2018 Senior Bowl: Day 1 North/South Practice Notes
Spoiler!
by Eric Galko
Wide Receivers
-Oklahoma State receiver James Washington was the best receiver on the South team on Day 1. He was able to win his reps in 1 on 1 in a variety of ways and displayed exceptional strength at the catch point. Though his height at weight ins was underwhelming (5017), Washington plays bigger than his size and is a player to watch for the rest of the week.
-Colorado State’s Michael Gallup was unguardable today. He displayed tremendous quickness going vertical and was able to separate with relative ease. He continues to display quickness in and out of his breaks and has reliable hands when the ball comes in his area.
-Cedrick Wilson of Boise State product was very impressive during the North team practice. Wilson did a vey good job of using his hands and reducing his pad level to quickly get down the field against press coverage. Wilson ran very crisp routes, utilizing head fakes to make defenders stop their feet, so he could create separation. Down the field Wilson also displayed nice body control by being able to go up and high point the football on the sideline and keeping his feet in bounds.
Offensive Line
-Playing on the edge and in the interior, Isaiah Wynn of Georgia thrived early in practice. He showed easy movements skills in guard drills when exploding out of his stance and then easily transitioning to the second level. Wynn particularly had one rep in which he drove Alabama’s Da’Shawn Hand off the edge nearly into the fence of the back of the endzone. He continued to show off his strong upper body throughout the day.
-One of the more consistent days, overall, belonged to Bradley Bozeman of Alabama. He continued to win at the point of attack showing off balance and explosiveness. Bozeman consistently showed strong tight hand placement inside driving defenders off the ball and creating plenty of running lanes on the 11 on 11 play reps.
-Right guard prospect Cole Madison out of Washington State showed plenty of pop at the snap on one on one drills. He packed a punch with heavy and explosive hands. His placement was somewhat sporadic but still managed to keep his matchup in front of him at the beginning of practice. Madison was overwhelmed by speed and quickness when he failed to latch onto the defender first. He started the day off better than he finished by getting beaten on a consistent basis.
-Will Hernandez of UTEP was one of the more consistent performers out of all offensive linemen on Day 1 in Mobile. Packing a punch with incredible hand strength, Hernandez constantly drove defenders off the ball showing a trend of winning at the point of attack. He would occasionally get beat inside but remained calm and would reset without losing balance. Weighing in at 340 pounds this morning, Hernandez backed that up by carrying his weight well and continuing to overwhelm linemen with elite-level power.
Defensive Line
-Marcus Davenport of UTSA didn’t show out as expected on Day 1. He showed a theme of getting pushed off his base questioning his overall balance and strength. He still managed to display his powerful punch showing off his violence in one on one drills.
-Catching attention early in the athletic bag drills, pass rusher Kylie Fitts of Utah had a strong day. He continued to bend the edge when operating on the outside shoulder of the tackle. Fitts looked to be one of the more athletic defensive linemen on the South squad showing plenty of lower body flexibility and savvy as a speed edge rusher. Fitts showed flexibility when showcasing a shoulder dip off the edge after consistently firing off the snap.
-One of the most dominant days, regardless of team, goes to Harrison Phillips. The Stanford defensive tackle won nearly every rep on one versus one drills. He played with elite balance and power striking defenders constantly at the point of attack. Not only winning with power, Phillips showed off quick rip through moves along with other techniques to consistently frazzle his matchup.
-Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma, put together an inconsistent day filled with high moments and underwhelming moments. Okoronkwo went to a reliable up and under move to fluster the outside shoulder of the tackle. Okoronkwo lined up on the left and right sides to rush the passer. He won with quickness when bending the edge on 11 versus 11 showing elite flexibility. If live play, the Oklahoma pass rusher would have come up with two sacks. One of his pressures resulted in an interception. He looked to be doing too much in some of the one on one reps not being able to successfully execute a couple of spin moves losing balance and control more times than most would like to see.
Defensive Backs
-Alabama's Levi Wallace had an impressive practice, particularly during one on ones, In press coverage Wallace showed quick feet mirroring receivers releases giving receivers a hard time getting off the ball every rep. Wallace was in position to make a play on every rep of one and ones.
-North Carolina's MJ Stewart was one of the more physical corners during practice, using his hands effectively to hinder receivers releases in press situations, deeper into the route Stewart showed fluid hips when opening to run with the receiver, Stewart did a nice job of locating the ball in the once turning his head helping him break up passes.
-Siran Neal of Jacksonville State had a great showing during practice. During one on ones Neal was physical at the line of scrimmage showing strong hands as well as quality hand placement striking receivers in their chests on their releases. Neal also showed well during team periods triggering quickly in the run game and using his linebacker background to shed blocks on the perimeter.
