Tag: Reese’s Senior Bowl

Chargers 4-round mock draft: Senior Bowl-only edition

Chargers GM Tom Telesco covets the Senior Bowl as an outlet to find talent

With the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl just days away, this is an appropriate time for a mock draft of what the Chargers could do if they only had players in the annual all-star game to choose from.

This is just an exercise, but keep in mind general manager Tom Telesco does covet the Senior Bowl as an outlet to find talent. 17 players of the last five drafts attended the showcase in Mobile, AL.

Round 1, No. 17, OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

The Chargers made the point to address the offensive line last offseason, and it paid dividends except for the right tackle position after Bryan Bulaga went down with an injury.

Even though Bulaga is still under contract, there are legitimate durability concerns, which is why he is a cut candidate.

If Los Angeles decides to move on from Bulaga, it could choose to solidify that spot either in free agency or early in the draft, as they do here with the selection of Penning.

A three-year starter for the Panthers, Penning was the only lineman named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award this past season, awarded to the best offensive player at the FCS level, after only allowing 13 pressures.

While he needs to clean up his leverage and hand usage, Penning has size at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, awe-inspiring athleticism, movement skills to match, and a mauler’s mentality in the run game to start right away.

Round 2, No. 48, DT Phidarian Mathis, Alabama

The Chargers finished bottom of the league in run defense, which is why bolstering the interior part of the defensive line will be their top priority this offseason.

Arguably one of the most impactful all-around interior defenders in the nation, Mathis amassed 53 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked passes in 2021.

With his length, violent hands, lower-body strength, lateral agility, and ability to anchor, Mathis can create interior pressure just as well as he can defend the run at the next level, projecting as a lineman who has the tools to be a three-down starter.

Round 3, No. 79, WR Calvin Austin, Memphis

The Chargers are set for the foreseeable future with their No. 1 wideout in Keenan Allen. However, behind him, the room draws some questions. Will Mike Williams be re-signed, franchise-tagged, or let go of altogether? Is Josh Palmer ready to take the leap as the No. 2 guy if Williams walks?

Regardless, one thing is certain: Los Angeles needs a speed/yards-after-the-catch weapon.

Shifty and bursting with energy, Austin is an explosive product that has proved size isn’t everything when playing wide receiver. With track speed, unpredictable route running, and electric playmaking with the ball in his hands, Austin is exactly the dynamics the Bolts would benefit from.

Austin finished his collegiate career with 2,541 yards and 22 touchdowns on 156 catches. He also left Memphis tied for second in touchdown receptions and fourth in receiving yards.

Round 4, No. 120, CB Mario Goodrich, Clemson

Asante Samuel Jr. proved to be the Chargers’ best cornerback in just his first season, but he had two concussions. Michael Davis played well, but nothing to warrant the money he was paid last offseason. Chris Harris Jr. will be a free agent after this season.

Therefore, Los Angeles will be in the market for cornerback depth and someone who’s capable of making an impact early on.

After being overshadowed by the likes of Trayvon Muller and AJ Terrell, Goodrich had a breakout season in 2021. He finished with 42 tackles, nine passes defended, and one interception. He earned First-Team All-ACC honors alongside projected first-rounder, Andrew Booth.

With the instincts, technique, and athleticism in press and zone coverage to working downhill through traffic and laying the wood to boost the run support, Goodrich exhibits a zest to compete in every aspect of the cornerback position.

2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl practice schedule, game-day rosters

#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE here’s a look at the 2022 #ReesesSeniorBowl practice schedule and game rosters #SeniorBowl

The Eagles are entering the 2022 NFL offseason with some stability after rookie head coach Nick Sirianni, led the Birds back to the postseason with a 9-8 record.

Philadelphia will now enter the offseason with $24 million in salary-cap space, three first-round picks, and four of the first-51 picks in April’s selection process.

The Draft officially starts in Mobile, and that means the Reese’s Senior Bowl is prepared to kick off a week of practice and festivities before next Sunday’s 72nd edition.

In 2021, there were six Senior Bowl participants drafted in the first round, 35 through the first three rounds, and 106 total picks, representing 41% of the entire 2021 NFL Draft.

As of Week 1 of this season, there are 626 Senior Bowl alums on NFL active rosters, which means 37% of all NFL players played in the Senior Bowl.

Here’s a look at the players that will be participating in the 2022 Senior Bowl.

