Michigan State University Athletics
Four Spartans Invited to NFL Combine in Indy
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
January 30, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Four Michigan State players - running back Sedrick Irvin, safety Sorie Kanu, outside linebacker Courtney Ledyard and defensive end Dimitrius Underwood - have been invited to attend the National Football League's Combine for timing and testing Feb. 18-22 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Irvin, who elected to forego his senior season, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1998 after rushing for 1,167 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 225-pound tailback from Miami became only the second player in school history to record three-straight 1,000-yard seasons. He had six 100-yard games in '98, including a season-high 140 yards vs. Northwestern (28 carries). As a junior, Irvin accounted for 75 percent of Michigan State's ground attack.
He finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in rushing (fourth at 3,504 yards), rushing touchdowns (second at 35), total touchdowns (second at 42), scoring (fifth at 252 points), all-purpose yards (third at 4,833) and receiving (ninth at 108 catches). Irvin had 15 career 100-yard games, including a career-best 238 yards vs. Penn State (28 attempts) in the 1997 regular-season finale. The Spartans went undefeated in his 12 career multi-TD games.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Irvin No. 8 at his position, making him a likely fourth- or fifth-round selection.
Kanu, a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches, averaged a team-leading 11.0 tackles per game in '98. He was credited with 121 total tackles (73 solos, 48 assists), including three for losses (10 yards), and six pass break-ups. The 5-11, 193-pound free safety from Alexandria, Va., reached double figures in tackles eight times in 11 games last season, including a career-high 16 stops vs. Oregon. A four-year starter, Kanu finished fifth on MSU's all-time tackles chart with 365 career stops (241 solos, 124 assists).
Ledyard ranked eighth on the team in tackles with 58 (26 solos, 32 assists), including four for losses (30 yards) and two sacks (20). The 6-3, 242-pounder from Shaker Heights, Ohio, recorded a season-high eight stops each vs. Ohio State and Notre Dame. A three-year starter, Ledyard had 27 career tackles for losses (133 yards), including 12 sacks (91). Kiper projects Ledyard to be a fifth-to-seventh round draft choice.
Despite missing the entire '98 campaign with a sprained right ankle, Underwood ranks as Michigan State's top NFL prospect according to Kiper. The 6-7, 272-pound defensive end from Fayetteville, N.C., is rated No. 9 at his position, making him a probable third-round pick. As a junior in 1997, Underwood stood second among defensive linemen with 57 stops (30 solos, 27 assists). He also ranked second on the team in tackles for losses (12 for 66 yards) and sacks (8 for 56). Underwood had three multiple-sack games in '97, including two each vs. Northwestern (10 yards), Indiana (18) and Notre Dame (15).
The NFL Draft will be conducted April 17-18 in New York City.
