Virginia Tech sending ACC best six prospects to NFL Scouting Combine

A few days ago on Feb. 9, the NFL officially released the list of 324 prospects invited to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana and participate in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Field. The Virginia Tech Hokies had six prospects invited, leading the ACC.

The Georgia Bulldogs landed a nationwide high of 14 invites for former players in this year’s combine. Behind the national champs in the invite count are Alabama and Oklahoma with 11. Last year, it was Ohio State that led the nation’s top programs with 14 invitees, followed by Alabama, Georgia, and Notre Dame with 11 each.

Below is the list of Virginia Tech players that were invited.

Virginia Tech 2022 NFL Scouting Combine Invitees

• DL Amare Barno
• TE James Mitchell
• OL Lecitus Smith
• OL Luke Tenuta
• WR Tre Turner
• DB Jermaine Waller

Highlighting some key stats and accolades

The NFL Scouting Combine will be a huge opportunity for Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell to prove that he’s fully healthy after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in September 2021. In 2020, he hauled in 26 catches for 435 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. He should be an intriguing tight end prospect for NFL teams to look at with a lot of upside. He’s not listed in many mock drafts, but will be a highly intriguing prospect teams will look at on day three. Mitchell was a second team All-ACC selection by PFF.

Tre Turner was one of the more underrated receivers in the ACC during his time with the Hokies. He left Virginia Tech as the fifth-ranked receiver in school history in both catches (134) and receiving yards (2,292). He had a career-year in 2021, hauling in 40 catches for 675 receiving yards, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors. Turner erupted against Georgia Tech on Oct. 30, pulling in seven catches for a career-high 187 receiving yards and a career-long 69-yard touchdown catch.

Jermaine Waller was a second team All-ACC selection in 2021. He led Virginia Tech and the ACC with four interceptions this season, including a pick-six against Notre Dame on Oct. 9.

It will be interesting to see which Virginia Tech players can carve out a future for themselves at the next level. If any of the Hokies invited to the combine wish to have another opportunity to impress NFL scouts, they can do so at the Virginia Tech Pro Day on Tuesday, March 22.

The 2022 NFL Draft will held on April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this story.