Just a few weeks after hosting the last event of the 2011-12 NFL season, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will host the first big event of the 2012-13 NFL season. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the NFL Combine starts on Wednesday. That means we get to watch a bunch of college kids running, lifting weights, and doing other football-related things in shorts and t-shirts in order to get a gauge of how well they'll do those things on the field in full pads.

In theory, anyway.

The entire thing is going to be broadcast on the NFL Network, for those of us that are into that sort of thing. When can you expect to see the players you'd like the Vikings to target in the 2012 NFL Draft? After the jump, we're going to tell you.

The first three groups of players are going to arrive in Indianapolis tomorrow. Group 1 consists of specialists (punters, kickers, etc) and offensive linemen, Group 2 is comprised of offensive linemen, and Group 3 will be the tight ends. They will go through their orientation tomorrow, and get measurements done and undergo psychological testing on Thursday. Their workouts will take place on Friday and Saturday, the 24th and 25th of February.

Groups 4 and 5, which are made up of quarterbacks and wide receivers, as well as Group 6 (running backs) will arrive in Indianapolis on Thursday. They will go through the interviews and psychological tests as well, and their workouts will take place on Sunday, February 26.

The focus shifts to defense with groups 7, 8, and 9. Groups 7 and 8 are the defensive line groups, and Group 9 is the linebackers. They will arrive in Indy on Friday, and their workouts will take place on Monday, February 27.

Lastly, the defensive backs (Groups 10 and 11) will get to Indianapolis on Saturday, and their workouts will take place on Tuesday, February 28.

All of this information was taken from the official NFL Combine schedule, which you can see a copy of for yourself right here.

We will effort to do Open Threads for each day of the Combine for the folks that are watching to discuss the various workouts and things of that nature.