<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>March 10 just became a lot more important to Antonio Smith and T.J. Downing.That?s when Ohio State will have its annual pro day, in which Buckeyes draft prospects work out for NFL scouts.It will be the only chance to impress the pros for Smith and Downing, who were not among the more than 300 players invited to the NFL combine, which begins Feb. 21.Eight Buckeyes were invited: center Doug Datish, receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, defensive tackles David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock, running back Antonio Pittman, defensive end Jay Richardson and quarterback Troy Smith.Antonio Smith, a cornerback, and Downing, a guard, are two of only three draft-eligible all-Big Ten first-team members not to be invited to the combine. The other is Michigan kicker Garrett Rivas.Smith, of Beechcroft, was second for Ohio State in tackles with 71 and had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. Downing started 28 career games and was a second-team All-American this season.Jeff Foster, president of National Football Scouting, which runs the combine, said a committee of scouts and NFL personnel officials determine the invitees, with a cap of 335 players because of time and scheduling limitations."There?s not any specific criteria (to be invited)," Foster said. "It?s based on evaluations and grades."Invariably, some players with impressive college statistics or honors get left out."We do get some players who call and say, ?I led the league in interceptions, why was I not invited?? " Foster said. "And I would say, ?Well, who was it against? What was your level of competition?? Or maybe all 10 interceptions were on balls that were underthrown, where the guy actually was beat on the play."And not being invited is not the kiss of death. Foster said through the years it?s pretty steady that about 10 percent of drafted players did not attend the combine, or about 25 to 35 players per year."It?s subjective by nature," Foster said of the selection process. "Just because a player isn?t here doesn?t mean he shouldn?t be here. And it only takes one team to draft a guy or get him into camp."</div>
They're 6th rounders at best and UDFA's at worst.Not like they didn't invite a couple bigtime players, they're just making a big deal out of nothing.
