackers Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton, defensive backs Anthony Averett, Tony Brown, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison and Levi Wallace and punter JK Scott.
Scarbrough, Ridley, Payne, Fitzpatrick and Harrison announced last month that they were entering the NFL draft a year early.
Georgia's 10-member representation consists of running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, receiver Javon Wims, offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, defensive tackles John Atkins and Trenton Thompson, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, outside linebackers Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter and safety Dominick Sanders.
Thompson and Smith elected to forgo their final season of college eligibility.
An updated mock draft by ESPN's Todd McShay on Tuesday had four Alabama players being selected in the first round - Fitzpatrick to Tampa Bay at No. 7, Ridley to Chicago at No. 8, Evans to Buffalo at No. 21 and Payne to Buffalo at No. 22 - and two Georgia players: Smith to Washington at No. 13 and Wynn to Detroit at No. 20.
Tennessee had four players selected to the combine: running back John Kelly, defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden and punter Trevor Daniel.
Eason official
The University of Washington announced Tuesday that former Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason had joined the Huskies, posting "Welcome home" on its Twitter account.
Eason, a resident of Lake Stevens, Wash., was the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2016 signing class, according to 247Sports.com. He started 12 of 13 games for the Bulldogs as a freshman but suffered a knee injury in last season's opener against Appalachian State and never returned to the starting lineup due to the stellar play of Jake Fromm.
Spring games set
Alabama and Georgia are holding their spring football games on April 21, and each will be televised by ESPN. Alabama's A-Day contest will run 2-4 p.m. Eastern, with Georgia's G-Day set for 4-6.
Tennessee's spring game, the first under coach Jeremy Pruitt, also will be April 21 from 2 to 4; it will be televised by the SEC Network.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.