CBS Sports has learned that the Big 12 will partner with the NFL to host their own professional day next year ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The event will take place at the Dallas Cowboys Training Center in Frisco, Texas.
Big 12 Pro Day is considered the first of its kind: an all-in-one event where NFL Evaluators can watch the best players from a major college conference in one place. This is the Ford Center, a 510,000-square-foot indoor sports facility in the Cowboys complex known as The Star in Frisco.
All 14 schools playing Big 12 in the 2023 college football season are expected to participate in lieu of pro days on their campuses. This includes Texas and Oklahoma, which will exit the Big 12 into the SEC on July 1, 2024.
“The first-of-its-kind Big 12 Pro Day will provide our student-athletes with an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills while making their NFL dreams a reality,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Jormark said in a statement released later Wednesday. “Through this partnership with the NFL, Big 12 student-athletes will receive national media coverage on the NFL Network and NFL Media platforms. our student athletes.
The NFL Network will broadcast Big 12 Pro Day and the league will promote the event extensively on their platforms. A date has not yet been set for the event, which is still a year away.
“A unified Big 12 approach will provide maximum exposure, mentoring and world-class development opportunities for potential future prospects,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “From state-of-the-art medical and talent assessments to maximum media coverage and professional development in the classroom, these future leaders will receive a dignified, respectful and comprehensive assessment.”
Pro days allow NFL draft-eligible players to perform complex exercises in front of league officials, coaches, and scouts.
While the practices themselves will be closed to the public, the Big 12 Fan Fest will take place outside of the event. The Dallas-headquartered conference will also host a career fair that includes professional networking and non-football development opportunities for Big 12 athletes.
Last year, 25 players were selected to the Big 12, which is tied with the Pac-12 in third place among conferences behind the SEC and the Big Ten. The SEC led all conferences for the 16th year in a row.
Source: www.cbssports.com
