Senior Bowl Preview

 

This is it. The Senior Bowl, it doesn’t get much better than this. 

The Senior Bowl is “The” All-Star Game for the preceeding college football season. There is no question about the talent of the guys on these rosters, every single one of them is a DOG. But who’s the BIGGEST DOG? In a packed field of Little Red Corvettes, who’s the Ferrari?

As an added bonus, these players will be coached for a week by a complete NFL Coaching Staff, and you’d be crazy to think these staffs aren’t evaluating these prospects for their own Big Boards they’ll utilize on Draft Day.

The National Championship is one thing, where teams are normally anchored by a handful of pro prospects, but the Senior Bowl is jam packed with future starters, All-Pros, and maybe even a Hall of Famer or two a decade from now. Next to an actual NFL game, the competition doesn’t get any better than this right now. 

Each prospect has their own story, and along with that their own hype; and for NFL Front Offices and fans alike who are clamoring to see if they’ll don their teams colors in April. 

 

Here’s a break down of the players of each team and the superlatives therein:

 

 

 

 

Quarterbacks

 

American

Malik Willis – Liberty

Sam Howell – North Carolina

Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky

 

National 

Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh

Desmond Ridder – Cincinatti

Carson Strong – Nevada

 

 

I’m very cool on this QB Group, but I’m also convinced that some teams will reach in the 1st Round and ruin their franchises because of it as well. Kenny Pickett is the unquestioned leader of this group, and possibly the only QB who deserves to go in the 1st Round at all. I love his game and I think he will acquiesce to the pros nicely, he doesn’t have any glaring red flags in his game. Malik Willis could very well sneak into the back end of the 1st Round but teams might shy away because of his size (6’0) and roughshod mechanics. Despite Desmond Ridder leading Cincinatti to the College Football Playoffs, he’s not a QB I’d trust early on, as he and Tar Heels QB Howell need to stop turning it over so much in addition to working on their accuracy. Nevada’s Carson Strong might have the best opportunity when he’s selected on Day 2, as he’ll likely carry a clipboard for a season or two before having to take the reigns for a franchise. The Hilltoppers’ Zappe, despite a good season, will likely find himself as a compensation pick on Day 2 or priority Day 3 selection as he’s the odd man out.

 

 

Running Backs

 

American

Dameon Piece – Florida

Brian Robinson Jr. – Alabama

ZaQuandre White – South Carolina

D’Vonte Price – Florida International

 

National

Jerome Ford – Cincinatti

Hasaan Haskins – Michigan

Tyler Badie – Missouri

Abram Smith – Baylor

 

 

Despite predictions of being a late Day 2 or Early Day 3 selection, The Gators Dameon Pierce is the highest rated RB in this group…and that’s saying something with how uneven Florida was this year. Playing for Bama made Brian Robinson a household name, but he’s a great RB in his own right and could start Day 1. FIU’s D’Vonte Price has the most to gain from a fantastic outing, as that could move him up to Mid Day 2. Any team looking for a bell cow will covet the Wolverines’ Haskins, but your change-of-pace/third down back role belongs to Mizzou’s Badie. Baylor’s Smith had a monster year playing in the “No Defense” Big 12, so he’ll be out to prove 2021 was no fluke. The Gamecocks White posted an impressive 6.6 YPC with limited usage, and will look to establish that he’s worth more than just a late round pick.

 

 

 

Wide Receivers

 

American

Jahan Dotson – Penn State

Jalen Tolbert – South Alabama

Calvin Austin III – Memphis

Tre Turner – Virginia Tech

Danny Gray – Southern Methodist

Dontario Drummond – Mississippi

Velus Jones Jr. – Tennessee

 

National

Alec Piece – Cincinatti

Christian Watson – North Dakota State

Khalil Shakir – Boise State

Braylon Sanders – Mississippi

Romeo Doubs – Nevada

Bo Melton – Rutgers

 

It’ll be home cooking for South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert, who will be playing in his home stadium. Tolbert will be looking to solidify his status as one of the premier WRs in this year’s class, which isn’t hard to do necessarily. Tolbert could be the prototypical “Z” receiver in an offense, stretching defenses at every level. Cincinnatti’s Pierce projects at the “X” receiver position, he doesn’t look as fast as he is at 6’3, which creates a serious dilemma for opposing corners with his plus route running ability. Doubs from Nevada and Shakir from Boise State had “ok” seasons if you ask me, and will be looking to prove they can make plays against tough competition. I currently project them as slot only guys, unless they show they can continually stretch the defense on the outside. The Hokies’ Turner will also look to build some momentum going into Draft season as while he was Mr. Reliable in Blacksburg, he’s far from a finished project. He’ll need to show he can separate and actually make plays versus just capitilize on a defense’s mistakes. Calvin Austin was electric for Memphis but he’s now playing with the big boys, and at 160 lbs I’ll be doing multiple hail marys if he ever cuts across the middle. Let’s hope in the right offseason program he can at least add about 10-15 lbs.

 

 

 

Tight Ends

 

American

Isaiah Likely – Coastal Carolina

Grant Calcaterra – Southern Methodist

Daniel Bellinger – San Diego State

Greg Dulcich – UCLA

 

National

Trey McBride – Colorado State

Charlie Kolar – Iowa State

Cole Turner – Nevada

Jeremy Ruckert – Ohio State

 

 

Colorado State’s Trey McBride could be the top tight end in this class. You wouldn’t think he’s 260 moving as fluidly as he does. Guys like McBride, I call them “Super Ys” because they can offer you the traditional tight end skills packaged with a guy who can move around the field. McBride just needs to run sub 4.8s in the Combine and I’m sold, his blocking technique can be worked out with coaching. Coastal’s Likely is your move tight end of the group, but like the majority will need to gain weight and/or improve on their blocking skills. I’ve got an eye on the Buckeye’s Jeremy Ruckert, because you don’t see a lot of tight ends traditionally come out of Columbus(scheme), I’m not sure he’s as good as advertised. He needs to make 4-5 plays in this game to be considered even Day 3 material. Biggest sleeper in the group belongs to Nevada’s Cole Turner, dude is LONG, and his blocking isn’t terrible. I’m not sure about his leaping ability but if a quarterback gets a good throw I don’t see how you overthrow him, just get it in his area. The Cyclone’s Kolar should feast with better QB play than what he had back in Ames.

 

 

Offensive Linemen

 

American

Darian Kinnard – Kentucky

Max Mitchell – Louisiana-Lafayette

Dylan Parham – Memphis

Spencer Burford – Texas-San Antonio

Luke Fortner – Kentucky

Ed Ingram – LSU

Cade Mays – Tennessee

Jamaree Salyer – Georgia

Braxton Jones – Southern Utah

Lecitus Smith – Virginia Tech

Justin Shaffer – Georgia

 

 

National

Zion Johnson – Boston College

Daniel Faalele – Minnesota

Cole Strange – Chattanooga

Luke Goedeke – Central Michigan

Abraham Lucas – Washington State

Bernhard Raimann – Central Michigan

Tyler Penning – Northen Iowa

Ja’Tyre Carter – Southern 

Andrew Steuber – Michigan

Matt Waletzko – North Dakota

Marquis Hayes – Oklahoma

Nick Zakelj – Fordham

 

 

I cannot stop gushing about this offensive line class. Every single one of these guys has some serious potential to be a fixture for an NFL franchise. In this great class there are a few guys who stick out amongst the rest, Max Mitchell for the Ragin Cajun stands at the top and should be the most coveted right tackle on Draft Day, with the Golden Gophers Faalele a very close second and depending on who you ask he might be first, at over 6’8 and 380 lbs it’s going to be no small feat for an edge rusher to get past him at left tackle. Kentucky’s Kinnard will be gold for any offensive scheme that emphasizes the power run game, he’s just bulldozes opposing defenders with a mean streak to boot. Zion Johnson out of BC has been on draft boards for the past 2 years and he’s proof that there’s something to be said about waiting until your senior year, he’s a near lock for the 1st Round now, with his much improved pass pro. The pair of Chippewas Goedeke and Raimann will probably assume starting roles no later than their second year if they continue to improve at their respective tackle spots, and I suspect it’s all a matter of technique. And while nobody really checks for centers, Kentucky’s Fortner should be a Day 1 starter no matter when he’s drafted, but somebody will probably notice on Saturday that he deserves his roses now, his game is nearly complete from a pass or run perspective. Group of 5 representatives Cole Strange from Chattanooga and Dylan Parham out of Memphis look like key roleplayers as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Defensive Linemen

 

American

Phildarian Mathis – Alabama

John Ridgeway III – Arkansas

Zachary Carter – Florida

Jermaine Johnson II – Florida State

Devonte Wyatt – Georgia

Neil Farrell Jr – LSU

Kingsley Enagbare – South Carolina

Michael Clemons – Texas A&M

Amare Barno – Virginia Tech

DeAngelo Malone – Western Kentucky

Cameron Thomas – San Diego State

 

 

National

Logan Hall – Houston

Travis Jones – Connecticut

Garrett Haskell – Ohio State

Tyreke Smith – Ohio State

Arnold Ebiketie – Penn State

Perrion Winfrey – Oklahoma

Isaiah Thomas – Oklahoma

Otito Ogbonnia – UCLA

Myjai Sanders – Cincinnati

Dominique Robinson – Miami(OH)

Mafe Boye – Minnesota

 

 

This a good but polarizing class of defensive linemen. The Razorbacks John Ridgeway has intriguing size at 6’6 and nearly 330lbs, but I’m not sure what defensive scheme he lines up in. I’ll be curious how the American staff use him. Bama’s Mathis had the pleasure of playing along size a front seven that routinely had 4 or more All-Americans and future 1st Rounders, I’d like to see him make his own mark on the game without such generous assistance. Right now he’s a 4-3 only defensive tackle, I’d like to see what he can do in an odd front or sub-package alignment. Logan Hall of Houston and the Gators Zachary Carter have tools that should suit any scheme, their bodies of work don’t necessarily leap off the page but our prime targets for having far better pro careers than college. The Seminoles Jermaine Johnson was a shining star on an otherwise poor team in Tallahasse and with his plus athleticism should see consideration for early selection on Day 2. The Aggies Michael Clemons needs to have a big game to prove he’s just not another rotational DT on an even front. The Sooners Winfrey needs to show consistent effort to push the pile and Thomas probably needs to make a permanent position switch to probably a ILB in a 3-4, the scouts will be watching to see how he progresses against premier competition. The Huskies Travis Jones looks like a darkhorse candidant to breakout into priority Day 3 or the back end of Day 2, if he proves he can play on the edge.

 

 

 

Linebackers

 

American

D’Marco Jackson – Appalachian State

Jojo Domann – Nebraska

Aaron Hansford – Texas A&M

Channing Tindall – Georgia

Damone Clark – LSU

 

 

National

Brian Asamoah – Oklahoma

Terrel Bernard – Baylor

Darian Beavers – Cincinnati

Troy Anderson – Montana State

Mike Rose – Iowa State

Kyron Johnson – Kansas

Jesse Luketa – Penn State

Sterling Weatherford – Miami(OH)

Chad Muma – Wyoming

 

 

The American team will likely have a rotation of defenders who also line up at linebacker, but even still, the surperlatives are easily noticed amongst both teams. Damone Clark is hoping to show he deserves 1st Round consideration and should impress with a few noteworthy plays to make that a reality. Oklahoma’s Asmoah will be looking to prove he can adequately defend the pass along with the run, so he isn’t penciled in as a run defender or designated pass rusher only. App State has a tradition of fielding quality defenders, and D’Marco Jackson just simply needs to show he belongs out there to solidify his draft position on the back end of the 3rd Round. Cincinnatti’s Beavers has intriguing length and can play at OLB or DE, and it’ll be interesting to see how the National team use him in the game.

 

 

 

Defensive Backs

 

American 

Cam Taylor-Britt – Nebraska

Zyon McCollum – Sam Houston 

Josh Thompson – Texas

Leon O’Neal Jr – Texas A&M

Tyriq Woolen – Texas-San Antonio

Roger McCreary – Auburn

Derion Kendrick – Georgia

Tariq Carpenter – Georgia Tech

Mario Goodrich – Clemson

Alonte Taylor – Tennessee

Akayleb Evans – Missouri

Yusef Corker – Kentucky

Tycen Anderson – Toledo

 

National

Tariq Castro-Fields – Penn State

Jaylen Watson – Washington State

Coby Bryant – Cincinnati

Joseph Kerby – Illinois

Jalen Pitre – Baylor

Joshua Williams – Fayetteville State

Gregory Junior – Ouachita Baptist

JT Woods – Baylor

Damarri Mathis – Pittsburgh

 

What I like about this group most is that they mostly came from unheralded teams, which is a true testament to the statement that if you have talent, people will find you. Zyon McCollum out of Sam Houston and Joshua Williams out of Fayetteville State played in the FCS and had stellar seasons. They both possess excellent length, listing at 6’2 or better. All they need to do is show the ability to run with the top tier guys and they could both see themselves selected on Day 2. The Longhorns Thompson and Evans out of Mizzou may need to explore playing safety in the NFL, as I’m not sure they have the speed to stay on the outside. I’m currently going to pencil Gregory in as a slot corner, but don’t count him out on the boundary either, I’m just a little concerned with his cover skills. I liked the Huskers Taylor-Britt and Penn State’s Castro-Fields but they had rough seasons and they need to clean up their mistakes on saturday to rescue their tanking draft positions. While most will keep an eye on Texas A&M’s O’Neal as the safety to beat, his run defense isn’t as strong as the bigger and faster Kerby Joseph out of Illinois, who should prove he belongs in the conversation of the Top 5 safeties in this year’s Draft with a good showing. Jalen Pitre of Baylor will look to knock a few screws loose with his physical brand of play, he’s a good looking strong safety prospect who also can make some plays in coverage.

 

 

 

Specialists

 

American

Cameron Dicker – Texas

Jake Camarda – Georgia

Jordan Silver – Arkansas

 

National

Andrew Mevis – Iowa State

Jordan Stout – Penn State

Cal Adomitis – Pittsburgh

 

Both Dicker from Texas and Mevis from Iowa State had solid careers, but both need to do a better job of making the big kicks with a sub 90% conversion percentage. National Champion Camarda from Georgia and Penn State punter Stout are cut from the same mold as well with averages right aroun 46 yards per punt. They’ll both need to make a good boom at least once or twice to find themselves selected in the back end of the Draft.

 

 

 

Prediction

 

These rosters were very evenly constructed, but I somehow want to give the edge to the American team, and I can’t necessarily say why. It’s just a “feel”. I predict a “medium” scoring game, where likely the team that makes the most splash plays will find a way to win. I’m going to say the American pull out a close game, 27-20.

 

 

 

 

 

The lights get real bright this weekend at the Senior Bowl, where the future pros battle it out for a rightfully earned Draft selection, and some even harder earned money and fame. Catch the Senior Bowl this Saturday at 1:30 CST on NFL Network.