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Four Spartans invited to NFL Combine

February 8, 2019
<p>Khari Willis (27) advances the ball after an interception during the game against Northwestern on Oct. 6, 2018 at Spartan Stadium. </p>

Khari Willis (27) advances the ball after an interception during the game against Northwestern on Oct. 6, 2018 at Spartan Stadium.

Wide receiver Felton Davis III, cornerback Justin Layne, running back L.J. Scott and safety Khari Willis have been invited to participate in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine after finishing their athletic careers at Michigan State. 

Under Mark Dantonio’s tenure, these four Spartans will bring the count up to 48, who have been invited to participate in the Combine, including Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen. 

The Combine will be held from Feb. 26 - March 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

Davis, a 6-foot-4-inch wide receiver, led the Spartans for receptions (31 for 474 yards and four touchdowns) this past season before a season-ending achilles injury against Michigan on Oct. 20. His career at MSU resulted in 100 receptions, making him one of 30 players to reach the 100 reception mark as well as becoming one of the 43 Spartans to reach 1,000 career yards during the 2018 season opener against Utah State. The media selected him as second team All-Big Ten and the coaches selected him as third team. 

Layne, the 6-foot-3-inch cornerback, started 12 games at the cornerback position for the 2018 season. He finished his three-year career in East Lansing with 130 career tackles, 24 pass-breakups and three interceptions as well as becoming first team All-Big Ten by Pro Football Focus, second team by media, coaches, Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He also received MSU’s most outstanding underclass back award on defense. 

Scott played in 43 games, starting 23 of them at the running back position. In the 2018 season, he was plagued with an injury and played only five games, including tying his season high, 84 yards on 24 carries during the Spartans 7-6 loss to the Oregon Ducks in the Redbox Bowl. Scott had nine games with over 100 yards rushing in his college career, as well setting a career high 994 yards his sophomore season with the Spartans. 

This feat would grant him third team All-Big Ten honor for the 2016 season. As a freshman, he sealed the title 2015 Big Ten Champions for the Spartans, with the game winning touchdown, sending the Spartans to the National Championship Playoffs. 

Willis, a captain for the Spartans this past season, played in 46 games and 30 starts at the safety position while at MSU. His career included 196 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, four interceptions and 16 pass break-ups. On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, also known as the Academic Heisman, was one of three Willis would be nominated for. He also was a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy and the Spartans’ pick for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team. He also became the 15th player under Dantonio to play in the Senior Bowl. 

The 2019 NFL Draft will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from April 25-27.   

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