NFL combine invitee: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State (Stephenson)

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat (9) forces Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) to fumble as he attempts to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Starkville, Miss. A main reason Mississippi State is allowing fewer than 13 points per game is a defensive front anchored by end Montez Sweat and tackle Jeffery Simmons. Sweat has 18 sacks in 19 career games. Mississippi State plays at LSU on Saturday, Oct. 20. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

Feb 22, 2019

Twenty-five former Georgia high school football players were invited to the NFL scouting combine to be held Tuesday through Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Georgia’s representation is tied for third-most with California and trails Florida (51) and Texas (31), according to NFL.com. Ohio is next with 20. There are 338 invitees overall.

Today, we’ll take a look at Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat:

Montez Sweat, 6-6, 241, DE, Mississippi State, Stephenson. The speed rushing defensive end is expected to be the first player from Georgia selected in the draft. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has projected that he'll go fifth overall to Tampa Bay. He started his career at Michigan State before he transferred to a junior college and resurfaced at Mississippi State. "Montez Sweat is a pass-rusher," Kiper said. "He showed that early on. In fact, when we got into early October, I had Sweat as the eighth best player on the big board. Then he got kind of quiet. Then he came through with a couple of sacks late in the season. Then he had the really good Senior Bowl week. He's got the length. He's got the explosiveness. That's why I moved him up to that spot."