3 Cincinnati Bearcats football players will attend NFL Combine

Posted by author February 26, 2025 Football

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Three Cincinnati Bearcats were invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which begins in Indianapolis on Thursday and runs through Monday, March 3.

UC running back Corey Kiner and offensive linemen Luke Kandra and John Williams will represent the Bearcats at the annual scouting event that features different tests and interviews. Live coverage of the event will be on NFL Network and NFL+.

UC, Roger Bacon, former Ohio Mr. Football Kiner gets his NFL chance

Kiner recently wrapped up his collegiate career with his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. His 1,153 rushing yards brought his career total at UC to 2,562, which puts him eighth all-time in program history in career rushing. He had six 100-yard rushing games in 2024 and 13 total as a Bearcat, which ranks fifth in school history.

UC, Elder offensive lineman Kandra gets noticed

In 2024, Kandra was the Big 12’s highest-rated right guard by Pro Football Focus for the second straight season. The Cincinnati native and Elder High School graduate led a Bearcats offense that ranked sixth in the league in total offense (420.6). He was a preseason All-Big 12 selection this fall after earning Walter Camp Second Team and Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 2023. Kandra transferred to UC from Louisville before 2023 and started 24 straight games, giving up just one sack and consistently grading out as the Bearcats’ top offensive lineman. Kandra was also instrumental in getting former Elder teammate Joe Royer to transfer to UC from Ohio State.

Another UC offensive lineman turns heads

John Williams played in 52 games in his collegiate career and started every game in each of the last two seasons. His work at left tackle helped UC rank fifth in the nation in rushing in 2023 (217.1 yards per game), and he helped pave the way for Kiner to put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons the last two years. Williams was an aerospace engineering major at UC.

Cincinnati Bearcats in NFL Draft

Overall, 129 Bearcats have been selected all-time in the NFL draft, including one in each of the last nine drafts. Former UC defensive lineman Jowon Briggs extended that streak last year as a seventh-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati’s most illustrious draft class was the Class of 2022, which saw nine players selected including fourth overall pick Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.