Hamstring sidelines Attaochu for combine

Former Georgia Tech defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu will have to wait until Tech’s pro day to perform before NFL scouts. He will not participate in testing and drills at the upcoming NFL draft combine due to a partially torn hamstring, Attaochu’s agent Pat Dye Jr. said Thursday morning.

“The hamstring has pretty much forced him to focus on his rehab instead of focusing on his (combine preparation),” Dye said.

Attaochu suffered the injury at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January. At the combine, Attaochu will undergo the physicals and interviews administered by the league’s 32 teams. Dye was confident that Attaochu will be ready to perform at Tech’s pro day March 28.

Dye said that Attaochu is also nursing a wrist injury, which will preclude him even from taking part in the bench press portion of the combine.

Dye said that he expects that Attaochu will likely be drafted somewhere between the bottom half of the second round and the end of the fourth round. He noted his productivity at Tech, his ideal size, weight and speed for the rush linebacker spot that many peg him for and his “off the charts” character.

Attaochu’s injury is probably a benefit for his former Yellow Jackets teammates hoping for a chance to play in the NFL. Tech’s pro day will likely draw a larger audience of NFL scouts and coaches since it will be the first and perhaps only time that Attaochu will perform the 40-yard dash and other drills.