Maurice Woodard will get his shot to play at the next level.
The Lincoln wide receiver has been invited to participate in the fourth annual National Pro Day Scouting Combine from Feb. 28-March 1 in Southampton, N.J. The event allows players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA schools to go through pro-level drills and have their measurements taken by professional scouts, giving players an opportunity normally limited to NCAA Division I athletes.
Woodard is Lincoln's career receptions leader, having caught 143 passes in his four years as a Blue Tiger. Woodard's best season came in 2012, when he made 68 receptions for 705 yards, with both marks ranking as the second-most in single season by a Lincoln receiver. This year, Woodard caught a team-high 48 passes for 372 yards and a score. Woodard, an all-MIAA honorable mention last season, has scored seven touchdowns and has amassed more than 1,200 receiving yards in his career.
Woodard was invited to two all-star games after the season ended, including the American Bowl and the D2 vs. NAIA Challenge, both of which allowed Woodard a chance to be seen by professional scouts. Woodard's performance during practices for the latter game so impressed scouts they requested he be moved up to the NCAA Division I FCS game, where Woodard had a chance to show his skills against a higher level of competition. In the FCS game, Woodard recorded six receptions.
In addition to the scouts who will be at the National Pro Day Scouting Combine, video footage of all the workouts will be sent to a list of professional scouts that includes every team in the National Football League, the Canadian Football League and the Arena League.