It was a historic night of sorts for Irish sport as a trio of GAA goalkeepers - Rory Beggan, Mark Jackson and Charlie Smyth = were all on show for the 32 NFL teams at the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Word coming out of it were the teams were very impressed with the performance and conditioning of the Irish contingent.
The trio along with former Connacht rugby player Darragh Leader are all in Indianapolis as part of the NFL's International Pathway Programme. The Combine allows all 32 NFL teams to have a look at a majority of the players eligible in the upcoming NFL draft. The players are tested on their physical attributes as well as their specialist skills, which in the case of the Irish group is kicking and punting.
How Did The Irish Players Get On At The NFL Combine?
During the combine last night, former GAA players Rory Beggan, Mark Jackson, and Charlie Smyth were involved in place kicking drills and shone brightly. They kicked field goals without the pressure of lineman trying to block their kick. Down man Smyth was the most accurate of the three going 12/16 and narrowly missing a kick from 60 yards. Monaghan's Rory Beggan was close behind going 11/16 and Wicklow's Mark Jackson scored an impressive 10/16.
Scoring all their efforts from less than 35 yards is crucial as the distance for an extra point after a touchdown is 33 yards, therefore assuring teams that they can make their extra points is vital.
Rory Beggan, from the @officialgaa to the NFL combine! 🏈🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/kbACiD1wMa
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 4, 2024
It wasn't just kicking NFL scouts were impressed by but the condition the IPP players had scouts talking as well. With many of the American kickers coming from a soccer background, the GAA players bring a different physique and level of conditioning.
Conor Mangan, who works Tadgh Leader's kicking programme Leader Kicking, shared some insights he'd picked up from speaking to coaches
Rams Special Teams evaluator after meeting with all the Irish IPP athletes:
“These guys are just built different. Elite mindset… they have it. They just have it. Not to mention they’re all built like brick s***houses”#nflcombine #irishkickers #ipp
— Conor Mangan (@DropkickMangan) March 3, 2024
NFL teams are very impressed with the shape that lads are in.“Night and day between them and the college guys”.
Particularly Darragh Leader and Harry Mallinder: “wait, this ain’t the Tight End room, is it?” one NFL coach said.
These lads are uncommon.@NFLUK @PatMcAfeeShow
— Conor Mangan (@DropkickMangan) March 3, 2024
Scouts weren't the only ones impressed but pundits as well. Sky Sports Neil Reynolds posted a tweet commending the group for their performance at the Combine.
These boys handled the high-pressure environment of the NFL Combine very well last night. I was hanging on every kick watching live... they looked the part, for sure. 🔥 https://t.co/RGt5z2xaGW
— Neil Reynolds (@neilreynoldsnfl) March 4, 2024
It's safe to say the trio last night made a lot of new fans. Darragh Leader along with former Northampton Saints rugby player Henry Mallinder will take part in the punting drills later today.
Any of the players in the IPP can be signed from this point on and with the talk being nothing but positive coming out of Indianapolis, we're hopeful each of the four Irishmen will have a chance of making an extended NFL roster for next season.
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