This is a crucial week for a number of prospects preparing for the 2015 NFL Draft. College players from across the country, including WSU quarterback Connor Halliday, defensive lineman Xavier Cooper and wide receiver Vince Mayle, will compete in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

These players will compete in a variety of drills and interview with NFL teams. The combine can help or hurt a player’s draft stock. Last year, former Washington State safety Deone Bucannon was projected to be selected between the fourth and fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, according to NFL.com.

However, Bucannon ended up having the best 40 yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump and three cone drill out of all the strong safety prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft, according to NFL.com.

Bucannon’s performance at the combine helped him land in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals.

On Wednesday, Halliday and Mayle will arrive at the combine. On Thursday, defensive tackle Xavier Cooper will take part.

“I understand a lot of people don’t know about me and that I’m kind of a quiet sleeper at my position, but I can’t wait to get to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine to show people who I am,” Cooper said in his draft diary at foxsports.com.

Cooper is ranked as the eighth best defensive tackle in the 2015 NFL Draft and the No. 62 overall prospect, according to NFL.com.

Cooper also mentioned in his diary that he’s been training with some of the best prospects in the country at EXOS, which is a training complex in Carlsbad, California.

“Now that the Combine is finally here, I’m looking forward to proving myself,” Cooper said in his diary. “I’m ready to give teams a good feel for who I am, that I can communicate and I have good character.”

Cooper will begin participating in drills for NFL teams on Saturday and Sunday. The first two days, Cooper will spend more time getting measurements, interviewing with teams and speaking with the media.

Mayle will spend Wednesday and Thursday interviewing and prepping for the combine drills. On Friday and Saturday, he’ll participate in drills. Mayle is ranked as the No.19 wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft and is also projected to be taken in the fourth round, according to nfldraftscout.com.

The combine will give Mayle and Cooper a chance to show NFL teams that they are more athletic than they look on film.

Though Halliday was invited to the combine, it’s unlikely he’ll participate in any drills since he’s still recovering from a broken leg he suffered on Nov. 1, 2014, according to cougcenter.com. Instead Halliday will focus on meeting with NFL coaches, scouts and general managers. By meeting with these teams, it’ll give Halliday a chance to display his football IQ on the white board. Halliday will likely compete in drills during Washington State’s Pro Day in early March.

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine will be televised on NFL Network and started on Tuesday. It will run through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

Reporting by Evan Baron