Each year, the next generation of National Football League (NFL) stars are discovered at the National Invitational Camp (NIC). Also known as the NFL Scouting Combine, this four-day, invitation-only event allows NFL coaches, general managers and scouts to evaluate the top draft-eligible college players. Approximately 300 players are invited to attend each year, and they are evaluated on a variety of medical, mental and physical criteria. The event has been referred to as the “ultimate four-day job interview” and it is a necessary step in a player’s journey to the NFL.

Franklin College student journalists also used this event as a necessary step in their own professional journeys. Five students, working for The Statehouse File, landed press credentials to cover the Combine, which took place from Thursday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This experience provided the students with experience that can’t be matched in a classroom.

Assistant Professor of Journalism and Chair of the Pulliam School of Journalism Scott McDaniel accompanied the students to the Combine. “The students have done phenomenal,” said McDaniel. “They were elbow-to-elbow with reporters from around the country, networking and asking great questions to the players.”

The students who covered the NFL Combine included:

Chet Sproles, a sports communication major, from Fort Myers, Fla.

Luke Morris, a political science major, from Connersville.

Erin Bruce, a sports communication and multimedia journalism major, from Troy, Ohio.

 Jonah Decker, a sports communication major, from Indianapolis. 

 Samuel Wilson, a public relations major with a digital fluency endorsement, from Greenfield.

“I loved covering the event because the entire week was centered around some of the top athletes in the country trying to make their dreams come true. It’s a unique and special week for the NFL each year, so the opportunity to cover it was amazing,” said Bruce.

Sproles also had a transformative experience. “It’s really been one of the greatest experiences of my college career, not just because of the media experience, but as a young football coach it’s been a great time to learn and network.”

Sproles began his Franklin College career as a member of the Grizzlies football team. Now, he serves as a student assistant for the team. His week at the Combine provided him with a new way to use his drive and aggressive skills. “Your competitive spirit can help you in this field. You are in a way fighting for the attention of the athletes with major news organizations like ESPN and CBS Sports. Being able to get your questions directed to the athletes is a challenge and you have to really step up to the occasion.”

The Statehouse File provides many opportunities for Franklin College journalism majors. While the students normally work alongside the pros, reporting the latest news of Indiana politics, the Statehouse File has recently expanded into sports coverage to provide the Pulliam School of Journalism’s sports communication students with more experiences. In early February, a team of three students covered Super Bowl LXI in New Orleans. And now these five students have turned days of interviews and observations into content that any news organization may utilize. Thanks to a $180,000 grant from Lumina, TheStatehouseFile.com has removed its paywall and is offering its year-round coverage – including this week’s NFL Combine coverage – to professional media outlets to republish for free, as long as they retain the author’s byline and the Statehouse File tag.

To read articles written by the students, please visit: www.thestatehousefile.com/.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.