This past week in Mobile scouts, GMs, and coaches gathered at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Alabama to get a firsthand look at some of the best players available in this year’s NFL Draft. The game was Saturday, and the South squad led by the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff won 34-17, but the real action that matters most was the week of practice sessions.
Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl, did an excellent job putting together a loaded roster for each squad and while several projected top 40 picks dropped out of the game for various reasons (TCU corner Jeff Gladney, LSU corner Kristian Fulton and Ohio St. corner Damon Arnette) there was still plenty of talent on display throughout the week. We take a look at the standouts from the Senior Bowl practices thus far in preparation for Saturday’s Game.
Kyle Duggard, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
A small-school safety with big-time game showed he belongs in the conversation with the best safety prospects in this draft. Listed at 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, Duggard has good length for the position and is expected to run somewhere in the mid 4.4s in the 40-yard dash.
He reportedly did a excellent job in coverage showing patient feet, trusting his leverage and using length to undercut and intercept a pass in Wednesday practice. He has helped to improve his draft stock potentially into the second round of the NFL Draft and can continue to do so with a good showing in Saturday’s game.
Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
Jefferson, Son of former WR Shawn Jefferson, has put on a route running clinic through three practices. He runs routes with great tempo and is very smooth coming out breaks with no wasted motion.
Defensive backs have had a hard time sticking with him. He has also done a good job catching the football and finishing plays, looking to stand out in a loaded WR class.
Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
Uche has shown he has the speed off the edge to be a constant problem for blockers. Equipped with long arms and immediate explosion, he has done an excellent job making these blockers uncomfortable in drills. At Michigan, Uche was known for attacking the pocket but at only 6-foot-1, 241 pounds he has a more prototypical size of an off-ball linebacker.
However, in these practices he has shown he is comfortable dropping into underneath coverage and playing the run. He’s a prospect who could be mentioned in the top 50 players of this draft.
Jason Strowbridge, DL, North Carolina
This versatile defensive lineman has been consistently winning one on ones whether he is lined up on the outside or inside. Measuring in at 6-foot-4, 267 pounds and a 33-inch wingspan he has the size, strength and violent hands to be a base end in a 4-3. He also offers position flex as he can kick inside on passing downs which should increase his value among NFL teams.
Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
This small school TE has impressed this week in Mobile with his on field athleticism, his smooth route running and body positioning to finish catches. In a good, but not great TE class, Trautman is vying to be the first at his position drafted in April. So far he is off to a good start and looks to continue the his strong showing in Saturdays game.
Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
While Kinlaw has already been widely considered a top 20 player in this year’s NFL Draft, he did not disappoint with his performances in the first two days of practice.
Showing the skills that has front offices drooling over him. He was difficult to block in one-on-one drills, showing his excellent get off, power, athleticism and ability to lock out his arms and shed blockers.
Kinlaw is dealing with some tendinitis in one of his knees and didn’t participate in the final practice of the week and was held out of Saturdays game for precautionary reasons.
Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback has made his presence felt in all three of the practices with his best showing in Thursday’s final stanza. He stood out in the red-zone period where he had three pass break ups, two of which came when he was in position to undercut slant routes.
He has shown his physicality by getting his hands on receivers, opening his hips, and contesting catches.
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Arguably the most physically gifted Quarterback in this class listed at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, Herbert has the arm strength, physical tools, and mental processing to become a top tier quarterback in the NFL.
This was a week where Herbert could show consistency from his footwork to his accuracy and that’s what he did. His arm strength has been evident through these practices and he has stepped out of his comfort zone trying to engage with his fellow players and coaches in a way that could show he does indeed have the natural leadership to be a franchise QB.
Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims has been consistent all week showing he has been putting in the work in the off-season on his route running by tightening his footwork in and out of his breaks. Mims showed the ability to extend his hands away from his body and make contested catches. He is a long and fast athletes who did a good job downfield timing his jumps and making contested catches.
Ben Bartch, OT, St. Johns
The small-school standout who was a former TE is making waves in Mobile this week with his performances in practice. He has looked good in his lateral movements and has held his own at the Point of Attack. He showed during these practices he was light on his feet and was not overly stressed by speed on the edge. He needs to continue to work on not being over aggressive and ending up on the ground, but his play this week may have helped him reach Top 100 consideration by NFL teams.
Not for anything they did or did not do during on field work but the fact that injuries held Cal safety Ashtyn Davis, Utah DL Leki Fotuy and Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk out of work this week was a disappointment. All three of these prospects are projected top 100 picks.
You can follow Julius on Twitter @IFeArGoDBoi.
[vertical-gallery id=637870]
[lawrence-newsletter]