Texas kicker Cameron Dicker to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl

Dicker will get to suit up one more time.

Former Texas kicker Cameron Dicker will get one final chance to compete at the college level.

Dicker became a star early on in his career at Texas after he hit the game-winning kick to beat Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout as a freshman.

On Tuesday, the school announced that Dicker has accepted an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He will join fellow teammate Josh Thompson on the American team, which will be coached by the Detroit Lions staff.

Dicker made some very clutch kicks during his time as a Longhorn with multiple game-winners, and even took successfully over as the team’s punter in 2021 earning first team All-Big 12 punter.

He announced his intentions to enter the 2022 NFL draft about a week ago, opting to not return and use his final season of eligibility that he had due to the pandemic.

Dicker finished his career as the school leader in total points for a kicker, scoring 386 points in 49 games, which also ranks as the third-most among any player in Texas history. His 60 field goals are first in school history and his 206 extra points ranks second.

To replace him for kicking duties, Texas will either turn to Bert Auburn, who appeared in the Rice game and made 3-of-3 extra point attempts, or Will Stone who is among the 2022 recruiting class. For punting duties, Texas may  turn to Isaac Pearson.

Ron Rivera won’t be at the Senior Bowl

Ron Rivera will not attend the Senior Bowl, but the front office and select coaches will represent Washington. It’s not a big deal.

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In a wide-ranging interview with Scott Abraham of WJLA ABC 7News Wednesday, Washington head coach Ron Rivera stated he would not be present at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

This came as a surprise to some with Washington’s dire need at quarterback, and five of the top NFL draft prospects present in Mobile, Alabama, for Senior Bowl week.

Relax.

Rivera has his handpicked front office, which includes general manager Martin Mayhew, Marty Hurney, Eric Stokes and Chris Polian, so Washington will be heavily represented in Mobile. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese will also likely be present.

There’s really nothing for Rivera to do at the Senior Bowl. He will be able to watch film of the practices and watch the game. Washington’s front office did plenty of leg work on each of the top college quarterbacks throughout the 2021 college football season. Washington knows what these passers can do on the field; now, it’s about seeing them against other draft-eligible players, working with an NFL coaching staff.

“We are going to go down to the Senior Bowl, and when I say we, our scouting department will be down there, and specific coaches will be down there,” Rivera said.

That led to Abraham asking Rivera if he was attending:

“No,” Rivera replied. He explained further.

When I’m going to do something, I’m going to try to do it as private as possible and away from everybody. I don’t need distractions. I want to be able to focus in on specific guys. There’s a lot of things that we need to do, and right now, this is all about information gathering. You go someplace where everyone else is, and your conversations are going to be guarded. Their answers are going to be guarded. So, I don’t want to miss the opportunity when I’m sitting down with these guys; I want candidness, I want as open as possible. We went through this at one point in 2011, when I was in Carolina, and the approach we took was everything we did with those candidates that were coming out was just us. We were the entire focus of his attention, and he was the entire focus of our attention.

Rivera’s answer leads me to believe he is working furiously behind the scenes to land a veteran quarterback while his staff continues its work on the college passers. After the Senior Bowl, Rivera will convene with his front office and coaches and finalize their plan to attack the quarterback position.

The head coach will still have plenty of opportunities to sit down with the draft-eligible passers. First, you have the NFL scouting combine, and then you have select visits, where prospects can visit Washington’s team headquarters.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Rivera not attending the Senior Bowl.

Jets, Lions staffs to coach the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl

#NewYork #Jets, #Detroit #Lions staffs to coach the 2022 Reese’s #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE

With non-playoff teams starting their preparation for the NFL draft, Jim Nagy and the staff over at the Reese’s Senior Bowl just announced the coaching staff for the 2022 contest.

With both teams having the top-two picks, Robert Saleh of the Jets and Dan Campbell of the Lions will take their staffs down to Mobile, Alabama for the 73rd annual Reese’s Senior Bowl to be played on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

Only college seniors and fourth-year junior graduates are eligible for the game and it provides NFL teams, scouts, and executives with an early look at some potential future stars.

The teams with the lowest winning percentage that season usually get the first opportunity to coach in the game, but only if a majority of their staff – and head coach – are intact.

Last year in 2021, the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins coaching staffs led the charge after the Eagles declined, and the Jaguars and Jets were both hiring new head coaches.

