Three Cougars Among Top Talent at NFL Scouting Combine

INDIANAPOLIS – Three former University of Houston Football standouts will take the first step in their professional journeys when they take part in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, held this week, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The invite-only event features 300+ of the best college football players in the country showcasing their skills in front of coaches, general managers and scouts.

Houston's contingent includes offensive lineman Patrick Paul, edge defender Nelson Ceaser and edge defender David Ugwoegbu. Houston and Oklahoma are the only two Big 12 Conference programs to have 3+ players invited to the NFL Combine each of the last four years.

The Scouting Combine Live Drills begin Thursday with exclusive live coverage on NFL Network starting at 2 p.m. CT. The full schedule is as follows:

Thursday, 2 p.m. CT – Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
Friday, 2 p.m. CT – Defensive Backs, Tight Ends
Saturday, Noon CT – Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
Sunday, Noon CT – Offensive Linemen

A total of 192 Cougars have been selected in the NFL Draft all-time including 21 selections since 2016. Houston has had at least one player selected in eight consecutive NFL Drafts (2016-present), the second longest streak in Texas. Houston's four NFL Draft selections a year ago ranked 20^th nationally and third in Texas. The 2024 NFL Draft is slated for April 25-27 in Detroit.

GET TO KNOW: PATRICK PAUL

Three-time First Team All-Conference honoree (2021-23)
Only offensive lineman nationally with 90.0+ pass block grade (PFF) in each of last two seasons (2022-23)
National-best 91.5 pass block grade (PFF) among tackles in 2023
One sack allowed in 469 opportunities during 2023
2023 Dave Campbell's Texas Football Best Offensive Lineman in Texas
In 2022, graded out as nation's No. 2 pass blocker among tackles (91.1)
One sack permitted in 565 opportunities in 2022
Two-time Houston Football Team Captain
Earned Bachelor of Science in Retailing & Consumer Science
From Houston to Nigeria and Back: My Journey Beyond Football

GET TO KNOW: NELSON CEASER

2023 Houston Football Team Captain
2023 First Team All-Big 12 Conference
Career: 103 tackles, 28.5 TFLs and 18 sacks
Eighth nationally and tops in Big 12 in sacks per game in 2023 (0.86)
Led Big 12 in sacks (9.5) and paced Cougars with 13.5 tackles for loss in 2023
Earned Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies
No. 3 grade in The American among edge defenders (82.7) in 2022
Second on team in tackles for loss in 2022 (10.0)
Appeared in 12 games in 2021
5.0 tackles as part of Birmingham Bowl victory vs. Auburn

GET TO KNOW: DAVID UGWOEGBU

2,568 defensive snaps across five-year Big 12 career (Houston, Oklahoma)
Career: 249 tackles, 22.0 TFLs and 7.0 sacks
5+ tackles in 28 career games; 10+ tackles four times
87.3 coverage grade ranked second among Big 12 edge defenders in 2023
Season high 7.0 tackles against #8/8 Texas (Oct. 21)
Tackles in all 12 games including multiple stops eight times
2022 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference
Fourth in Big 12 with 8.4 tackles per game in 2022
Earned Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Oklahoma

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