Highlighting the guys in the trenches who might have sparked the interest of the Chargers on Day 2 of the Senior Bowl.
Day 2 of practices at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl officially ended.
On a very cold and rainy day in Mobile, AL, there were a handful of NFL draft prospects who made themselves some money in the trenches.
Here are five players who stood out:
EDGE Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Explosiveness and length are two things that Brandon Staley covets at the edge defender position, which Mafe exemplified throughout his career for the Gophers and on the practice field on Wednesday. Mafe was nearly unblockable in one-on-ones and team, using his wingspan to lockout and power to push blockers into the backfield. He also showed great lateral agility and body flexibility to win.
DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
While his former teammate, Jordan Davis, drew most of the buzz, Wyatt was just as dominant for the Bulldogs. That carried over to Mobile, where his first-step quickness and hand usage caused problems for interior offensive linemen in one-on-ones. Wyatt’s play style reminds me of Kenny Clark when he came out of UCLA. If his ascend continues, Wyatt could find himself as a first-round pick when all is said and done.
DT Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma
Winfrey was near the top of my defensive tackle rankings heading into the 2021 season, but his inconsistent play caused him to slip. But he’s looked like a completely rejuvenated player out here. Winfrey showed burst off the snap, foot speed, and quick hands to work into gaps and across offensive lineman’s face to produce multiple what-would-be sacks and tackles for loss.
EDGE Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
Johnson has been arguably the best player down here in Mobile, as he has won nearly every single rep. Johnson primarily flourished with his length and power to bully blockers into the backfield on Day 1. But on Wednesday, he included some finesse, including a spin move and side-scissors move. Seen as a fringe first-rounder, Johnson has shown to be worthy of a top-20 selection.
DT Travis Jones, UConn
Jones was mentioned as a winner on Day 1, but he built off that dominant performance on the second day. At his best in the run game where he remained strong at the point of attack, Jones continued to show plenty of promise as a pass rusher with a bull rush to force blockers off their spots. If he finishes the final two days with similar showings, it’s going to be hard for the Chargers not to take him with their second round pick.