Jacksonville had Urban Meyer, who was fired, and the team will now conduct another search.

The game will be aired live on the NFL Network at 2:30 ET. The Lions own the No. 2 pick, while the Jets own the Nos. 4 and 10 selections in the 2022 NFL draft.

Philadelphia owns the 15th and 16th picks as of now.

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2022 NFL offseason: Important dates for the Eagles

2022 #NFL offseason: Important dates for the #Philadelphia #Eagles

The NFL is currently racing towards the playoffs, but it’s never too early for the league to start looking towards 2022.

Whether it be free agency, the draft, or offseason practice schedules, the NFL keeps a running schedule on a year-to-year basis, and the 2022 schedule was just released.

Here are some of the most important dates.

Tyreke Smith headed to Senior Bowl

Here’s to wishing Smith luck in Mobile! #GoBucks

With the end of the regular season comes all sorts of things. Awards, All-American honors, bowl invites, and more. One of those things includes finding out what players will take part in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and we’ve already got some information beginning to trickle in.

One player for Ohio State that has accepted an invite is defensive end, Tyreke Smith. He may not have had the year of production many expected, but he did seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 54 tackles in 2021.

Remember, the Senior Bowl is an annual bowl game designed to provide outgoing senior college players the ability to get in front of scouts and play against high-quality competition to improve their draft stock. There has perhaps been no better example of that than what Ohio State receiver Terry McLaurin did in 2019. He went from fringe draftee to a third-round pick by the Washington Football Team in the NFL draft that year.

From there, he’s taken off to become Washington’s top receiver and one of the bright young stars at the position in the NFL.

Smith joins Ohio State teammate Jeremy Ruckert as the first two to decide to play in the game set for February, 22 in Mobile, Alabama. If and when any more Buckeyes decide to participate, we’ll have that news as well.

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Texas DB Josh Thompson declares for the 2022 NFL draft

Josh Thompson will turn pro.

Texas defensive back Josh Thompson has declared for the 2022 NFL draft.

Thompson is a senior but had the opportunity to use his extra year of eligibility granted to all NCAA athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After committing to Tom Herman’s first signing class in 2017, Thompson has been a mainstay in the Texas secondary over his career. He played both corner and nickel starting 22 games, grabbing two interceptions and making over 100 total tackles.

Thompson was arguably having the best season of any Longhorn defensive back before fracturing his fibula against Kansas.

The decision to go pro was expected after Thompson accepted his Reese’s Senior Bowl invite earlier in the week.

Texas will look for Jahdae Barron, Darrion Dunn or Kitan Crawford to fill Thompson’s role at corner next season.

Other key Longhorns facing similar decisions as Thompson are DeMarvion Overshown, Anthony Cook, D’Shawn Jamison and Keondre Coburn.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Texas DB Josh Thompson accepts Reese’s Senior Bowl invite

A great opportunity for Josh Thompson.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl began to announce their list of players who have accepted invites on Tuesday. Texas defensive back Josh Thompson was selected to be part of the game and its activities.

The Senior Bowl website explains exactly what they look for when selecting players.

The 2022 Senior Bowl includes athletes from every level of college football. These are the best-of-the-best from around the country. Players will fill the roster spots that form the National and American squads for the nation’s premier all-star game.

Thompson’s season ended early due to a fractured fibula he suffered against Kansas.

The fifth-year senior started 22 games in his Texas career, logging two interceptions and 108 total tackles. Thompson also played a valuable special team role.

Against Texas Tech early in the season, Thompson jumped in front of a Tyler Shough pass taking it the other way for a Texas score.

Thompson joins Quandre Diggs, Devin Duvernay, Sam Ehlinger and many other former Longhorns to participate in the Senior Bowl.

Here is an updated list of Senior Bowl accepted invites.

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Michigan State football tight end Connor Heyward to play in 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl

Michigan State tight end Connor Heyward to play in 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl

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What a career resurgence for Connor Heyward. Heyward started his career as a running back with Michigan State football, almost left via the transfer portal, then came back to the program under Mel Tucker as a tight end, a role he has excelled in. Now, Heyward will have the honor in participating in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl, which is a major stepping stone towards the NFL draft.

Heyward hasn’t put up crazy numbers this year, but he does have 26 receptions for 229 yards and a touchdown and has shown that he can make big catches and run for extra yards. Even if he isn’t drafted, I do think he will get some solid looks from NFL rosters in the future.

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