Prime prospects, greatest sleepers at each place
One of many greatest stops on the all-star circuit for high NFL draft hopefuls, the Senior Bowl formally will get underway this week in Cellular, Alabama.
Per week of observe with NFL teaching staffs will give a few of this 12 months’s high expertise an opportunity to show themselves towards each other, culminating in Saturday’s all-star recreation.
As we prepare for one more week of Senior Bowl motion, right here’s a take a look at the highest prospects to observe at every place, in addition to the sleepers who’re nonetheless flying beneath the radar:
Quarterback
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Prime Prospect: Jaren Corridor, BYU
Hendon Hooker could be beneath this class, however he’ll solely interview with groups as he’s recovering from an ACL damage. Following Zach Wilson’s departure to the NFL, Corridor took the reigns and made essentially the most of his time because the Cougar’s starter for 2 seasons. Corridor accomplished 65.2 % of his passes for six,174 yards with 52 touchdowns and solely 11 interceptions whereas including six speeding touchdowns. Whereas the 24-year-old must reply some questions relating to his age and the developmental timeline, Corridor’s arm expertise, dimension, athleticism, and playmaking abilities are intriguing traits that will likely be on show.
Greatest Sleeper: Tyson Bagent, Shepherd
Bagent, a former Harlon Hill winner as the perfect FBS Division II participant within the nation, threw an NCAA-record 159 touchdowns throughout his collegiate profession. At 6-foot-3 and 220 kilos, Bagent has the NFL physique and traits with a stay arm and accuracy to make eye-popping throws in any respect ranges of the sector and above-average athleticism to make issues occur together with his legs. Bagent did mild it up towards inferior competitors, which is why it’s essential to indicate that he can dominate towards a few of the nation’s finest. If he does, he ought to stand up staff’s draft boards.
Operating Again
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Prime Prospect: Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
McIntosh was among the many most essential gamers to information the Bulldogs to their second consecutive nationwide title. The do-it-all again was one in every of solely three SEC gamers since 2000 to have greater than 500 yards speeding and receiving and rating ten touchdowns, becoming a member of the corporate of Dexter McCluster and Percy Harvin. Whereas he’ll make his cash catching the ball out of the backfield, McIntosh’s imaginative and prescient and talent to make defenders miss on the bottom shouldn’t be neglected.
Greatest Sleeper: Roschon Johnson, Texas
Bijan Robinson will get many of the publicity and a focus, deservingly so. He took residence the Doak Walker Award as the perfect operating again within the nation and is pegged as a first-rounder. Nevertheless, with Johnson as Robinson’s sidekick, they shaped top-of-the-line backfield tandems within the nation. Johnson totaled 2,610 yards from scrimmage and 26 touchdowns in his 4 seasons at Texas after he switched from quarterback to operating again earlier than his freshman 12 months. Johnson is a good-sized again with the ability, contact stability, imaginative and prescient, instincts and passing recreation upside.
Vast Receiver
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Prime Prospect: Rashee Rice, SMU
Rice had an extremely productive last season for the Mustangs, catching 96 passes for 1,355 yards and ten touchdowns. He led all FBS colleges with a median of 112.9 receiving yards per recreation. At 6-foot-2 and 203 kilos, Rice has spectacular dimension and physicality with velocity, consideration to element as a route runner, and arms, monitoring, leaping potential and focus to make highlight-reel-type catches. With a powerful exhibiting in Cellular, Rice ought to cement himself as an early Day 2 decide.
Greatest Sleeper: Andrei Iosivas, Princeton
Iosivas, the 6-foot-3 and 205-pound wideout, is a monitor star from Hawaii. He timed 6.71 seconds within the 60-meter on the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships. So how does that translate to the soccer discipline? A 4.22 40-yard sprint time. That velocity exhibits on the sector, as Iosivas instantly will get to high velocity vertically and may outpace defenders within the open. He’s a stable route runner, rapidly getting out and in of breaks. Iosivas does a terrific job monitoring deep passes and is elite above the rim in contested conditions. He ended his Princeton profession ranked sixth all-time in receiving yards (1,909), twelfth in receptions (125), and third in landing catches (16).
