NFL COMBINE

When: Wednesday through Tuesday

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

Who: More than 300 draft-eligible players have been invited.

What: Agility, strength and speed drills; medical and psychological testing; and personal interviews are conducted to help teams formulate their draft boards leading to the April 28-30 NFL draft.

Keeping up: NFL Network coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 8 a.m. Saturday through Tuesday. A wrapup show will air at 8 p.m. March 2. NFL.com also will provide daily video clips Thursday-Tuesday and complete all access coverage of group workouts starting at 8 a.m. Saturday-Tuesday.

Gophers connection: No players from the University of Minnesota will be in attendance.

The early buzz: DE Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, DT Nick Fairley of Auburn and linebacker Von Miller of Texas A&M are considered three of the top prospects in this draft. Bowes and Fairley were juniors this past season.

NFL draft: Thursday, April 28 (round 1, 6:30 p.m.); Friday, April 29 (rounds 2-3, 5 p.m.); Saturday, April 30 (rounds 4-7, 9 a.m.).

Vikings' first-round pick: 12th overall.

Gophers' pro day: March 8, University of Minnesota

JUDD ZULGAD