Texas A&M Football: Aggies Most Likely to Be Invited to 2016 NFL Combine

The Texas A&M football team has developed into a pipeline to the NFL under Kevin Sumlin, with 14 of his Aggies playing in the league in 2014. Texas A&M will continue to produce NFL talent and will likely have a number of players invited to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine in 2016.

There is more than one way to get into the NFL.

Of the 14 players Sumlin has put into the NFL, only seven of them heard their names called during the NFL draft. The other seven made teams as undrafted free agents.

Just because you do not get invited to the combine does not mean you will not play in the NFL. Wes Welker was not invited to the NFL combine after his career at Texas Tech yet became one of the most prolific wide receivers of all time.

The Aggies have a few players who will be invited to the NFL combine and even more who will sign with NFL teams in training camp in 2016.

This is a look at the Aggies who will likely be invited to the 2016 NFL combine. Since it is impossible to predict who will leave school early, this list will only include players who will be seniors during the 2015 season.

C Mike Matthews

USA TODAY Sports

Rising senior center Mike Matthews will look to continue the family tradition by playing in the NFL in 2016. The rising senior center is one of the Aggies' best offensive linemen and a likely All-SEC choice at center in 2016.

He will be drafted in 2016—the only question is which round he will be picked in.

Matthews will be invited to Indianapolis to participate in the combine. He will be expected to join his brothers Kevin (Carolina Panthers) and Jake (Atlanta Falcons), who are currently offensive linemen in the NFL.

Matthews excels at getting to the next level and making blocks downfield. He is one of the rare centers who can be asked to pull, get out there and block linebackers and defensive backs.

Matthews will attend the combine, be drafted and likely have a successful NFL career like his brothers and father did.

RB Tra Carson

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Tra Carson is expected to be the Aggies' starting running back during the 2015 season. He rushed for 581 yards and five touchdowns in 2014.

Carson gained 133 yards on a career-high 25 carries in the Aggies' Liberty Bowl victory over West Virginia. It was the first time that Carson has been the featured running back for the Aggies, and Texas A&M fans should expect to see more of that in 2015.

Carson should threaten the 1,000-yard mark during his senior season in Aggieland. His 6'0", 230-pound frame coupled with his surprisingly light feet should result in a combine invite from the NFL scouts.

Carson is not going to be a first-round draft pick, but he will be invited to the combine and should be drafted in 2016.

DT Alonzo Williams

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Alonzo Williams has been a solid football player for the Aggies. The rising senior defensive tackle started one game at defensive end in 2012, then moved inside to defensive tackle, where he has developed into a nice player.

Williams really came on toward the end of the 2014 season and ended the year with 57 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. If he has a big senior season in John Chavis' defense, then he could really attract the interest of NFL scouts.

The 6'4", 296-pound rising senior has the size that NFL scouts covet at defensive tackle. He needs to take another step forward in his game and show that he can be a difference-maker. Williams has been solid, but he needs to play the 2015 season at the same level that he played at in the last few games of 2014.

If he can take a step forward in Chavis' system, then he should find himself with a combine invitation next February.

P Drew Kaser

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Drew Kaser will be a three-year starter for the Aggies at punter. He has developed into one of the top punters in the nation.

Kaser averaged 44.1 yards per punt in 2014 and placed 22 of his punts inside the opponent's 20 yard-line. In 2013, he led the nation with an average of 47.4 yards per punt.

Despite his failed Heisman Trophy campaign in 2014, he is still a legitimate NFL prospect. Kaser will again be one of the top punters in the country in 2015 and will earn an invitation to the NFL combine.

If he has another season where he averages 47 yards per punt, he could hear his name called during the 2016 draft. Kickers and punters are usually signed after the draft, but there are those select few who are special enough to be drafted because they represent that big of a weapon on special teams.

Kaser has the talent to be one of those players.