The 2011 NFL Combine will once again be held in Indianapolis this year, starting on February 23rd, as teams and players alike prepare for this April's draft. That being said, the Combine's official website has released the names of the players that will be taking place in the week long scrutinizing event.
Expect most of the Patriots' top draft picks to be at the NFL Draft Combine this year. In 2010, 11 of the Patriots 12 draft picks were combine invites, with defensive lineman Kade Weston being the lone exclusion. That doesn't mean the Patriots' haven't looked outside the combine in the past. In 2009, the team drafted offensive linemen Sebastian Vollmer, Rich Ohrnberger, and George Bussey in the second, fourth, and fifth rounds, respectively; none of the three received combine invites. And in just his second year, tackle Sebastian Vollmer was named to the AP All-Pro second team.
Of course, we'll be breaking down who could be of interest to the Patriots in the coming weeks. For now, feel free to sift through the list and pick out any names of real interest to you.