These are our 2016 NFL draft predictions for Rutgers

With the 2016 spring practices underway, the Scarlet Knights are prepping for this month’s Spring game on April 23rd.

But for linebacker Steve Longa and wide receiver Leonte Carroo, they’re preparing for the NFL Draft in Chicago for a once in a lifetime event that will take place April 28th – 30th.

Many Scarlet Knights have had the privilege of having their name called by commissioner Roger Goodell. Over the past ten years Rutgers have had a plethora of big names find spots on NFL rosters. Jeremy Zuttah, Anthony Davis, Kenny Britt, Devon and Jason McCourtey, Ray Rice, Mohammed Sanu have all had their names called. With Davis, Britt and McCourtey (Devon) being the only players to get drafted in the first round. Several players have gone on to start for teams, play and win Super Bowls in recent years.

Senior Carroo and redshirt junior Longa headline a list of Scarlet Knights that have registered for the draft. Both were the only members of the program to be invited to the scouting combined last month in Indianapolis. Carroo was the talk of the two, having a decent performance at the combine; scoring a 4.5 40-yard dash, followed up by 120 inch broad jump, and 135.5 inches on the vertical jump. Longa had similar numbers in his performance boasting a 4.7 in his 40-yard dash, while scoring 32 and 166 inches in both vertical and broad jumps.

Both men had a chance to show what they could do on March 9th when NFL scouts flocked to Busch Campus for Rutgers pro day.

Longa was one of five Scarlet Knights to participate in morning events as scouts, coaches, and former players looked on. Carroo didn’t participate, many believe that this because of his participation in the combine workouts back in February.

One bright spot during this whole process is meetings that players have with teams and coaches, and for Carroo he’s had a lot of them. Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and Kansas City Chiefs are some of the teams to interview with the senior receiver. Many mock drafts having him going between the 3rd – 5th round next month.

Those same teams also seem to have interest in Longa as well, with many of them having open spots or lack of depth at the linebacker positions. Finishing in the top 20 in combine stats last month in Indianapolis Longa has done enough to catch the eye of NFL front offices. Now all that left is the waiting process, and it’s a pretty long one.

It’s the longest wait a football player has to endure, either in person or at home with family in friends. As names get called and players are chosen, it’s a emotional rollercoaster the longer it goes. For some their wait won’t last but a few picks of the first rounds, while others have to go the full three days to get called.

As Rutgers football fans sit by their televisions with their phones or tablets in hand, they’ll all be watching as these two young prospects wait to get the call that will change their life. Hey, who knows, they might just end up on the same team.