-Weber State's Taron Johnson, the FCS corner from Weber State showed stood out today particularly with his play in the slot. Johnson has very quick feet and does a good job staying square in both press and off coverage. Johnson was explosive out of his breaks quickly closing space between him and the receiver to make a play on the ball.
-Armani Watts of Texas A&M stood out at the safety position today. In one on ones vs tight ends Watts showed he can play press and be physical against bigger tight ends and maintain position throughout routes, Watts also played well in off coverage staying square in his back pedal allowing him to use his quickness and acceleration out of his breaks to break up multiple passes during one on ones. Watts made a great break on the ball during team period where he was able to pick off Nebraska product Tanner Lee.
-Christian Campbell of Penn State excelled in press coverage today where he was able to use his long arms to bother receivers on their releases. Campbell also showed speed down the field able to run stride for stride with every receiver who ran verticals on him
2018 Senior Bowl Day 2 South: Kyle Lauletta Steps Up, and the DL Impresses
Spoiler!
While the South roster doesn't have the same allure of the North, as none of the South quarterbacks are protected first-round picks, the talent at receiver, along the offensive and defensive line, and in the defensive backfield have continued to impress.
Day 2 South Roster Winners include Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta, LSU RB Darrel Williams, Oklahoma State WR James Washington, North Carolina A&T OT Brandon Parker, Virginia DT Andrew Brown, Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel, and Auburn SAF Tre Matthews.
Reports from Eric Galko, Christian Page, Derrik Klassen, Dan Matney, Filip Prus, and Parker Henry
Quarterbacks
-Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta had the best outing among all the South quarterbacks. Showing plenty of zip on the football, he continued to squeeze the ball into tight windows. He looked plenty calm and comfortable in the pocket trusting his arm to make NFL throws. One throw in particular, Lauletta threaded the needle in the end zone, sandwiching the ball in between the cornerback and incoming safety.
-Mike White of Western Kentucky still managed to underwhelm in Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices. He has shown to get in a habit of throwing the ball short to receivers and not showing enough consistency to develop into a good practice. He showed glimpses of impressive throws down the field while also connecting on the sidelines showing above average anticipation.
-Virginia's Kurt Benkert continues to struggle with consistency across the board. Benkert lacks the zip to nail receivers in stride across the field resulting in many batted passes and near interceptions. The Virginia quarterback shows no consistency with ball placement leaving many throws behind receivers with little to none to gain from the catch (if caught).
-Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers had a mediocre day. He missed some layup throws over the middle of the field and in the screen game. Silvers proves to have a quick release but ball placement has not been sharp this week so far. A middle of the road day is not bad in practices but an opportunity missed in an average South quarterback group is unfortunate.
Running Backs
-A former backup at LSU, Darrell Williams has really helped himself this week and had an impressive 2nd day of practice. He started off the day with a couple of impressive inside runs where he displayed balance and strength between the tackles. Known for his power and ability in short yardage situations in college, Williams was impressive in the passing game today. He hauled in a touchdown and displayed the ability to get open in one on ones.
-Southern Miss speedster Ito Smith continues to display impressive athletic traits. While his straight-line speed and burst are impressive, his lateral agility popped out throughout the day. Though undersized at 5090, 201 pounds, he looked solid running between the tackles. He is projected as a change-of-pace back at the next level but he’s proven to be one of the most athletically gifted running backs in Mobile so far.
Receivers
-Kansas State’s Byron Pringle was impressive all practice, he did a great job of using his acceleration and speed to get on defensive backs toes and making them open their hips before breaking off his routes, this allowed Pringle to create separation all practice long. Another thing Pringle did well was come back to the ball on his routes eliminating the chance for a DB to get in front and make a play. Pringle is sudden in and out of his breaks which also helps him create separation.
-The UCF receiver Tre’Quan Smith was a tough cover all practice long, especially in the red zone period, Smith was very physical all the way through his routes and did a very good job using his body to box out defenders at the top of his routes. Smith showed concentration and hand strength when catching the ball, smith had some trouble creating separation but his strong hands and concentration allowed him to catch the ball despite the defender being in a good position to make the play.
Oklahoma State’s James Washington again was impressive on day two of practice, and quite frankly has been the most consistent and impressive receiver thus far this week. Washington has shown he can win with speed on deep balls, and also with physicality and strong hands on short and intermediate routes. There has not been a defensive back who has been able to really stop Washington through two practices and he is showing why he was the Biletnikoff winner in 2017.
-Oklahoma State's Marcell Ateman feasted over the middle of the field. Ateman regularly won inside and gained enough separation to present a clear window. During the red zone session, Ateman caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone after shredding the defensive back.
In a group of talented deep threat receivers, Oklahoma State's James Washington shined the most. There wasn't a defensive back that could keep up with him down the field. Washington regularly won his short and underneath routes, as well.
Offensive Line
-Georgia left guard Isaiah Wynn has looked very comfortable this week kicking inside from left tackle. Wynn continues to consistently win his leverage battles and has impressed in pivoting interior lineman to create running lanes, as well as looking extremely explosive when asked to pull. Wynn is also one of the most refined pass protectors from the other interior lineman in Mobile thanks to his experience on the outside.
-Speaking of Brandon Parker, the North Carolina A&T player is making the most of his opportunities against premium competition. After an up-and-down first day, Parker steadied himself and did well to bounce back to anchor against power. Parker is an intriguing developmental prospect and a team could pull the trigger sooner than anticipated simply based on potential.
-Humboldt State OT Alex Cappa’s aggression continues to show up on every rep as he continues to play like an unchained gorilla in individual match ups. Cappa’s biggest issue thus far has been reaching prematurely and losing his balance based on excessive upper body lean, which is fixable with coaching. One thing you can’t coach someone to do is be a rude dude, and Cappa is nasty.
Defensive Line
-In a battle of length vs. length, UTSA’s Marcus Davenport had some issues bending around taller Tackles Brandon Parker and Joe Noteboom in individual drills. Davenport’s power and short area burst continue to be put on display, but he will need to become more calculated with his footwork to be more successful as a pure stand-up edge rusher if he ends up in a 3-4 defense.
-Andrew Brown continues to show off exceptional athleticism to pair with his striking physique. The Virginia defensive end was pound-for-pound the most impressive athlete running hoop drills and has little to no wasted motion with his lateral control. Brown has also won the majority of his match ups and has played with violence and showed off his lightning hands in his individual battles.
Linebackers
-Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel is a bit of a tweener at 6004, 215 pounds, but he has displayed impressive athletic traits all week and did so again today. He covers ground quickly and displayed instincts in run defense throughout the day. He has the speed to match tight ends in coverage, and he needs to continue to play bigger than he’s measured at.
-Auburn’s Tre’ Williams has continued to struggle in all areas of the game. He had a bad play yesterday where he misdiagnosed a run and opened up a wide lane, and he wasn’t anything special in run defense today. Williams is very stiff hipped and got beat consistently in coverage today. A productive college player with a thumping body, Williams is going to need to finish the week very strong if he hopes to have his name called before late Day 3 in April.
Defensive Backs
-Auburn’s Tray Matthews had a standout day today from the safety position. The Auburn Saftey who is one of the more physically impressive looking players played with physicality all day in both the run and pass games. Matthews in run defense knew where to fill his gaps and did a good job of tracking the ball carrier to get in position to make the tackle and showing explosiveness when he hits the ball carrier. In pass coverage Williams working against the tight ends was physical at the line of scrimmage and had the foot speed and frame to keep up with and challenge the bigger tight ends staying in the tight ends pocket throughout the route and breaking up multiple passes during practice.
-North Carolina corner MJ Stewart, who made this list as a standout yesterday, backed up his performance again at practice today. Stewart who was particularly impressive in the slot showed patience in man coverage doing a good job of not opening his hips too early and staying square in both press and off man coverage. Stewart foot and hip quickness have stood out he is constantly moving his feet to get into position and opens his hips to run quickly reaching full speed in a few steps. Stewart has been a tough matchup for every receiver he has faced and is consistently in position to make a play on the ball. In the red zone period today he showed field awareness not giving ground mirroring receivers and being physical at the goal line eliminating throwing windows.
-Levi Wallace: Alabama's Levi Wallace is dangerously skinny, but has the technique to still stand a chance. Wallace was good when asked to run down the field and play in space, though physical receivers got the best of him.
-Virginia's Quin Blanding wasn't getting around as well as one would hope. Blanding didn't show the speed to keep up with most other athletes on the field, and didn't have quick enough recognition to make up for it entirely. Hopefully Blanding can settle in on the final day.
After a long day 1 of weigh-ins and practices, Wednesday at the Senior Bowl allowed for better quarterback and receiver comfort, added confidence for offensive and defensive line, and an opportunity for the top players to rise to the top.
Day 2 North practice winners include Wyoming QB Josh Allen, Penn State WR DaeSean Hamilton and CB Christian Campbell, Colorado State WR Michael Gallup, UTEP OG Will Hernandez, NC State DTs Justin Jones and BJ Hill, and Rutgers' Kemoko Turay.
