Tag: Senior Bowl

Former NFL scout says Georgia has ‘the best offensive line in college football’

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy thinks that Georgia has the top offensive line in college football and will win a national title

Former NFL draft scout and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy really likes what the Georgia Bulldogs are returning for the 2024 college football season. In fact, Nagy thinks Georgia will win another national championship this season.

“The more I watch Georgia’s tape, the more I think they’re winning another national title this year,” said Jim Nagy.  “It always starts up front and they’ve got the best offensive line in college football.”

Georgia returns four of five starters from last season along the offensive line. Georgia lost starting center Sedrick Van Pran to the 2024 NFL draft and are planning to replace him with Jared Wilson. Additionally, Georgia returns offensive guard Micah Morris, who gives Georgia an excellent depth option and shares snaps with guard Dylan Fairchild.

Georgia is expecting to see some improvements from redshirt sophomore left tackle Earnest Greene. Greene missed his first season in Athens due to injury, but is coming off a healthy offseason and started all 14 games last season. Georgia also returns right guard Tate Ratledge, who is expected to be a preseason All-American. At right tackle, the veteran Xavier Truss brings a great combination of experience and versatility.

WATCH: ‘Hard Knocks’ preview reveals when Panthers, Giants began Brian Burns trade talks

A preview from this offseason’s Hard Knocks revealed the moment when the Panthers and Giants started trade talks on Brian Burns.

Some trades just don’t happen overnight.

The newest season of HBO’s and NFL Films’ Hard Knocks is set to debut tonight, with the New York Giants front and center. Among the events documented from Big Blue’s 2024 offseason was the very beginning of trade talks on now-former Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns, which was previewed in small clip starring general managers Joe Schoen and Dan Morgan from the Senior Bowl in February . . .

Well, the Panthers never ended up getting any first-round picks in exchange for Burns. The two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher would, of course, be traded about five weeks later for a 2024 second-rounder (39th overall), a swap of 2024 fifth-rounders (No. 166 for No. 141) and a 2025 fifth-rounder.

Morgan commented on the timing of the deal during the NFL’s Annual League Meeting at the end of March.

“You know, those are always difficult conversations and, and decisions that you have to make from the seat that I’m in,” he said. “We love Brian. The player he is, the person he is, but sometimes you’ve got to make tough decisions, and the salary cap along with draft capital that we got, we felt like it was, you know, time to pull the trigger and make a move.

“We felt like the timing was right. And yeah, those are always tough decisions, but we had to make it, and we feel OK about it.”

And while they didn’t get a first for Burns, Morgan and the Panthers did use that 39th selection rather nicely—as they sold it off to the Los Angeles Rams for Picks No. 52 and 155 as well as a 2025 second.

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Former Saints trainer Dean Kleinschmidt recognized by Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former New Orleans Saints athletic trainer Dean Kleinschmidt was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame with its 2024 Award of Excellence:

Here’s some well-deserved recognition for longtime New Orleans Saints athletic trainer Dean Kleinschmidt. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored him Thursday with its 2024 Award of Excellence for his efforts in treating athletes and helping to cultivate the game. He’s spent his years away from the NFL working with the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

“I’ve enjoyed 43 years in the NFL,” Kleinschmidt told Mobile Bay Magazine’s Breck Pappas. “But I’ve really loved 50 years in Mobile.”

Kleinschmidt was with the Saints from 1969 to 2000, having worked with a host of future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Sam Mills, and many other great players, establishing some long-lasting friendships. At times early in his career he was tasked with watching Archie Manning’s sons Peyton, Eli, and Cooper while their father received treatment or worked out at the team practice facility.

“We’re in that business of trying to speed healing,” Kleinschmidt said in back in 1998, per the Herald Times’ Mike Wright. “We do everything we can to get these guys ready, within safety limits, to play on the next deadline, which is noon the following Sunday.”

He continued to work in the NFL after leaving the Saints, most notably joining the Detroit Lions as their coordinator of athletic medicine. Kleinschmidt retired from the NFL in 2015 and has since been enshrined at the Saints’ team Hall of Fame as well as the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. Now the Pro Football Hall of Fame is making room for him, too.

