Feb. 23, 2016
Indianapolis, Ind.----- The next step to a National Football League (NFL) career for three San Jose State University takes place at the NFL Combine, February 23-29, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Running back Tyler Ervin and cornerbacks Jimmy Pruitt and Cleveland Wallace III, will be measured and tested physically, mentally, and emotionally by the 32 NFL teams as part of a career journey.
Ervin, from Colton, Calif., and second nationally in all-purpose running in 2015, is one of 29 running backs. He is just the second San Jose State running back to participate in a NFL Combine in the last 17 years. Deoncé Whitaker was invited to the 2001 NFL Combine.
Ervin will be on the Lucas Oil Stadium playing field Friday, February 26 when the NFL Network begins its extensive coverage starting at 6:00 a.m. (PT).
Pruitt, a two-time honorable mention All-Mountain West selection, and Wallace, III, a 2014 second-team all-conference pick, are among 59 defensive backs auditioning before team scouts, coaches and executives. Pruitt, from San Diego, and Wallace, III, a San Jose product, take the field on the NFL Combine's final day of Monday, February 29.
The last time two Spartan cornerbacks were at a NFL Combine in the same year was in 2009 when Christopher Owens and Coye Francies accepted invitations. Owens became a third-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons and Francies was a Cleveland Browns' sixth-round pick.
The 2016 trio of Spartans marks the third time three San Jose State players are part of a NFL Combine. The 2009 class with Owens, Francies and defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert and the 2010 group of linebacker Justin Cole, defensive end Carl Ihenacho and wide receiver Kevin Jurovich are the other two years in which there were three Spartan participants.
In 2004, tight end Courtney Anderson, offensive lineman Joseph Hayes, quarterback Scott Rislov and wide receiver Kendrick Starling formed the biggest San Jose State class at a NFL Combine.