Reports from Eric Galko, Christian Page, Derrik Klassen, Dan Matney, Filip Prus, and Parker Henry
Quarterbacks
-After an average first day of practice, Josh Allen proved to be more comfortable on Day 2. Allen was consistent on the deep ball hooking up for a couple scores on 40-yard vertical routes with Michael Gallup (Colorado State) and Allen Lazard (Iowa State). On these throws Allen showed excellent touch and control with impeccable ball placement on the back shoulder of receivers.
However, Allen continued to struggle with touch and accuracy on the intermediate throws. He lacks the velocity control to land the ball in stride to the receivers. He hasn’t shown consistency underneath with touch or accuracy. On one of his first seven on seven throws, he failed to read the safety and threw an interception trying to thread the needle to his tight end.
-Baker Mayfield showed plenty of poise and comfort in seven on seven drills. He looked somewhat raw in his five step drops, for obvious reasons, and showed some inconsistencies shifting his weight throughout his lower body preventing him from making some accurate passes. Mayfield showed excellent timing today hitting receivers in stride and looking comfortable in reading coverage. Mayfield threw passes with anticipation and appropriate timing seemingly developing some kind of rapport with his receivers already.
-The late addition quarterback, Tanner Lee, had a below average day. His arm strength and tight spiral are attractive traits, but he continues to have issues reading simple defensive concepts leading to inaccurate (poor timed) throws and interceptions. Lee shows a trend of throwing too many dead passes (not leading receiver or showing much anticipation) while also missing a couple of wide-open receivers on the boundary.
-Luke Falk, Washington State, looked comfortable in Day 2 of practice. He had some inconsistencies early on when throwing from the far hash to the sideline missing the mark high on a few passes. He managed to settle in and threw the ball well in seven on seven and 11 on 11 drills. One play in particular, Falk rolled to his left when pressured and threw an accurate pass on a drag route to the receiver. Falk was impressive showing anticipation and timing on more than a handful of throws. He was most accurate on play-action passes when rolling right. Falk would most likely be the best passer on the South squad.
Running Backs
-Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage continued to build on a strong first day and has been the most impressive back on the North roster. He isn’t necessarily explosive but he’s shown burst running between the tackles and displays impressive suddenness as a route runner. His hands have been consistent so far this week with the exception of a drop on a swing route that was thrown a little behind him. Additionally, Ballage has been impressive in 1 on 1 pass protection drills vs. linebackers and has shown the ability to recover when he gets beat. If he continues to perform at the same level the rest of the week, Ballage could experience a massive rise in his stock.
-Iowa’s Akrum Wadley continues to display speed and quickness turning the corner, but he has some struggles on the second day of practice. He hasn’t been able to run with much power inside, and he got dismantled by BYU’s Fred Warner in pass protection drills early in practice.
Receivers
-The best route runner at the Senior Bowl this year is Penn State's DaeSean Hamilton. Not only does he clearly take pride in route definition and timing in his breaks, but his upper and lower half are consistently in-sync, allowing him to, while balanced, separate with subtle hand and arm movements. He's different than Cooper Kupp from last year's Senior Bowl, but he's starting to win in the same ways. After being the best Shrine Game receive last week, he's not far off from being one of the best Senior Bowl receivers this week.
-If Hamilton is the best route runner on the North team, then Colorado State's Michael Gallup is the second best. He separates with quickness and burst rather than greatly developed nuance, but his work on deep comebacks, crossers, and vertical routes has really impressed. He's built the best rapport with Wyoming's Josh Allen.
-Miami (FL)'s Braxton Berrios was tough to handle in 1-on-1s. His ability to stop on a dime, redirect, and get open was impressive. There were a few balls he could not bring in, either due to height or not adjusting particularly well, but he got open.
-Justin Watson, one of the lesser-known receivers coming into this week, has been impressive through he first two days of practice. Wilson has shown great body control effectively using his 6’2 215-pound frame to box out defenders and helping create separation out of his cuts. Watson has shown strong hands, being able to finish catches despite defenders ripping at his arms and hands once he catches the ball. One area that Watson needs to show is if he can get off press coverage more efficiently.
-Iowa State's Allen Lazard looked like a catch point only player today. It is clear he has a size and strength advantage, but he did not move well in 1-on-1s. Defensive backs had little issue sticking to him, especially on shorter routes.
Offensive Line
-UTEP offensive guard Will Hernandez was easily the best offensive lineman at the North practice. He entered the week as our top-rated offensive lineman, and he hasn't disappointed. He plays with outstanding hand strength, sliding well after engaged and dealing with both quicker and thicker defensive tackles well. He hasn't gotten a chance to move too much in space yet, but he'll impress there for a 340-pound lineman.
-UCLA's Scott Quessenberry doesn't have the elite length or measurables to earn top-two round grades, but his play this season and now during the week of practice speaks to his likely seven-plus year career as a center in the NFL. Refined in hand placement and quickness, great burst off the snap, and finishing opportunities once he engages all lend themselves to a long NFL career.
-Making a transition from right tackle to right guard, Washington State lineman Cole Madison has looked natural and his athleticism in individual drills has been noticeable. While Madison has proven to be an adept pass blocker in Mike Leach’s pass-heavy offense (78% of his snaps this year were pass plays), a few more stacked practices inside at guard showing his run blocking prowess can go a long way for Madison’s stock.
-Virginia Tech’s Wyatt Teller has looked sluggish coming out of his stance and has been delayed with his hand punch in lineman blocking drills. Teller was a converted defensive tackle with the Hokies, so his lack of fluidity and cumbersome explosiveness is somewhat surprising, especially when followed up by UTEP’s Hernandez.
Defensive Line
-Rutgers edge rusher Kemoko Turay impressed with his ability to bend around the edge and got home for a would-be sack, as well as disrupting a few other plays beyond the line of scrimmage. Turay also showed that he has the strength to hold stout at the point of attack and is working hard this week to combat a poor motor narrative, playing with his hair on fire throughout (and sometimes beyond) the whistle in practice. Turay has only been playing football for five years, and while there is definitely a lot to work to cultivate the raw talent, a talented defensive line coach could reap the benefits of the high-ceiling Turay.
-Defensive Tackles Justin Jones and BJ Hill put the Wolf in Wolfpack today working from the interior. The former collegiate teammates were giving linemen fits with Jones taking on the brunt of the double teams and Hill penetrating up-field and winning with several moves from both 3 and 5-tech alignments. Jones has played with violence this week and any team that is looking for a stout 1-technique, who can also provide some pass rush, should covet Jones.
Linebackers
-BYU's Fred Warner is an intriguing prospect that checks off the physical boxes at 6034, 235 pounds, but his change-of-direction quickness and ability in coverage showed up today. He’s a strong, physical player that beat Akrum Wadley with ease in 1 on 1 drills, and he’s continued to display effective in pursuit of the outside run. If he can continue to work and improve in coverage, Warner could solidify himself at the best linebacker on the North squad.
-Oklahoma linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has routinely displayed a physical, effective play style as an edge rusher all season, but he showed some real ability in 1 on 1 coverage drills today. He isn’t the smoothest or most fluid athlete, but he had a really nice play vs. standout Kalen Ballage on a wheel route down the left boundary that turned some heads. He was able to stay attached to Ballage’s hip pocket running downfield and he did a nice job getting his head around and his hand up when the ball came his way. While he stills projects as a tweener edge rusher, his impressive display in coverage leaves reason to believe he could have the ability to transition into an off-ball linebacker as the draft process continues.
Defensive Backs
-After sitting out Monday’s practice because of illness, Florida’s Duke Dawson made up for the reps he missed yesterday by being all over the field today. The physical Dawson lined up both outside and in the slot, utilizing his quick feet. He showed great mirror skills off the line of scrimmage. Where Dawson really shined was when the ball was in the air. He showcased great timing and strength by recording at least four pass breakups today, mostly by playing through the receivers hands and knocking the ball out. Dawson was also impressive in zone coverage not chasing receivers and doing a good job of communicating and passing off routes while maintaining zone eyes to get positive breaks on the quarterback.
Dawson was a little inconsistent, but his peaks were on display. Dawson is an impressive athlete who was at his best following players down the field and getting into their hip pocket. He'll need to show more as a shallow click-and-close player tomorrow.
-After an impressive Day 1, Christian Campbell did not disappoint on Day 2. Campbell again was impressive all day in press coverage, as his lateral movement and long arms were creating major issues for receivers trying to get off the line. Something Campbell improved on today was his pad level. At times, Campbell played high yesterday which affected his ability to get out of his breaks. Today Campbell played with improved pad level allowing him to sink his hips quicker limiting receivers separation on quicker breaking in and out routes .
-Isaac Yiadom bounced back from a somewhat lackluster day one, Yiadom was able to use his long 6 foot frame to bother receivers all day, Yiadom played physical thorough routes throughout the practice, particularly on vertical routes where he was able to open his hips quickly, turn and run with the receiver down the field effectively using his body to squeeze the receiver to the sideline limiting the throwing windows. Yiadom struggled in his off coverage today but was very impressive in press man, doing a great job staying square until the route declared.
-Armani Watts was impressive for the second straight day flashing today mainly in the run game. Watts is quick to trigger from his safety spot and brings his hips with him when he strikes the ball carrier, delivering the biggest hit of the North practice during the third down period. Watts also showed range and zone reaction in zone coverage today making a pass breakup on the sideline after coming from the middle of the field.
-South Carolina's Jamarcus King had one disgusting rep in which DaeSean Hamilton shook him down the field. Outside of that rep, King was solid. King looked comfortable pressing and getting grabby with receivers. He was as physical at the catch point as one would wish from a defensive back.
2018 Senior Bowl Day 3 North: Jaylen Samuels, Kemoko Turay Stand Out
Spoiler!
The last day of fully padded practice, Thursday at the Senior Bowl is the last opportunity for players to impress NFL teams and potentially earn higher draft grades.
The Thursday North practice "winners" were North Carolina State's Jaylen Samuels, Miami (FL)'s Braxton Berrios, Army's Brett Toth, Virginia Tech's Wyatt Teller, Rutgers's Kemoko Turay and Hawaii's Trayvon Henderosn
Quarterbacks
-Wyoming QB Josh Allen continues to showcase a strong arm, and his passes are by far the most audible when the WR catches it. His back corner fade pass to Justin Watson in 7v7s drew gasps from all in attendance, and then he followed it up with a precisely placed bucket throw to Durham Smythe on a Seam. However, when Allen misses a throw, he misses it badly, and his processing continues to be delayed.
-Contrary to Allen, Sooners Baker Mayfield looks like a computer going through reads and looks completely comfortable in the pocket with his progressions. His footwork is crisp and his accuracy on the move to his right has been surgical. He seemed to be developing some nice chemistry with Penn State TE Mike Gesicki throughout practice.
-While Washington State QB Luke Falk’s anticipation and timing remains on display, his placement and trajectory on fade passes in 1v1 red zone drills was a pleasant surprise. Falk’s biggest issue throughout the day was sluggish footwork on shallow drops, and he will need to consolidate his strides as he continues to adjust to snaps from under center.
-Nebraska QB Tanner Lee was late on several throws today, including some shallow Outs in Red Zone drills, one of which was intercepted at the pylon. Lee’s placement on Fades was the most erratic of the bunch, but he showed good placement driving balls in the middle of he field to make some nice completions inside the numbers.
Running Backs
-NC State's Jaylen Samuels has expectedly been the most impressive, complete running back here (followed closely behind by Kalen Ballage). But Samuels especially got to show off his route separation and overall comfort as a pass catcher. In-season, Samuels was compared (very optimistically) by scouts to Aaron Hernandez, Jordan Reed, and David Johnson. He's not quite any of those playres stylistcally or upside-wise, but the versatility is what stands out. He didn't get a chance to show he's a dominant back at NC State, but he's showing that he's an NFL starter here at the Senior Bowl.
-Arizona State's Kalen Ballage has continued to impress on Day 3, a consistent theme all week. Ballage flashed in college, but between being under-utilized and having a unique body type for the position, he was never able to captailize on his clear potential. Here, he's shown outstanding pass catching comfort and extension, plus bend for a taller running back, and multiple areas for easy improvement. The one thing Ballage needs to show scouts is his initial vision and gap anticipation. It's an area that, in film review of the week, he's struggle with a bit, and wasn't great today either in team drills.
Receivers
-Braxton Berrios showed plenty of route creativity today in one on ones. He continues to show a plethora of ankle flexibility easily changing direction with quick hips. With a diving snag and a couple of sideline catches, the Miami receiver had plenty of opportunities to showcase his body control through the catch and he did not disappoint. He won more than a couple of contested battles and was a reliable receiver in the redzone reps. Berrios dealt with some easy drops earlier in the week but managed to put that behind him to finish with a strong practice.
-Allen Lazard had a better day latching on to tough catches with a few snags in the end zone. He fumbled after a 15-yard post pattern in seven on seven drills. Lazard remains heavy-footed and that won't get better. He doesn't have the burst to pop out of his breaks which may be the reason for having to grab so many contested catches this week.
-Boise State wideout Cedrick Wilson looked strong today in the end zone. He consistently caught the ball away from his body coming away with tough catches. Wilson maintained control in agility drills and consistently caught the ball within the drills. He worked out as a kick returner with one rep in which he went the wrong direction, according to the coach.
-DaeSean Hamilton somehow improves each day though already putting together back-to-back stellar practices. Hamilton showcased his high-pointing ability displaying strong mitts and concentration. He creates plenty of space with subtle quickness out of his breaks with controlled and effective movement skills. He suffered one notable drop today in the redzone allowing the ball to make its way into his chest.
Offensive Line
-Army tackle Brett Toth has really settled in as a pass protector as the week has gone on. His progression since the first day of practice has been impressive and he’s shown flashes of starting caliber skills at times in Day 3. He has strong hands and has played with better bend on the last day of practice. His footwork was a little sloppy on Tuesday and still needs work but his base looked significantly improved today. Toth is still prone to overextend at times but he has really taken strides this week.
-Pittsburgh tackle Brian O’Neill came into the week with lofty expectations but he has struggled throughout the week and those struggles continued on Day 3. He was thrown down to the ground by Kemoko Turay in the first session on 1 on 1’s and struggled to win a single rep in Thursday’s session. Ohio State’s Jalyn Holmes beat him with a swift inside move and OU’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo put him on skates at one point with his bull rush. He looks the part and has impressive showings on film, but he is looking closer to a 3rd-4th round pick than a potential first rounder as the week ends.
-Virginia Tech's Wyatt Teller had his best practice of the week so far. He's had some issues with hand placement and decisiveness earlier in the week, but his confidence and composure has clearly been helped and he struck initially with great power. He's a tough, acive, physical interior guard who makes up for a lack of elite athleticism to outwork his opponents, and with his hands in better position today, he was able to show it in practice.
Defensive Line
-Rutgers edge rusher Kemoko Turay was downright unblockable today. He has had impressive flashes all season and checks off the physical boxes, but he wreaked havoc all day vs. both left and right tackles. He’s always been able to win with his quickness but he displayed a different level of strength today, and had an impressive play in 1 on 1’s vs. Pitt’s Brian O’Neill where he spotted O’Neill over extending and ripped him to the ground with ease. He’s put together a nice week and could be pushing his way into a late Day 1/early Day 2 selection.
-Ohio State’s Tyquan Lewis continues to impress. He has put together a strong week and has displayed the same versatility in Mobile that he did in Columbus, lining up from everywhere from 0-technique to 7-technique. He has a nice blend of speed and power and has been a consistent performer in 1 on 1 pass rush.
Linebackers
-North Dakota State's Nick DeLuca has been the best of the linebackers here in Mobile in large part thanks to his coverage range, and he's shown that off today. Working as a nickel linebacker might be his best NFL fit, and it's clear he can reach his drops smoothly and with confidence.
-Brown linebacker Dewey Jarvis has struggled in coverage this week, which is to be expected after playing defensive end his entire career. But he's improved each day, including today with a handful of nice zone drops and added comfort in space. There's a lot to like about his NFL projection, and he's proved that, if he continues to develop fundamentally, he'll be an NFL draft pick. His issues are purely technical and anticipatory, not athletic.
Defensive Backs
-It was a rough going for Dubuque CB Michael Joseph today, who looked better yesterday. Joseph struggled in red zone work. Joseph wasn't able to locate the ball as cleanly as one would hope, nor was he as sticky in coverage as he had shown previously.
-Hawaii's Trayvon Henderson is the best safety in the North group, and showed it during today's practices During red zone drills, Henderson snagged an interception out of the tight end's hands on a seam route in the end zone. Henderson was noticeably beat once by Mike Gesicki, but was otherwise impressive.
-The nature of these Senior Bowl practices being pass-heavy hurts West Virginia's Kyzir White. White was lacking in coverage today, only being able to keep up if he was grabbing onto receivers and tight ends. White is primarily a run defender and it showed today.
2018 Senior Bowl Day 3 South: Marcus Davenport, Host of Small Schoolers Impress
Spoiler!
Day 3 South roster "winners" included LSU's Darrel Williams, Oklahoma State's Marcell Ateman, Humbolt State's Alex Cappa, Georgia's Isaiah Wynn, UTSA's Marcus Davenport, and Southern's Danny Johnson.
Reports from Eric Galko, Christian Page, Derrik Klassen, Dan Matney, Filip Prus, and Parker Henry
Quarterbacks
-Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta was the best of the South bunch, now stacking together a few good practices showing off his quick stroke on his release. Lauletta was automatic on Fade routes and made some eyebrow raising throws with pace outside the numbers. Lauletta does make a habit of trusting his eyes too much and needs to show more anticipation for Outs and Comebacks.
-Western Kentucky QB Mike White struggled handling some snaps from C Bradley Bozeman in warm ups. White has shown fluid feet this week and does well to generate torque from his lower body to deliver tight spirals with timing, especially on throws outside the numbers. White was conservative with his decision making in 11v11s and opted to check the ball down rather than challenge deep.
-Virginia’s Kurt Benkert looked good throwing against air but seemed to stall in 11v11s with his decision making. Benkert made a habit of holding on to the ball far too long, allowing UTSA DE Marcus Davenport 2 sacks and a forced fumble when Davenport ran into Benkert’s arm. Benkert continues to put a ton of arc on lofted deep passes, which is totally fine as long as he has a WR who can go up and make the contested catch.
-Troy QB Brandon Silvers was solid in all aspects with a decent arm and fine accuracy but has yet to exhibit any traits to separate himself. It also didn’t help that he didn’t get many reps in 11v11s towards the end of the practice.
Running Backs
-The only running back that really stood out in the South's practice was LSU's Darrel Williams. After playing second or third fiddle in the LSU offense the last three years, Williams has shown that his added versatility has made the difference in his NFL grade. He looked confident as a pass catcher and explosive as a team-drill runner, and leaves Mobile as one of the better running backs here. Conversely, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny struggled greatly as a pass catcher this week.
Receivers
-Marcell Ateman saved his best outing for last. The Oklahoma State wideout showed off tremendous body control and high-pointing ability. The best part of his day came on RZ throws when snagging passes out of the back of the endzone. He displayed appropriate hand technique when high-pointing.
-Continuing to show that he is the best receiver here, James Washington put on a show of consistency once again. Washington looked comfortable on corner fade routes looking the ball in while shielding off the defender. Washington continues to win reps, not only with speed, but with physicality and overall ball skills.
-After an average first day and an improved Day 2, DJ Chark of LSU showed consistency in the final day of practice in Mobile. He connected on many corner fades and looked comfortable catching the ball on the run underneath. He is smooth when changing direction and has reliable hands, even in traffic.
Offensive Lineman
-Humboldt State standout tackle Alex Cappa has put together a strong week but he displayed issues today vs. speed on the outside. He was beat by Shaquem Griffin on the outside in 1 on 1 pass rush drills and also gave up two pressures to Griffin in Tempo Drills, one when Griffin lowered the shoulder and bent the edge and another when Griffin utilized an inside move. Cappa has done a fantastic job all week and will likely rise on many boards after a strong week but there are still flaws to his game that cause some concern.
-Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn continues to build on a strong week and his performance could have him in position to sneak into the 1st Round. A tackle in college, he has transitioned effortlessly to the inside and rarely lost a rep during Thursday’s session. He’s consistently shown impressive lateral agility and fantastic grip strength, as well as the ability to quickly recover and hold up vs. counter moves.
Defensive Lineman/Linebackers
-With his buzz building leading up to Senior Bowl week, UTSA’s Marcus Davenport put together what could be considered his best day in Mobile Thursday. He was used as a standup rusher on the edge for the most part, and he displayed serious first step quickness in team drills. He also has shown off his impressive upper body strength and threw a lineman to the ground in 1 on 1’s. In addition, he has shown the ability to generate push with his bull rush and had an impressive dip and rip move to generate pressure during the tempo period.
-Though he is technically classified as a linebacker, UCF’s Shaquem Griffin spent the day working with edge rushers and put on a fantastic display throughout the day. He was able to beat Alex Cappa every time they lined up against each other rushing the passer, and his explosiveness and first step coming off the edge make him a very intriguing prospect. While there are obvious concerns about him physically, he displayed fantastic quickness and was a presence in pass rush drills all day long.
Defensive Backs
-Georgia State's Chandon Sullivan showed out in red zone sessions today. He regularly got into the hip pocket of receivers trying to work to the middle, and played aggressive on fade routes. Being as skinny as he is, taller receivers like Marcell Ateman had their way occasionally, but Sullivan looked like he belonged.
-Southern's Danny Johnson was often tasked with playing against the top receivers on the South team, primarily the Oklahoma State duo. In doing so, Johnson held his own, seldom giving up space. Johnson shined in both 1-on-1s and in team drills, as well as in the red zone. Undersized he may be, but Johnson performed.
UTEP’s Will Hernandez uses his strength well — going against Fort Hays State’s Nathan Shepherd, who had a strong day yesterday, Hernandez uses Shepherd’s first step and momentum against to him, easily shoving him back and behind the spot.
Hernandez loves to block through the echo of the whistle - he is causing visible frustration with this DT group. #76 is just a mean dude. And I love it.
Not a huge surprise but @SeniorBowlPhil said on @nflnetwork that UTEP OG Will Hernandez requested to be on the North team because his former coach, Sean Kugler, is now with the #Broncos.
The Pitt OT Brian O’Neill has been stealing Tyquan Lewis’ soul during this 11v11 team period. Just drove him 10 yards of the LOS in zone to open big lane for Ballage. Playing RT today, was at LT yesterday.
01-23-2018, 11:42 AM
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