February 15, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Six seniors from the 1998 Notre Dame football squad have been invited to participate in the National Football League’s Combine Timing and Testing February 18-22 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind.
Traveling to Indianapolis will be tailback Autry Denson, ouside linebacker Kory Minor, offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal, punter Hunter Smith and offensive guard Jerry Wisne.
From Lauderhill, Fla., Denson finished his career as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in rushing with 4,318 yards and three-straight 1,000-yard seasons (his ’98 totals were 1,176 yards on 251 carries). He earned second-team All-America honors in ’98 from the Associated Press.
From LaVerne, Calif, Minor started all four seasons he played at Notre Dame, 46 games in all. He finished with 245 tackles, 21 tackles for losses, 22 1/2 sacks – including 60 tackles as a senior in ’98.
From Georgetown, Del., Petitgout started his last two seasons at offensive tackle, opening in 23 straight games to finish out his Irish career. He played a major role in Notre Dame’s resurgent running game for ’98 that averaged 212.5 yards per game.
From Granger, Ind., Rosenthal won first-team All-America honors in ’98 from the Walter Camp Foundation and second-team honors from the Associated Press. He started 35 games over his four seasons in South Bend.
From Sherman, Texas, Smith averaged 41.7 yards per kick in ’98 and finished number two on Notre Dame’s all-time punting list with his 41.2-yard career average on 174 kicks. He also kicked off in ’98 and worked as a backup quarterback.
From Tulsa, Okla., Wisne started each of his last two seasons at Notre Dame, opening in 25 games overall over three seasons.
Denson, Minor, Petitgout, Rosenthal and Wisne all were invited to play in the Senior Bowl, while Smith participated in the inaugural All-Star Gridiron Classic in Orlando, Fla., last month.