The 2016 NFL Combine is already under way, as collegiate prospects from across the country accepted their invitation and made the pilgrimage to Indianapolis.

Of those participants, seven will be from the University of Oklahoma:

- Dominique Alexander (ILB)

- Devante Bond (OLB)

- Nila Kasitati (OG)

- Zack Sanchez (CB)

- Sterling Shepard (WR)

- Eric Striker (OLB)

- Charles Tapper (DE)

Kasitati and Shepard arrived on Tuesday, while Alexander, Bond, Striker, and Tapper began a day later on Wednesday. Sanchez and the rest of the defensive backs are the last to show up in Indiana on Friday, Feb. 26.

The four-day schedule for the players is the same, and begins with their group's first day of arrival.

Oklahoma has one offensive line participant in the combine - Nila Kasitati.

The 6-foot-3, 319-pound offensive guard from Euless, Texas, started 25 games during his career, including all 13 contests of his senior season - which was a feat for the oft-injured interior lineman. Stringing together a complete senior season was crucial and part of the reason why Kasitati was rewarded with a combine invite.

Even though he only started six games in 2014, Kasitati garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition from the Big 12 coaches. In 2015, Kasitati's healthiest season in the Sooner lineup, he was rewarded by being named First Team All-Big 12.

Sterling Shepard is the lone Oklahoma wide out at the 2016 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The former Sooner pass catcher arrived, along with Kasitati, on Tuesday.

The 5-foot-10, 193-pound receiver was a prolific pass-catcher during his time in Norman and perhaps no draft prospect is bolstered by a better resume, both on the field and off.

- 2x First-Team All-Big 12

- 2x Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist

- Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year

- Winner of the Disney Sports Spirit Award

- No. 2 all-time in both receiving yards (3,482) and receptions (233) in school history

- No. 3 all-time in both receiving touchdowns (26) and 100-yard games (12)

Expect Shepard to showcase his precise route running that will provide a clear contrast between himself and the rest of his wide receiver class - while outperforming expectations in the testing to push himself into the late first/early second round discussions. Shepard has been quickly rising up draft boards even before the combine as more and more scouts get ahold of his tape. The former Heritage Hall pass-catcher's consistency in his routes, surprising explosion, and consistently reliable hands are a constant throughout his career, and that trust from front offices can only be solidified with a strong showing.

At no other position is Oklahoma more well-represented at the combine than at the linebacker position. Three of the seven Sooners in Indianapolis were a part of the linebacking corps a year ago.

The outside linebacking duo of Eric Striker and Devante Bond gave offenses fits in 2015 with juxtaposing styles. Striker, the prolific pass-rusher who finished atop the Oklahoma all-time sack list by a linebacker with 23.0 for his career. He did this through incredible timing, a sudden first step, and the speed/balance necessary to quickly turn the corner around the edge to get to the quarterback.

Bond, while lacking a master of any one pass move like Striker has with his speed rush, is more of an all-around threat as an outside linebacker; his bigger frame allows Bond to be able to play the run and set the edge. Though, it's not like Bond isn't athletic. Remember, his injury-riddled senior season was capped off by a solid performance against Clemson and Deshaun Watson including six tackles, a sack, and a pass break-up. There's a good chance that Bond is the Sooner with the most to gain and who turns the most heads in Indianapolis this week.

Dominique Alexander decided to forego his senior eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. It was a decision that admittedly surprised his head coach Bob Stoops, despite Alexander's productive three seasons in Norman.

While the numbers compiled during Alexander's tenure are impressive, 290 career tackles - including back-t0-back 100-tackle seasons, there is some concern that the former Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year lacks the ideal size to hold up at the position at the NFL level. Even though Alexander isn't a big thumper in the middle of a defense, he continually showcased natural instincts that consistently put him around the ball.

However, if Alexander fails to impress in the speed and agility drills his draft stock could take a major hit. His production and accolades have given the former Booker T. Washington standout a leg-up entering the draft process, but his size will put him at an inherent disadvantage that he will need to compensate for with his athleticism.

Charles Tapper, the only Oklahoma defensive lineman at the combine, was once seen as a promising NFL prospect before under-performing in 2014 when he finished the season with just 3.0 sacks. Once he began the 2015 campaign with a similarly slow start, recording zero sacks in the team's first seven games. Tapper's stock was trending in a drastically negative direction before being buoyed by an incredible four-game stretch towards the end of the season where the senior recorded 7.0 sacks in four games, when his previous career-high for an entire year was 5.5 sacks back in 2013.

Tapper finished 2015 with career-highs in sacks (7.0), forced fumbles (5), pass break-ups (3), tackles (50), and tackles for loss (10.0). The 6-foot-3, 276-pound defensive end now has the production to match his rare blend of size and athleticism. A strong performance in Indianapolis will solidify the resurrection of Charles Tapper's draft stock.

Zack Sanchez finished his Sooner career with 15 interceptions, which places him tied at No. 4 all-time in school history, and he did it in just three years.

In 2015, Sanchez recorded a career-high seven interceptions and was another Sooner who garnered several awards and citations from across the country:

- Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist

- Second Team All-American (USA Today, Walter Camp, Sporting News)

- Third Team All-American (Phil Steele)

- Honorable Mention All-American (Sports Illustrated)

- All-Big 12 First Team (Coaches, AP, Phil Steele)

Despite the accolades for Sanchez, there is a perception that he lacks the top-end speed, agility, and size to replicate the same success at the next level. The combine provides the opportunity for the two-time first team All-Big 12 cornerback to squelch those doubts by putting up a respectable number in not only the 40-yard dash, but agility drills.

Former Oklahoma and current Kansas City Chief cornerback Jamelle Fleming lead all combine participants in the 60-yard shuttle at the 2012 NFL Combine with a time of 10.75. It was a time that spring-boarded Fleming from a possible late round pick, to a third round selection - where some are projecting Sanchez to land.