Former WSU QB Connor Halliday hopes to impress despite injury

Connor Halliday’s ankle hasn’t healed enough for the quarterback to throw at this week’s NFL Combine, but the record-setting passer from Washington State is still one of three Cougars to descend on Indianapolis this week in the hopes of impressing professional scouts and executives.

Halliday will only participate in the combine by having his physical measurements taken and interviewing with team representatives.

Still, the fact that he was invited despite the limitations imposed by the broken ankle he suffered against USC signals the interest NFL teams have in the quarterback who threw for 3,873 yards and 32 touchdowns in nine games.

“I was super excited (to receive an invitation),” Halliday told Seattle Times Seahawks reporter Bob Condotta on Thursday in Indianapolis. “I didn’t think I would since I can’t do anything here right now, so (I am) super ecstatic about the opportunity.”

Halliday is projected to be selected in the later rounds of the NFL draft or to go undrafted, although his invitation to the select event portends well for his odds of being picked up by a team.

Joining their former teammate at this week’s combine are wide receiver Vince Mayle and defensive lineman Xavier Cooper. Cooper left school a year early but is already 23 years old, having grayshirted his first year on campus.

Cooper’s stock has steadily risen since leaving school and CBSSports.com projects the defensive tackle to be drafted in the second round. He’ll need a strong combine performance to back that up.

Because of some struggles catching the ball toward the end of the season, Mayle is projected as a fourth-round pick by many analysts. Mayle finished the 2014 season with 106 receptions for 1,483 yards.

If Mayle can catch the ball cleanly in drills and show good speed to go with his impressive size (6-foot-3, 219 pounds), his stock could rise back into the earlier rounds.