NFL combine invitee: Essang Bassey, DB, Wake Forest (Columbus HS)

In 2016, a total of 26 players with Georgia ties competed at the combine. In 2015, there were 37. In 2014, 23 players and in 2013, 29 and in 2012, there were 26.

There also were more than 30 players (31) in 2011.

Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, a potential top-10 NFL draft pick, heads the list of former Bulldogs on the list of 337 players who have been invited.

The first on-field drills will start Feb. 27.

Today, we’ll look at Wake Forest defensive back Essang Bassey:

Essang Bassey, 5-9, 190, DB, Columbus HS, Wake Forest. He was elected a team captain for the 2019 season. He was a third-team all-ACC pick as a senior after making 60 tackles and 2.5 for loss. He had an interception and 11 pass breakups over his 13 starts. He finished his career with 39 consecutive starts and had 45 pass breakups over his career. He was a first team all-state Class AAAAA by The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He has a 5.44 grade (Chance to make end of roster or practice squad) by NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein.

Here are the other players with Georgia connections who have been invited to the combine:

Player, Pos., High school, college

Tremayne Anchrum, OL, McEachern HS, Clemson
Tyler Bass, PK, Dutch Fork (S.C.), Georgia Southern
Essang Bassey, DB, Columbus HS, Wake Forest
Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Sprayberry HS, Georgia
Derrick Brown, DT, Lanier HS, Auburn
Harrison Bryant, TE, John Milledge Academy, Florida Atlantic
Lawrence Cager, WR, Calvert Hall (Md.), Georgia
Marquez Callaway, WR, Warner Robins HS, Tennessee
Quintez Cephus, WR, Stratford Academy, Wisconsin
Josiah Coatney, DL, Chapel Hill HS, Mississippi
DeeJay Dallas, RB, Glynn Academy, Miami
Kyle Dugger, DB, Whitewater HS, Lenoir-Rhyne
Blake Ferguson, LS, Buford HS, LSU
Jake Fromm, QB, Houston County HS, Georgia
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Paulding County HS, Liberty
Antonio Gibson, WR, Eagle's Landing HS, Memphis
Jonathan Greenard, DL, Hiram HS, Florida
Brian Herrien, RB, New Manchester HS, Georgia
Solomon Kindley, OL, Raines (Fla.), Georgia
Jordan Mack, LB, Wesleyan School, Virginia
Xavier McKinney, DB, Roswell HS, Alabama
Jared Pinkney, TE, Norcross HS, Vanderbilt
J.R. Reed, DB, Prestonwood Christian (Texas), Georgia
Chauncey Rivers, DL, Stephenson HS, Mississippi State
D'Andre Swift, RB, St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.), Georgia
A.J. Terrell, DB, Westlake HS, Clemson
Andrew Thomas, OL, Pace Academy, Georgia
Kindle Vildor, DB, North Clayton HS, Georgia Southern
Isaiah Wilson, OL, Poly Prep Country Day (N.Y), Georgia
Charlie Woerner, TE, Rabun County HS, Georgia
D.J. Wonnum, DL, Stephenson HS, South Carolina

Jabari Zuniga, DL, Sprayberry HS, Florida