BAYLOR’S GAY AND SMITH PARTICIPATE IN 2009 NFL COMBINE

WACO, TEXAS (February 19, 2009) A pair of Baylor linemen will work out for NFL coaches and front office personnel at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine Feb. 18-24 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Offensive tackles and BU graduates Dan Gay and Jason Smith were invited by the National Football League to participate in the annual event preceding the NFL Draft in April.

The combine allows executives, coaches, player personnel staff and medical personnel from all 32 teams to evaluate the nation’s top collegiate football players eligible for the upcoming draft. The six-day job interview involves a series of tests, drills and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel.

Smith, Baylor’s first non-special teams All-American since 1995, is widely projected as an early first-round draft pick. The 6-6 tackle from W.T. White High School in Dallas earned first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and third-team honors from the Associated Press and Rivals.com.

A former tight end, Smith started four seasons on the offensive line and totaled 38 career starts. As a senior in 2008, he anchored a Baylor offensive line that paved the way for 2,349 rushing yards, a 251 percent increase from 2007’s rushing total of 934 yards and the most rushing yards at BU since 1981. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in recreation from Baylor following his junior season.

Gay, who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in his final season in 2008, was a four-year letterman who played his final three seasons on the offensive line after converting from defensive tackle. As a senior, Gay was part of an offensive line that led the Bears to a 25th ranking nationally and third in the Big 12 with 195.8 rushing yards per game. Baylor produced 2,349 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns – the school’s most since 1994.

The 6-5 tackle from Lafayette, La., started each of the last 34 games of his career. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in speech communications in December 2008 and plans to open a Cajun restaurant following his playing career.