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Packers draft NFL-high 8 players from the Senior Bowl

The Packers dipped deep into the talent pool at the Senior Bowl during the 2024 NFL draft.

No team in the NFL selected more players from the Senior Bowl in the 2024 NFL draft than the Green Bay Packers, who took eight players from the annual pre-draft event.

A ninth player, linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, was invited to the Senior Bowl but couldn’t attend due to injury. A 10th player, long snapper Peter Bowden, was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent.

Even if we only count the nine, the Packers have drafted or signed 47 players from the Senior Bowl since Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018.

Gutekunst said the Packers don’t set out to take players from the Senior Bowl, but the event is hugely valuable in the evaluation process.

“Not by design, but I will say that Jim Nagy and his staff do such an amazing job of access and allowing us to scout those guys that go there. And it’s a such a really positive experience for the players. Not only the competition on the field, seeing really good players go against really good players in drills, but our ability to talk to them, interview them and be around them in that competitive environment, there’s really not a much better evaluation phase for us.”

Here’s Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, a former Packers scout, breaking down the picks for the Packers from the event:

On Jordan Morgan: “Slam-dunk left tackle athlete jumps off tape. Has sweet feet, reactive mirror skills, & recovery quicks to compensate for lack of ideal length. Simply glides in pass pro. Functions easily laterally and at second-level. Should be even better next fall another year removed from ACL injury.”

On Javon Bullard: “Interchangeable FS/SS skill-set w/ nickel flex. Instinctive & competitive. Good eyes and trigger to make plays. Excelled during team periods in Mobile & helped himself with 4.47 time at Combine. Strapped together physically & more physical than measurables might suggest. Long-term building block in secondary.”

On MarShawn Lloyd: “Thought he was top RB in draft. He and Josh Jacobs give Pack one of best 1-2 RB rotations in NFL. Hard to handle in space. Elusive, explosive, & fun lateral cutter. Compact hard-to-wrap body type to bounce off contact. Way more dangerous in pass game than stats suggest. True 3-down back with high-end starter talent.”

On Evan Williams: “Many teams we’ve spoken with were targeting him early Day 3 where Pack took him. Falls into “good football player” bucket. Good centerfield skill-set. Fun tape loaded with cool range plays. Boosted stock with excellent Senior Bowl game performance. Gives coaches sub-downs options. Could see him at FS w/ Bullard moving to nickel in packages.”

On Kitan Oladapo: “Different than Bullard & Williams. Big, good-looking SS prospect who we could see Pack trying as dime-LB. Will be immediate factor in kicking game and good developmental depth piece behind X. McKinney.”

On Travis Glover: “Huge expansive human that scouting staff did nice job on. Was the only in-week addition to Senior Bowl and acquitted himself very well. Wasn’t overwhelmed by jump in level-of-comp. More than held his own in 1-on-1 drills. Long reach makes him hard to get around in pass pro. Pack has chance to hit on solid swing-OT in Year 2-3 window.”

On Michael Pratt: “Perhaps biggest surprise fall in entire draft. Most teams we spoke with had 3rd/4th grades. Elevated Tulane program. Plays QB position well. Accurate touch thrower, athletic enough to escape, & extremely tough. Had higher grade on Pratt than Clifford year ago. Solid No. 2 floor and wouldn’t shock us if he eventually became starter in right situation. Might be old-school Ron Wolf flip-for-higher-pick in a few years.”

On Kalen King: “Was in many way-too-early first round mocks this time last year. We thought ’22 tape was Day 2 level. Got tested early/often opposite Joey Porter Jr. as sophomore and responded but ’23 tape wasn’t same. Good athlete on tape but below average Combine testing didn’t help. Could be a steal if Pack coaching staff can help him regain confidence he played with two years ago.”

