The Senior Bowl concluded last Saturday and I feel like I got more out of it this year than in the seven previous years. The on field aspect didn't really feel any different at all, even if the venue, the number in attendance and the masks we all wore were much different than prior years. As usual, there's so much going on during the week that it takes me on into the following week to truly take it all in and figure out who made themselves some money by raising their draft stock. Here are a handful of winners from the week.
Wide receiver Cade Johnson, South Dakota State - Johnson got open against everyone all week long, made highlight reel one hand catches and even made a tackle as a gunner on punt team.
Defensive lineman Cameron Sample, Tulane - Inside and out, Sample was a PROBLEM rushing the passer in one-on-ones throughout the week.
Edge Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame - He rushed effectively. He dropped in coverage. He even covered tight ends down on the goal line. I love what he put together during the week.
Running back Michael Carter, North Carolina - He certainly isn't going to be a knock 'em dead pass protector, but as a receiver and runner, no one flashed the burst and shiftiness as Carter did.
Big running back Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma - Stevenson weighed in at 227, which is still big, but he was down from 240 lb. as listed on the 2020 roster. The slimmed down Sooner was outstanding running the rock throughout the week.
Offensive tackle D'Ante Smith, East Carolina - If he were just be 305/310 lb., Smith would be the apple of many scouts/teams' eyes. Regardless, he's long and agile and excelled in pass protection throughout the week.
Quarterback Mac Jones, Alabama - He didn't run fast. He didn't throw it hard. But, he threw on time, accurately, consistently every time he stepped under center after doing it all of 2020.
Linebacker Chazz Surratt, North Carolina - He showed how much of a complete understanding of run schemes and fits he possesses. He was outstanding in the run defensive scheme all week.
Cornerback/Nickel Tre Brown, Oklahoma - He was dinged up early on day one, but fought through it to show his feisty nature in one-on-ones throughout the week.
Wide receiver Josh Palmer, Tennessee - I was aware of him heading to Mobile, but I was WELL AWARE of him after he ran by defensive backs deep and caught everything thrown his way during the week.
Interior offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater - Legend? Oh, wait, that's his belly. Future NFL starter? That's Meinerz and there's little question that he'll follow in the footsteps of Ali Marpet (Hobart College) and Ben Bartch (St. John's MN) as DIII stars that earn a spot in the NFL.
Wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville - Every Fitzpatrick rep I saw, it felt like he won with a catch. He ran great routes, used excellent technique to get clean and caught it well, all week long.
Interior offensive lineman David Moore, Grambling State - I saw him make defensive linemen, yes plural, quit during one-on-one pass rush drills. He just locked them up, even a guy like…
Defensive lineman Carlos 'Boogie' Basham, Wake Forest - Moore was the only guy that had any success against one of the ACC's greatest all-time pass rushers. Basham whipped nearly everyone he faced in one-on-ones, 9 on 7 and team periods.
Defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA - Up and down the line of scrimmage, Osa went to work. He didn't win every single rep, but it felt like he was a menace on all three days.
Quarterback Kellen Mond, Texas A&M - He was the game's MVP on Saturday after a solid week of work.
Defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, Washington - He only practiced one day after opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID, but during that two hour span on Tuesday, he was fantastic - quick, explosive hands and powerful up the field.
Alright, those are just a handful of the prospects that starred down in Mobile. They say "The Draft starts in Mobile" and these guys got it started in style at the Senior Bowl.
