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The next big thing for the Foster Farms Bowl offensive MVP arrived via e-mail.

http://bit.ly/2ighIOt";>A day after putting up 222 yards at Levi's Stadium, Joe Williams perused his inbox, where he found an invite to the NFL Combine. He's one of four Utes that received one in the first round of invitations, along with guard Isaac Asiata, tackle Sam Tevi and defensive end Pita Taumoepenu.

"It's great — I honestly didn't expect to get one," he said. "I was told I would be a good fit there and be able to showcase my skills and everything. But I wasn't sure it would come."

It's an exclusive club: Only 335 attendees can go every year to be picked at, prodded and completely dissected by NFL scouts and personnel decision makers in Indianapolis. http://www.sltrib.com/home/3528875-155/utah-football-notes-six-former-utes";>Six Utes were invited last year, and the number could go up — depending in part on late invites (Hunter Dimick, anyone?) and in part on NFL Draft decisions by juniors Garett Bolles and Marcus Williams.

This year's draft will feature some phenomenal running backs including Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette, but Williams hopes to stand out among his peers with his speed — his 40-yard dash was clocked at 4.35 seconds in the offseason by Utah's strength and conditioning staff.

"Speed is the biggest thing," he said. "But also the work ethic. I think I can be an every down back, I've worked on pass protection. Just somebody who can learn all the ins and outs of an offense."

Commitment may be a question: Williams understands that some don't side with http://bit.ly/2c9fIYJ";>his decision earlier this season to retire, only to return four games later http://bit.ly/2es4oVt";>when Utah was struggling with injury.

That return, of course, was splashy: He finished the year with 1,407 yards (1,332 after his "retirement") and 10 touchdowns, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyiKpha1JFk";>his 332 rushing yards against UCLA were the second-most any back in the country had in any single game this year.

"Obviously all the scouts will ask me questions about it," he said. "I'll be able to answer and they'll be able to see what I was going through and that the reasons I did it were genuine."

Among the other invitees:http://bit.ly/2huKnz6";> Asiata was the Morris Trophy winner, voted by Pac-12 defensive linemen as the best blocker in the league. At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Tevi was considered arguably Utah's most athletic lineman this year, with 10 starts as a senior and a background as a defensive tackle when he began his career with the Utes.

Taumoepenu might best be considered a wildcard: At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, he would be better suited as a linebacker for the next level (Utah attempted to move him during his career, but the move didn't take). But his production — 41 tackles, 12 TFL, 9 solo sacks — was high for a player who didn't take the field every down. He finished his Utah career with 21.5 sacks, just eight fewer than all-time program record holder Dimick.

With the obvious asterisk that the NFL Draft process is a long one with plenty of fluctuation, NFLDraftScout.com ranks the Combine-bound Utes as follows at their positions: Williams 18th among backs; Tevi 27th among offensive tackles; Asiata 9th among offensive guards and Taumoepenu 31st among outside linebackers.

Williams said he has been in touch with Asiata, because both are planning to train at EXOS in San Diego.

"We're really excited," he said. "I haven't spoken to Sam or Pita yet, but I'm pretty sure the emotion is the same as ours. We want to showcase our skills."

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon