Tag: 2023 Senior Bowl

Senior Bowl, Day 3: Which defenders stood out?

Which defenders stood out in Day 3 of Senior Bowl week? Laurie Fitzpatrick checks in from Mobile.

MOBILE, Alabama — On the last day of Senior Bowl practices, it was a lot about who could step up and finish strong. There were more individual drills that took place inside the redzone, and at the goal line, so we could see these players work with limited space.

Who could win and who could score.

Over the last few days, these players have been getting used to their competition, so there was more chatter between reps. Which made the competitiveness rise. We got a chance to see who would come out on top when the pressure was on.

On the defensive side of the ball, there were a few players that showed a lot of improvement, and others who continued to show why their stocks continue to rise. Let’s dive into who’s stock went up on Day 3 of Senior Bowl week.

2023 NFL Draft sleepers: Texas RB Roschon Johnson has feature-back skills

Texas running back Roschon Johnson toiled in the shadow of Bijan Robinson, but NFL teams will have no problem spotting his talent.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson might be the best non-quarterback skill position player in the 2023 NFL draft class. Robinson’s combination of size, speed, movement skills, power, and versatility will make him a coveted first-round prospect when the draft rolls around, “running backs don’t matter” talk aside.

The only reason we haven’t heard more from Texas running back Roschon Johnson is that the guy above him in the Longhorns’ depth chart is an alien. But that should not in any way minimize what Johnson has been able to do to college defenses, and his potential for success at the NFL level.

In four seasons with Texas, Johnson totaled 2,182 rushing yards, a 5.6 yards per carry average, and 23 touchdowns on 392 carries. The high-school All-American quarterback from Port Arthur, Texas (the birthplace of Jimmy Johnson and Janis Joplin), who switched positions at Texas after injuries forced that hand, also caught 56 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate career.

The plan was for Johnson to get down to the Senior Bowl this week and benefit from the spotlight on him as it hadn’t been before. Sadly, he suffered an injury early in the week that will prevent him from further participation, but he managed to leave an impression in the few reps he had.

I would not be surprised if Johnson finds himself with an NFL team in the second day of the draft, because the skills pop right off the tape.

While he’s more than capable of running with power (as you’d expect from a back with a six-foot-2, 223-pound frame, Johnson can also turn on the jets both at the second and third levels, and when it’s time to bounce something outside. His longest run of the 2022 season, this 52-yard touchdown against Oklahoma State, was more about Johnson’s ability to just beat everyone to the goal line.

And just because he’s big, don’t assume that Johnson was forcing all of those missed tackles by running people over. On this 32-yard run against UTSA, Johnson’s quickness and elusiveness in short spaces were the featured skills.

Of course, when it is time to just go Beast Mode on a defense, Johnson has no problem doing that. He’s an aggressive, smart runner with outstanding second-reaction recovery and contact balance. You don’t have to tell Oklahoma’s defense about it — they’ve seen it up close.

Johnson has been great in relative anonymity for a long time, and it’s unfortunate that he’ll miss most of his star turn in Mobile. But it’s my guess that NFL teams are already more than aware of what he can bring at the next level.

Chargers’ Senior Bowl Notebook: Day 2 standouts

Recapping Day 2 of the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Over 100 of the top senior prospects and at least three Chargers personnel staffers are in Mobile, Alabama, this week for the Senior Bowl. Wednesday marked the second day of practice for both rosters leading up to the game on Saturday.

Here are my notes from both practices Wednesday.

Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. beat every single running back like a drum in pass protection drills. While he’s undersized, he hits violently, and the National team linebackers had no answers for him on Wednesday. Pace still struggles to move laterally or backwards, but when moving downhill he’s an intriguing player.

Cal safety Daniel Scott had a nice day as an all-around safety moved all over the field. He undercut an out route for an interception in one-on-ones, picking off Louisville QB Malik Cunningham while lined up in press man technique. Scott has experience and potential all over the field, and could be someone the Chargers look towards in the later rounds to add depth behind Derwin James.

I love Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley. He looked like the best coverage linebacker on the field today, with one picture-perfect rep coming against Northwestern running back Evan Hull. Later in the period, Henley mirrored Illinois running back Chase Brown and deflected the pass in another awe-inducing display of coverage prowess. Henley is a touch underweight, and run support will need a bit of cleaning up. But the Chargers could be revamping the position if Drue Tranquill isn’t re-signed, which makes Henley someone to watch.

If you’re looking for linebackers who can fit a gap in the run game, Texas’ DeMarvion Overshown is for you. Overshown plays with a level of violence and aggressiveness beyond that of the typical linebacker, and you can tell he looks forward to hitting people all day long. My one hesitation with Overshown as a Chargers fit is draft capital: Overshown will likely be a top 75 pick and LA has been hesitant to pull the trigger that early on the position under Brandon Staley.

Maryland offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan had an up and down day, but the majority of his positive reps came when he lined up at his college position on the left side. When flipped to the right side to experiment with his positional versatility, Duncan consistently found himself on the wrong end of pass rush moves. That’s to be expected, to a certain extent. Moving from the left to right side requires doing everything mirrored from what you’re used to, and that’s a hefty ask when also matched up against some of the draft’s top pass rushers.

Perhaps the best performer of the day on the National squad was Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly. He broke hard on four separate passes between one on ones and team period, coming away with two interceptions and two more near picks. All four came on plays where the National defense came out in Cover 2 shells, a sign that the coaches in Mobile have found Kelly’s best scheme fit. LA isn’t a particularly heavy Cover 2 team, so Kelly will probably be best suited elsewhere, but his performance today was too good to ignore.

Kelly’s teammate Michael Wilson also had a nice day, showcasing some fluidity as a route runner and plus skills as a downfield tracker. Wilson also flexed some variety in his release packages and looked smooth from the slot. He’s not going to threaten anyone downfield – I’d expect him to run somewhere in the 4.5 range – but his savvy and smoothness as a route runner will get him a spot on an NFL team. His profile fits the Chargers, but it remains to be seen if LA is going to move away from that archetype.

From the American side, the unquestioned best performer was Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu. A late addition called up from the NFLPA Bowl, Mapu was relatively anonymous at practice on Tuesday as he got his feet wet. On Wednesday, however, he looked fully comfortable. He flashed as a run defender and violent downhill hitter multiple times and showed some unreal closing speed in coverage. A former QB, WR, LB, CB, and S, Mapu clearly has the athleticism to play anywhere on the field, but I think his aggressive mindset to get after the ball endears him well to linebacker. He’s a bit underweight, coming in at 217 pounds, but LA could utilize him in the STAR role made famous by Derwin James.

Some quick hitters:

  • Both teams had a number of players working at new positions along the offensive line, most notably Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron at guard and Alabama G Emil Ekiyor Jr. at center for the American squad and North Dakota State OT Cody Mauch at guard and center on the National team.
  • Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker had a tough day, struggling with press coverage and bobbling a few punt returns. Tennessee OT Darnell Wright held his own in individual drills but struggled in team period. Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave doesn’t look to be head and shoulders better than the other tight ends in Mobile, which is a disappointing result given his hype coming into the week.
  • Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young, Alabama OT Tyler Steen, and Oklahoma defensive tackle Jalen Redmond all showed flashes during one on ones. Young had some nice run defense reps, Steen held his own as a run blocker, and Redmond utilized a chop swim to win two different reps.
  • Chargers national crosschecker James MacPherson was in attendance at practice on Wednesday, primarily watching the offensive and defensive lines.

2023 NFL draft: 10 prospects the Seahawks should have their eye on at the Senior Bowl

The Seahawks have made a habit of drafting players who participate in the Senior Bowl.

The Seahawks have made a habit of drafting players who participate in the Senior Bowl, which is underway. Last year, six of the nine prospects they picked in the draft took part in the festivities.

Here are 10 prospects who they should be keeping an eye on this week in Mobile.

7 prospects Giants should watch at the Senior Bowl

The New York Giants will have their eyes on all players at the 2023 Senior Bowl but these 7 are deserving of extra scouting attention.

The Senior Bowl will be held this coming Saturday, February 4, in Mobile, Alabama officially kicking off the NFL draft season as draft-eligible prospects face off in the annual all-star event.

The Giants’ front office has traditionally come away from the event impressed with what they saw as they have drafted three recent MVPs from the game: Davis Webb (2017), Kyle Lauretta (2018), and Daniel Jones (2019).

Who will impress them this year? Here’s a quick list of prospects they could be interested in.

Keep in mind, the Senior Bowl is for “every player eligible to participate in an all-star game as either a 2018 high school graduate or true four-year player (with five or more games played in three previous seasons). This list does not include many true or redshirt juniors who could become eligible as December 2022 (or earlier) graduates.”

4 prospects to watch for the Jets at the Senior Bowl

Who are your favorite prospects at the Senior Bowl?

The Senior Bowl is one of the biggest pre-draft events and the last opportunity to draft prospects to put on some fresh film in pads before teams start getting into the nitty-gritty on the players through the Scouting Combine and pro days.

The Jets have dipped into the Senior Bowl pool as recently as last season. Four of their seven picks last April were in Mobile for the Senior Bowl: Jermaine Johnson, Jeremy Ruckert, Max Mitchell and Micheal Clemons.

Could the Jets grab players again from this year’s Senior Bowl class? Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Senior Bowl standouts on Day 1: The offense

Which offensive players stood out in Day 1 of Senior Bowl practice? Laurie Fitzpatrick is on-site in Mobile with the answers.

MOBILE, Alabama — Day one of Reese’s Senior Bowl practice is officially in the books!

We’ve watched these players throughout the season, and we’ve dug into the film, but now we get to see these players in person and up against some of the best talent in the country.

As they say, “The Draft Starts in Mobile.”

So, let’s dive in and see which offensive prospects impressed us on the first day of practice and who is making their stock rise before the NFL Draft.

10 potential Chargers targets to watch during Senior Bowl week: Offense

Highlighting a handful of offensive players at the Senior Bowl who could be on the Chargers’ radar.

The last major all-star game of the circuit, Mobile’s Senior Bowl, has become a football pilgrimage for many players and media members alike.

Chargers quarterbacks Justin Herbert is a Senior Bowl alum, as is 2022 first-round pick Zion Johnson. Los Angeles has historically used the event as a guideline, drafting at least four participants in Mobile in each of the last three seasons.

Here are ten offensive prospects who could join the club with a strong week in Alabama.

11 potential Chargers targets to watch during Senior Bowl week: Defense

Highlighting a handful of defensive players at the Senior Bowl who could be on the Chargers’ radar.

The pre-draft process leading up to the 2023 NFL draft is headed to Mobile, AL, for the Senior Bowl. This event is one of the biggest college football all-star games that will feature the most prolific prospects in the country.

This week will draw the attention of many Chargers’ scouts, coach Brandon Staley, and general manager Tom Telesco to do their homework on players that could potentially be suitors for Los Angeles come April.

L.A. has selected 13 players in the past three years that have participated in the Senior Bowl, including Justin Herbert and Zion Johnson.

It all starts with three days of practice and, finally, the game on Saturday.

That said, here are 11 potential targets to keep an eye out for on the defensive side of the ball.

2023 Senior Bowl preview: Top prospects, biggest sleepers at every position

Get to know the biggest names, and who’s flying under the radar, heading into this year’s Senior Bowl week

One of the biggest stops on the all-star circuit for top NFL draft hopefuls, the Senior Bowl officially gets underway this week in Mobile, Alabama.

A week of practice with NFL coaching staffs will give some of this year’s top talent a chance to prove themselves against one another, culminating in Saturday’s all-star game.

As we get ready for another week of Senior Bowl action, here’s a look at the top prospects to watch at each position, as well as the sleepers who are still flying under the radar: