The Seattle Seahawks are one of 12 teams to meet with Utah running back Zack Moss at the NFL combine, according to a report from Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Meeting with players at the combine often doesn’t mean much, as team’s are either just doing their due diligence or having informal conversations – so it’s hard to read too much into this interaction.
After all, Seattle has Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer fairly well established in the backfield in 2020, and Moss would almost certainly cost the team one of their second round picks.
However – Carson and Penny are both dealing with serious injuries, and Moss is a punishing runner who is extremely hard to take down, and has drawn comparisons to Kareem Hunt.
The Seahawks are very familiar with Utah, having taken Marquise Blair and Cody Barton from the Utes last year, but it’s hard to imagine this team going after any running back in the first two rounds – even if Moss does seems to fit what Seattle looks for in their backs.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Utah linebacker Francis Bernard
Today’s NFL demands much from its linebackers, from getting their hands dirty in the trenches against the run, to making plays out in space against some of the best athletes on the planet.
If your favorite team is looking for a three-down playmaker who can do it all, they should look no further than Utah’s Francis Bernard.
A versatile defender with all the mental and physical tools to make a big splash in the NFL, Bernard recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the long predraft process, playing for one of the nation’s top defenses, and why a team should take a chance on him in this year’s draft.
JM: You decided to stay at Utah for your senior season. You also recently played in the Senior Bowl. How do you reflect on the last couple of months?
FB: It’s been great. I’ve been very busy, but I’ve also been very fortunate to have those opportunities. I was blessed to play a role in what was a very successful Utah defense in 2019. That lead to me capturing the attention of some very important people and I was privileged to first receive an invite to the Senior Bowl, and now to the combine as well. It’s truly been a blessing. I’m incredibly thankful to be in the position that I’m in right now. I’m grateful for every single one of these opportunities and I’m grateful for my teammates and coaches who helped put me in this position. It’s been a busy time for me but I’m just soaking it all in.
JM: It sounds like you’ve been busy, but that’s a good thing this time of year. What are you most excited for throughout this process?
FB: I’m just excited to show everyone in the country who I am. I’m excited for the general managers and scouts to continue familiarizing themselves with me and my skill set. I’m excited to showcase what I bring to the table as a football player. Not everyone knows who I am as of right now, nor do they know what my skill set is all about. My combine preparation has been huge for me. I know that it’s a huge opportunity. It gives me the chance to check off a lot of boxes. I’m taking things one day at a time. I’m excited for everything that comes with this process. I’m hopeful that it will pay off come draft day.
Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You mentioned that not everyone is familiar with your skill set. How would you describe it?
FB: I’m one of the more athletic linebackers in this draft class. I can play all three downs. I’m very instinctive and super explosive. I’ve played in all phases of the game. I actually played running back during my freshmen year. I also played on every special teams unit that year as well. I moved to defense during my sophomore year. I’ve been playing on the defensive side of the ball ever since. I’ve still been playing on special teams.
I’m a versatile player that can be moved around. I learned rather quickly that that was a part of my game that I could be rather proud of. I’m always in the film room and trying to get better. I’m a student of the game that tries to make life difficult for my opponents. When you add all of these things up, you have a great linebacker on your hands.
JM: Speaking of versatility, do you prefer to play in coverage, or would you rather come downhill and play in the run game?
FB: It doesn’t matter to me. I can’t choose. If we’re playing a team that likes to run the ball, that puts a smile on my face because that means more action for me. When a team gets pass-happy, I have the ability to play out in space and even cover the slot receiver. I can pick up a running back that motions out. I’m comfortable either way.
JM: What are three traits a successful linebacker must possess?
FB: You have to be a great tackler, first and foremost. You have to be a dependable player with a versatile skill set that allows you to stay on the field for all three downs. Lastly, you have to be smart. Your mental processing skills have to be A1 at this position. If you have those three skills at your disposal, you should be able to become a successful linebacker.
JM: We touched a little on how great that Utah defense was in 2019. You were facing some pretty stiff competition on a weekly basis. Who are some of the best players you’ve played against?
FB: We played against Arizona State earlier in the year. Eno Benjamin was terrific. I know that he didn’t have as big of a season as he did during his junior year but he’s an absolute freak. He reminded me a lot of our own running back, Zack Moss. They’re both super tough to tackle. They fight and crawl for every inch of yardage out there. We played against Oregon and Justin Herbert later in the season. He might be the best football player I’ve ever played against. He’s way up there.
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
JM: If you could tackle one NFL running back behind the line of scrimmage, who would it be and why?
FB: I would probably go with Saquon Barkley. He’s the first one that comes to mind. He’s a freak, man. He can do it all. He’s 230 pounds, at 6-foot-something. He’s just a machine. If I were able to get my hands on him in the backfield and bring him down, that’s saying something. He’s amazing. Derrick Henry would be another one. He’s the hot name at the moment. He’s a workhorse. The league is always looking for linebackers that can tackle guys of that nature. I’m excited to get to the next level and show what I’m all about.
JM: You mentioned your teammate earlier, Zack Moss. I know that you guys don’t really tackle in practice anymore, but how did practicing on a daily basis against a running back of his talent make you a better run defender?
FB: It’s funny. He has a linebacker background and I have a running back background. He’s able to sift through the holes and he understands the right holes to hit. He sees the field exactly the way a linebacker does. It’s crazy. He has such excellent vision. He’s obviously a very physical runner. He prepared me to play against any running back in college. I wasn’t scared to tackle anybody. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever played against a running back with better vision than Zack Moss. He’s right up there.
JM: Why should an NFL team use one of their draft picks on Francis Bernard?
FB: A team should use one of their draft picks on Francis Bernard because they’re gonna get the best linebacker in the draft. That’s first and foremost. I’m gonna come in and work my butt off from the very beginning. I can’t wait to get to rookie mini-camp. I plan on having a long career. I can play on all three downs. Whether we have to stop the run or the pass, I can help in both phases. I’m a smart, physical linebacker. They’re getting a very versatile player when they draft me.
A week of practice for more than 100 college seniors from across the nation culminated on Saturday with the 2020 Senior Bowl, where the North had a dominating 34-17 victory over the South team. The North won the game with a strong run game, and a great front-four that was rotated throughout the game.
Could the Bills be interested in any standouts from the game?
Let’s look at who stood out during the Senior Bowl and helped their draft stock before the NFL combine:
North defensive lineman Alton Robinson. Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
EDGE Alton Robinson, Syracuse
This is the beginning of the edge rushers that will be discussed because the North created consistent pressure with just four men. Not many people outside of Central New York saw Alton Robinson play during his time at Cuse but he had 19.5 sacks in his career, who has a variety of moves and a great motor.
During the Senior Bowl he had two sacks, the first was against the elusive Jalen Hurts where Robinson bullied his matchup and dragged Hurts down. His second was against Steven Montez where Montez escaped the initial pressure but, Robinson tracked him down and finish the sack.
The Buffalo Bills need more players who can pressure the quarterback, and Robinson is projected as a Day 3 pick, so he should be on the radar of Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott.
A closer look at @CuseFootball's Alton Robinson and his performance at the 2020 Reese's @seniorbowl.
Former Ohio State football commit Clark Phillips III flipped to Utah on signing day. Here him provide insight on why he made the choice.
It was one of the most surprising moments of the early signing period. Four-star defensive back Clark Phillips III had been committed to Ohio State and considered a lock to come play in Columbus. But then rumors started circulating, and Phillips took a visit to Utah.
Still, many considered the class’ No. 4 rated cornerback and 47th overall recruit according to 247Sports to still choose the Buckeyes when it was all said and done.
And then he didn’t — opting to make a flip at the last moment to Utah. It left the OSU coaches and fans with a missed opportunity to land one one of the commits they were looking forward to bringing in to round out the class. It could have been another big-time talent for a secondary losing experience and skill.
So what changed?
Phillips sat down with Jeremiah Jensen at NBC affiliate KSL TV in Salt Lake City to discuss the change of heart. When asked why he shifted gears, and why Utah was the place for him, Phillips shed a little light on the situation.
“Honestly, I can speak a long time about the things throughout the process that I was looking for the things that changed,” Phillips said. “But it was about a two-week span I had a change in heart, and the family with a lot of conversations and a lot of prayer definitely led me and allowed me to have the discernment to choose Utah over Ohio State.”
When asked if there was a moment when the decision became clear to him, Phillips said it happened just prior to signing day.
“About a couple of days before signing day I was talking to coach (Kyle) Whittingham,” said Phillips. “And a couple of things happened with the other university I was committed to (Ohio State) that allowed me to see that door open for Utah and really just made me feel really really comfortable with the staff and realize that the guys that are at Utah and the staff and everything that’s in place — I felt really really comfortable with the stability, the players, and then the opportunity that’s at hand.”
You can listen to the entire exchange thanks to the video of the sit-down shared to Jeremiah Jensen’s Twitter feed below.
Phillips seems like a very good kid that took a lot of time to make the decision that was right for him. Ohio State is not right for everyone and he and his family have decided to go another route, and that’s okay.
Texas’ win over Utah was the second-largest upset in Alamo Bowl history. The largest upset was in 1998 when Drew Brees defeated No. 4 KSU.
Going into Tuesday’s Alamo Bowl, Utah was ranked No. 11 in the College Football Playoff standings. Texas took care of business against the Utes, pulling out a dominating 38-10 victory. It was the highest-ranked team the Longhorns had beaten unranked since last season’s victory over No. 17 TCU.
It was also the second-largest upset in the history of the Alamo Bowl. The largest upset in 1998 when now New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees defeated No. 4 Kansas State.
The two largest upsets in VAB history in terms of rankings now belong to quarterbacks from Austin Westlake HS.
Both Ehlinger and Brees attended Westlake High School in Austin, TX. The now Texas quarterback graduated in 2016, while the former Purdue signal-caller graduated in 1996.
Purdue won the 1998 Alamo Bowl 37-34 after the Wildcats lost in the Big 12 championship in double overtime. Much like the Longhorns, the Boilermakers were able to take advantage of a team off an emotional loss.
If the Texas Longhorns want to leave San Antonio with a win it will be vital for them to slow down Zack Moss.
No question that one of the big reasons that the Utah Utes have had success this season is their starting running back Zack Moss. He comes into the Alamo Bowl matchup with 1,359 yards rushing, 374 yards receiving and 17 total touchdowns. The Texas Longhorns defense has to be up to slow down Moss and the Utes offense.
In the Utes’ lone regular season loss before the Pac 12 Championship game, Moss was sidelined for most of that game with a shoulder injury against the Southern California Trojans which resulted in a 30-23 defeat. For Texas, slowing Moss down is their best path to success. Longhorns need to get ahead of Utah to remove the threat of the run game.
Moss is likely heading to the NFL next year so he is talented. His ability to get involved in the passing game as well makes him a big threat, the task of slowing him down will be a tall one but a necessary one. For Texas they have struggled with slowing down the run game this past season. With the dismissal of Todd Orlando, can Texas step up their efforts?
In the Longhorns last four losses they have given up an average of 178 yards on the ground against Oklahoma, Texas Christian, Iowa State and Baylor. The run defense has been a detriment at times for the burnt orange. For Moss he has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in eight of their 12 games and twice rushed for more than 180 yards in a game.
If the Utes get their run game going and are able to control the line of scrimmage and the clock then that will prevent Sam Ehlinger and the offense from having much time to get their offense going and plays into the hand of Utah. The Longhorns big key for the Alamo Bowl victory is keep Moss at bay.
The updated injury report for the Texas Longhorns and Utah Utes in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
The Texas Longhorns are over 72 hours away from their Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with the Utah Utes. The Longhorns will need a 2018 Sugar Bowl like level of play to pull off the upset of the Utes in hopes of ending the 2019 season on a two-game win streak. The Longhorns have one player listed as probable (Collin Johnson) and the rest on the list are questionable to play per the latest injury reports.
The Longhorns have 13 players listed on the injury report to the Utah Utes three players. It will be next man up for the Longhorns searching for their first Alamo Bowl victory since 2012 under Mack Brown.
How you can watch, listen to or stream the Texas Longhorns in the Valero Alamo Bowl plus betting odds.
The Texas Longhorns will finally get back onto the field on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM Central. Sam Ehlinger looks to lead the Longhorns to their third-straight bowl victory under head coach Tom Herman in as many years. Last season the Longhorns beat the Georgia Bulldogs 28-21, Ehlinger was the MVP of that game.
Date: Tuesday, December 31
Time: 6:30 PM CT
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Listen: Austin 104.9FM, 99.3FM, 98.5FM, 1260AM; Dallas 1080AM; El Paso 600AM; Houston 790AM; San Antonio 1200AM — Spanish: Austin 105.3FM; Dallas 990AM, 99.9FM
O/U: 55
Spread: Longhorns (+6.5)
Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated December 27th at 9:00 ET.
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Cameron Rising entered the transfer portal in January, he is now eligible to face his former team the Texas Longhorns.
The Texas Longhorns and Utah Utes will face off on December 31st. To the casual observer, it is just another game but when looking beneath the surface, there are quite a few storylines between these two schools. Following the announcement of the bowl matchup the two teams took to battle on the recruiting front.
Prior to Early National Signing Day the Utes were able to flip three-star commit Ty Jordan to Utah as well as four-star defensive end Van Fillinger. The Longhorns were able to exact a bit of revenge when they flipped Lone Star linebacker Jaylon Ford to Texas keeping him in the Lone Star State. The storylines don’t stop there, this upcoming game is a homecoming for former Texas quarterback Cameron Rising.
During the 2018 recruitment, the Longhorns landed four-star quarterback out of California Rising. Cameron Rising was a recruit that Texas was able to flip from Oklahoma. Another victory in the Red River Rivalry. However, after never appearing in a game for Texas and never “Rising” above third on the depth chart, he announced that he would enter the transfer portal in January. Cameron announced that he would head to Utah.
Due to NCAA rules, Rising would have to sit out and could return to playing football in 2020. Since the semester is over, Rising is now eligible to participate in the game against Texas. While Rising has stated that this is “just another football game”, it feels like he desperately wants to get this win.
Texas will look to spoil the homecoming on Tuesday night in the Alamodome.
With Week 17 of the NFL season upon us, 12 teams will start playoff preparation, while 20 other teams will consider personnel changes while preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to cornerbacks and wide receivers since the 2019 NFL Draft ended and in the latest installment of the PFF’s Mock Draft scenarios, the Birds land a physical Pac 12 cornerback from Utah.
21. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — CB JAYLON JOHNSON, UTAH
Johnson has been one of the biggest movers up the PFF draft board this season. He allowed only nine completions from 22 targets for 112 yards over his last seven games in Pac-12 play.
Johnson recently announced that he was entering the 2020 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility after a season that saw him named as a repeat selection to the All-Pac-12 first team, announced this week, and he was also named to the Walter Camp All-America second team.
