SEATTLE (AP) — Keith Price is Washington’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and is second in yards passing. He was so certain an invitation to the NFL combine was coming he spent January working out in Southern California to get ready for the chance to show-off in front of the NFL scouts.And then the invite never came.
“I thought there was no doubt that I was going,” Price said.
Without the chance to perform in Indianapolis, Price’s pro day on Wednesday became vitally important to his NFL future. Price threw before representatives of about 20 NFL teams, including Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
His goal was to show that he has the arm strength to play in the NFL. A 65-yard pass right from the start of his throwing session certainly caught the attention of everyone watching. Price made between 45 and 50 throws during his scripted passing session with only a few passes hitting the ground.
“People look at my frame and a lot of times I’m not going deep and testing my arm strength but I can throw the ball,” Price said. “I think I have a strong arm, I’m confident in myself and I’m confident in my abilities.”
Price threw for 2,966 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, and missed 1 1/2 games due to injury. It was a strong rebound from a disappointing junior season and seemed to set up Price for a shot at a professional career.
He wasn’t the only one surprised that he didn’t get a combine invite.
“At first I was a little taken aback by it, just because I know what he’s done here at the university and how great of a quarterback he is,” former Washington running back Bishop Sankey said. “I think it added a chip on his shoulder and he wanted to come out here and prove that he is a capable quarterback.”
Price was in the spotlight throughout the workout but Sankey wasn’t far behind. Sankey was a standout at the combine in February, jumping near the top of the list of available running backs.
Coming off the finest rushing season in Washington history with 1,870 yards, Sankey was the top performer in the bench press, 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle at the combine.
Sankey only participated in some positional drills Wednesday and caught a handful of passes from Price. He’s being projected as a possible second- or third-round selection.
“Just wanted to catch the ball, show them I had natural hands. I wanted to look smooth running routes, looking smooth as well in the drills and everything,” Sankey said.
Still a spectator was tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is recovering from surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot. He had surgery in late February and hopes to be cleared by doctors for workouts by the end of April.
