MANHATTAN, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics) – Four Kansas State football players – defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, cornerback Julius Brents, wide receiver Malik Knowles and running back Deuce Vaughn – have been invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, as the NFL on Wednesday released the list of 319 prospects requested for the multi-day event in Indianapolis, Indiana.
It is the most Wildcats selected to participate in the NFL Combine since five K-State players attended in 2013.
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine runs February 28 through March 6 with on-field workouts inside Lucas Oil Stadium slated for March 2-5. Those workouts will be televised live on NFL Network. The NFL Combine is one of the most important events for prospects leading up to the NFL Draft, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27 through April 29.
Anudike-Uzomah left K-State tying for sixth in school history in career sacks (20.5) and fourth in career forced fumbles (8). A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah earned numerous All-America honors as both a junior and senior, including first-team accolades from USA TODAY following the 2022 season.
Brents, who shined during the Reese’s Senior Bowl last week, started all 27 games for the Wildcats over the last two seasons after transferring in from Iowa. He was an All-Big 12 First Team honoree in 2022 thanks in part to ranking 22nd nationally and third in the Big 12 with four interceptions.
A dynamic wide receiver and kick returner, Knowles enjoyed his best receiving season as a Wildcat in 2022 after hauling in 48 passes for 725 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He finished his career ranked fifth in school history in career all-purpose yards (3,998), which included 1,691 career kickoff-return yards to rank second in K-State history behind current Seattle Seahawk wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
Vaughn became just the second player in school history to year back-to-back Consensus All-America honors as he picked up the nod again in 2022. He left K-State with the school records for receptions (116) and receiving yards (1,280) by a running back, two of 14 career categories in which he landed in the top 10. He is the school’s second all-time leading rusher with 3,604 career yards, sitting behind only Darren Sproles, who went on to enjoy a 15-year NFL career and ranks sixth in league history in career all-purpose yards.