Drafted or signed from Senior Bowl

2018 (8)

CB Isaac Yiadom (signed)
OL Cole Madison (drafted)
WR Allen Lazard (signed)
QB Kurt Benkert (signed)
P J.K. Scott (drafted)
WR J’Mon Moore (drafted)
CB Chandon Sullivan (signed)
LB Oren Burks (drafted)

2019 (9)

CB Corey Ballentine (signed)
S Darnell Savage (drafted)
RB Dexter Williams (drafted)
S Jonathan Abram (signed)
RB Ryquell Armstead (signed)
OT Andre Dillard (signed)
WR Travis Fulgham (signed)
OL Elgton Jenkins (drafted)
DL Kingsley Keke (drafted)

2020 (3)

QB Jordan Love (drafted)
TE Josiah Deguara (drafted)
LS Steven Wirtel (signed)

2021 (5)

S Christian Uphoff (signed)
RB Kylin Hill (drafted)
OL Royce Newman (drafted)
CB Robert Rochell (signed)
WR Amari Rodgers (drafted)

2022 (7)

WR Romeo Doubs (drafted)
WR Bo Melton (signed)
WR Christian Watson (drafted)
S Tariq Carpenter (drafted)
OLB Kingsley Enagbare (drafted)
OL Lecitus Smith (signed)
DL Devonte Wyatt (drafted)

2023 (6)

DL Karl Brooks (drafted)
WR Grant DuBose (drafted)
WR Jayden Reed (drafted)
TE Luke Musgrave (drafted)
K Jack Podlesny (signed)
WR Dontayvion Wicks (drafted)

2024 (9)

OL Jordan Morgan (drafted)
S Javon Bullard (drafted)
RB MarShawn Lloyd (drafted)
S Evan Williams (drafted)
S Kitan Oladapo (drafted)
OL Travis Glover (drafted)
QB Michael Pratt (drafted)
CB Kalen King (drafted)
LS Peter Bowden (signed)

Senior Bowl continues to play key role in Packers draft evaluation process

The Reese’s Senior Bowl plays a key role in the Packers draft evaluation process, with eight of their 11 picks playing in that event.

In recent years, there has not only been a strong connection between Reese’s Senior Bowl participants and being drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but at this point, we should have our eyes glued to that event because there likely isn’t just one or two potential future Packers participating but likely several.

The Senior Bowl is an invitation-only All-Star college football event held annually in Mobile, Alabama. Before the All-Star game takes place, there is a week of highly competitive practices, where the best of the best are able to showcase their talents against top-level competition.

Naturally, this event attracts GMs and scouts from across the NFL and gives personnel departments the opportunity to meet with these prospects as well.

Traditionally, and as the name of the event suggests, only seniors or fourth-year juniors who had graduated were able to participate in the event, but for the first time in 2024, underclass were eligible to participate.

If we look back at the Packers 2022 and 2023 draft classes, where Brian Gutekunst made a total of 24 selections, 10 of those picks participated in the Senior Bowl. Some of the players include Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Tomeo Doubs, Karl Brooks, and Dontayvion Wicks.

That in itself is already a high percentage of draft picks who participated in the event, but the 2024 draft blew those ratios out of the water, with eight of the Packers’ 11 draft picks having received an invite to the Senior Bowl:

Kalen King, CB
Travis Glover, OT
Jordan Morgan, OT
Ty’Ron Hopper, LB
Javon Bullard, S
Evan Williams, S
Marshawn Lloyd, RB
Michael Pratt, QB
Kitan Oladapo, S

“Not by design,” said Gutekunst about selecting so many Senior Bowl participants, “but I will say that Jim Nagy and his staff do such an amazing job of access and allowing us to scout those guys that go there. And it’s a such a really positive experience for the players. Not only the competition on the field, seeing really good players go against really good players in drills, but our ability to talk to them, interview them and be around them in that competitive environment, there’s really not a much better evaluation phase for us.”

The fact that the Senior Bowl is an All-Star event, I’m sure, increases the likelihood that participants are going to end up as Packers, since it is many of the top prospects in the upcoming draft class who are competing.

But Gutekunst’s affinity for this event goes beyond just that aspect of it. Prospects who participate showcase a willingness to compete and do so in an unscripted environment, where the practices aren’t about implementing a game plan; rather, it’s a lot of one-on-one opportunities. And those who stand out are doing so against high level competition and with a lot of eyes on them.

“Absolutely,” said Gutekunst about the unscripted nature of the event, “and I also think the willingness to compete and put themselves in that environment. That’s not an easy thing to walk out onto that Senior Bowl practice field with all these NFL people judging you. That’s not an easy thing to a) choose to do that and b) compete at a high level when you’re out there. None of that’s going to phase you, that says something to me.”

Glover, the Packers’ sixth-round pick, played five-years at Georgia State and participated at the Senior Bowl. When asked, Gutekunst acknowledged that it was his performance there against Power-5 opponents that put him more so on the Packers’ radar.

Packers VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan mentioned when discussing safety Evan Williams that his performance at the Senior Bowl, specifically how he moved in space, gives the Packers the confidence that he can handle nickel duties at the NFL.

Williams was also voted the Defensive Specialist of the Week for the American Team, while Bullard received the same honor for the National Team.

When it comes to the Packers evaluation process as they prepare for the NFL Draft, the Senior Bowl absolutely matters.

“It’s very important for us,” added Gutekunst. “We put a lot of time into it, and like I said, their staff down there in Mobile, they do such a good job getting us to spots where we can really evaluate these guys. We’re very appreciative of that. It’s certainly not by design, but I know we’ve taken a lot of Senior Bowl guys over the years.”

Vikings’ selection of Khyree Jackson rooted in Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl has always been seen as an important tool in the NFL draft process. For Khyree Jackson, it is the reason he is now a Viking.

The Senior Bowl has always been seen as an important tool in the NFL draft process, for cornerback Khyree Jackson, it might be the reason he is now a Viking. The Senior Bowl had recently added player interviews to their process, and Jackson took full advantage of that, specifically with the Vikings.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported that Jackson elaborated on a video conference as to why he may have made his way to Minnesota.

“I was the best cornerback in the draft, and I told them they were going to get me for cheaper because of some of the politics that go into it,” Jackson said.

Because of academic issues, Jackson enrolled at Arizona Western Community College after winning two Maryland state championships as a wide receiver in high school. Within a couple of weeks, he had left school and returned home. He worked at a Harris Teeter deli counter and considered trying his hand at the “NBA 2K” esports league.

Instead he gave football another chance, winding his way from a community college in Kansas to another in Mississippi. He then got his big break, transferring to Alabama and getting his first career start in the 2021 CFP national championship. After being suspended by coach Nick Saban, Jackson transferred to Oregon. In his lone season with the Ducks, he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

When asked about his playing style, Jackson summed it up: “I’ll run through your face. If you fall, you fall, if you don’t, I’ll come next time.”

The Minnesota Vikings and their fans are in for entertaining pass-coverage reps this season.

Senior Bowl director says Saints made a ‘slam dunk’ in Round 1

Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy says the Saints made a “slam dunk” in the 2024 draft, picking the right tackle whose opponents said was the toughest player in practice:

Taliese Fuaga has a lot of fans. The New Orleans Saints picked the Oregon State right tackle in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and it wasn’t a decision that shocked some of Fuaga’s biggest supporters. One of those movers and shakers around the NFL is Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, who praised Fuaga in a conference call with local media.

“They drafted a guy who is going to be a Day 1 starter. Slam dunk,” Nagy told Nola.com’s Rod Walker after the Saints announced the pick. He added, “He’s a really nimble, big human being. And he’s a bully.”

Fuaga was voted the National Team practice player of the week at this year’s Senior Bowl — an award chosen by his opponents on the defensive line, who made that decision after clashing with him and every other offensive lineman on the National Team during the week.

His movement skills are obvious. Fuaga excelled in the same wide zone scheme that Klint Kubiak is bringing to New Orleans, having paired light feet with a mean streak at Oregon State. The Beavers enjoyed running behind him, and soon, so will the Saints.

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Texans HC DeMeco Ryans named to Senior Bowl 2024 Hall of Fame class

DeMeco Ryans will forever represent the Houston Texans and Alabama Crimson Tide as a member of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame.

DeMeco Ryans is going to the Hall of Fame.

The one in Mobile, Alabama, and not Canton, Ohio, just to clarify.

The second-year Houston Texans coach and former Pro Bowl linebacker was named to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Ryans, a former standout for the University of Alabama, became a sensation down at Ladd-Peebles Stadium during the 2006 Senior Bowl.

“Being from Alabama, it was a huge honor to get the invite and participate in the 2006 Senior Bowl,” Ryans said in a statement. “I’m thankful to have played my last collegiate game in front of my home state fans. This game provided me a pivotal opportunity as a draft prospect to prove myself against the best competition in college football. Now as a coach, I continue to follow the game closely to evaluate the top talent in the draft each year. Now, as a coach, I continue to follow the game closely to evaluate the top talent in the draft each year. This game helped me as a player many years ago, and it is still assisting players in reaching their dream of playing in the NFL.”

Ryans was one of five inductees for the Class of 2024, joining Marty Lyons (1979), Carson Palmer (2003), Eric Weddle (2007) and Roddy White (2005).

A second-round pick for the Texans in 2006, Ryans would go on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year under first-year coach Gary Kubiak. A year later, he’d earn first-team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl nomination.

Ryans spent six seasons in Houston before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired in 2015 and almost immediately caught the coaching bug, joining the 49ers’ staff in 2017.

Hired by the McNairs last offseason, Ryans was the architect for the team’s turnaround after a woeful three seasons. Houston was on its fourth coach in four years after Bill O’Brien, David Culley and Lovie Smith combined for 11 wins in three years.

Headlined by Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, the Texans coasted to a 10-7 regular-season record and their first division title in four years. Ryans, who finished second in AP Coach of the Year voting, became the seventh coach since 2019 to improve by at least six wins since the previous year.

Houston also secured its first playoff win since 2019 with a victory over the Browns in the wild-card round.

Ryans and the Texans will look to build off their dominant first season in 2024 and should be considered an AFC favorite. Entering next week’s draft, the Texans have the seventh-best odds to win this year’s Super Bowl, according to BetMGM.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby honored by Senior Bowl after stellar rookie season

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby is still reaping rewards after his impressive rookie season in 2023

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was honored Wednesday by the Senior Bowl, the premier all-star game for top NFL prospects, following his stellar rookie season in 2023.

Diaby was named the Senior Bowl’s 2023 Co-Rookie of the Year, along with Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young.

A third-round pick out of Louisville in last year’s NFL draft, Diaby made an instant impact for the Bucs, leading the team with 7.5 sacks.

Congrats to Diaby on a well-earned award as he prepares to build on last year’s success in 2024.

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Jets great Marty Lyons named to Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

Jets great Marty Lyons named Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

Legendary Jets defensive lineman Marty Lyons was announced as a member of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Lyons played his college ball at Alabama from 1975-1978, winning the 1978 national championship and being part of “The Goal Line Stand” fourth-quarter play to help win the title. Lyons also took part in the 1979 edition of the Senior Bowl.

Lyons would go on to be selected No. 14 overall in the 1979 draft and spend his entire 12-season career with the Jets as part of the famed New York Sack Exchange with Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau and Abdul Salaam.

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Lyons was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2013 following a career that included being named NFL Man of the Year in 1984 and being a two-time Pro Bowl alternate.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Senior Bowl Committee for this great honor,” said Lyons via the Senior Bowl. “It’s a privilege to represent the University of Alabama, the coaching staff, my teammates, and the great fans of the Crimson Tide. Playing in the Senior Bowl provided me with an invaluable opportunity to showcase my talent against the best players in college football. The experience played a pivotal role in my journey to becoming a first-round pick of the New York Jets, where I spent my entire 11-year NFL career. Thank you and Roll Tide!”

Also going into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame are quarterback Carson Palmer, linebacker and current Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, safety Eric Weddle and wide receiver Roddy White.