Former Bearcats Quarterback Brendon Kay Participating In NFL Veterans Combine

The NFL is kicking off their inaugural Veterans Combine today at the Arizona Cardinals Practice Facility in Tempe, Arizona and former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendon Kay is a participant.

As you’re already aware, the NFL holds a combine for prospective Draft picks at Indianapolis, Indiana every year. It’s a means for college seniors, juniors, and sometimes sophomores to showcase their strength, speed, and agility in front of scouts. Simultaneously, it level sets the field of selectable players so NFL front offices can better rank them on their draft boards.

The NFL has taken this same concept and provided it for several free agents, allowing them to participate in drills in front of scouts with the hopes of landing with a new team.

"“Combines have long provided draft eligible players with the forum needed to showcase their skills to NFL teams,” says NFL Director of Football Development Matt Birk. “The NFL Veteran Combine will give veteran free agents a similar opportunity to work out in front of club personnel in a streamlined process.”"

Brendon Kay is one of those free agents. The UC quarterback threw for 3,289 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. Plus his size, 6’4″ 228 lbs, is ideal for a signal caller in the NFL. However, he was passed over in the 2014 Draft.

Kay was eventually picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers and while he never made the 53-man roster, was able to find a spot on the practice squad. Unfortunately, he couldn’t survive the following offseason. Kay was cut by the Steelers, making him a free agent for the other 31 teams.

Hopefully his performance in the Veterans Combine today will catch the attention of one of those teams and get him signed somewhere (Chicago).