Typically, college programs conduct their pro day workouts for NFL scouts to attend and evaluate their players for the upcoming NFL Draft. But starting in 2024, the Big 12 conference is going with a more unified approach.
On Wednesday morning, The Big 12 announced that instead of individual pro day workouts at each school, it would be holding conference-wide pro day next year ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft with all 14 teams participating, including Texas and Oklahoma, who are set to depart for the SEC.
“The first-of-its-kind Big 12 Pro Day will provide our student-athletes an opportunity to showcase their talent and skill as they turn their NFL dreams into reality,” said Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark in a statement related later Wednesday. “Through this partnership with the NFL, Big 12 student-athletes will receive national media exposure across NFL Network and NFL Media platforms. We are thrilled to partner with the NFL to host this Pro Day, and we look forward to creating a special experience for our student-athletes.”
It’s a major move for both the conference and the NFL Draft, and the football world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Really cool idea. Love this.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) March 15, 2023
Good move. https://t.co/NWdYfhrKqZ
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) March 15, 2023
Younger. Hipper. Cooler. https://t.co/HcUrDnhYVE
— Keenan Cummings (@rivalskeenan) March 15, 2023
This is one of those ideas that is so good and obvious that you sit there and ask yourself “Why hasn’t this been thought of before?” https://t.co/uvovqge4Mo
— Royal John OSU (@WastedOptimism) March 15, 2023
Big Time Exposure for our Conference and players like no other league in the Country! @Big12Conference @NFL https://t.co/NOoclB7oMN
— Rob Ianello (@CoachRobIanello) March 15, 2023
This feels like something that could catch on around the country. A mini NFL combine, so to speak. https://t.co/Gy2Uk0HWvX
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) March 15, 2023
I have a feeling this could become a trend around college football among the individual conferences https://t.co/cEId8cTZCX
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) March 15, 2023
It seems like a great move for the conference that other conferences will likely follow in the future.
[Big 12]