Tight Finish
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Prime Prospect: Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Musgrave performed solely two video games this season, with a knee damage costing him the remainder of his senior 12 months. However he was focused 15 instances and had 11 receptions for 169 yards and a landing throughout that span. For his profession, Musgrave caught 44 of his 76 targets at 13.4 yards per catch with two touchdowns. Musgrave is a prolific move catcher with lengthy strides down the sector, exhibiting the flexibility to separate deep, shows mushy arms, and has an enormous catch radius to work with. Moreover, Musgrave is a bodily in-line blocker. The most important factor is exhibiting he can keep wholesome. With a powerful week, Musgrave might shoot up boards and stamp himself as one of many high tight ends taken.
Greatest Sleeper: Payne Durham, Purdue
This previous season, Durham completed second on the Boilermakers with 56 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. These numbers have been all career-high marks for Durham. As well as, he posted no less than three touchdowns in all 4 seasons performed. Arguably the perfect blocking tight finish in Cellular, Durham is a drive that persistently kicks out defenders within the operating recreation. Within the passing recreation, he’s a stable arms catcher with a big radius and has a knack for locating mushy spots in protection.
Offensive Sort out
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Prime Prospect: Darnell Wright, Tennessee
At 6-foot-6 and 335 kilos, Wright flashed in his matchup towards Alabama’s Will Anderson. Wright has the scale, athleticism, pedigree, and management qualities essential to develop into a stable sort out within the NFL. Wright will in all probability be a top-50 decide, however with an enormous week, it’s not out of the query that he might sneak into Spherical 1.
Greatest Sleeper: Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
Duncan won’t be a first-rounder, however there’s lots to love about him to recommend he may very well be a viable participant on the subsequent degree. At 6-foot-6 and 320 kilos, Duncan is an athletic specimen with quick and fluid toes and the ability to impose his will on blockers, particularly out in house.
Inside Defensive Line
Prime Prospect: Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
At 6-foot-4 and 315 kilos, Benton is the run defender that each NFL staff would profit from having on the sector. He is a superb anchor in the midst of the defensive position with nice dimension and energy to stack and shed blockers and take in double groups to maintain his linebackers clear. One-on-ones will likely be an important a part of his analysis course of, but when he makes use of his violent arms and burst persistently, Benton’s inventory ought to rise.
Greatest Sleeper: Keion White, Georgia Tech
White completed the 2022 season with 7.5 sacks and 54 tackles and was one of the impactful gamers on the Georgia Tech protection. At 6-foot-4 and 286 kilos, White possesses the explosiveness, energy, lateral agility and place versatility to play inside or exterior. White ought to elevate eyebrows in one-on-ones, however search for him to flash in staff drills when enjoying the run, as he completed two seasons with no less than 14 tackles for loss.
Edge Defender
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Prime Prospect: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
Foskey was getting top-10 buzz getting into this season, however he regressed a bit of bit. His traits are off the charts, as Foskey has the explosiveness and energy to bully blockers to the backfield. However his handwork may be inconsistent at instances. When he has that going, Foskey can win towards anybody he goes up towards. That’s the reason he should be at his finest in one-on-ones. If he’s, Foskey might make his case as a top-20 choice.
Greatest Sleeper: Nick Hampton, Appalachian State
Hampton oozes elite athleticism. He’s a velocity rusher with a fast first step who additionally boasts energy at 6-foot-3 and 235 kilos with 34-inch arms. Additional, Hampton has a pleasant pass-rush toolbox, with energetic arms and the bend to get previous blockers, and the burst to shut on gamers. Over 46 profession video games, Hampton racked up 175 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 26.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, seven compelled fumbles, 134 quarterback pressures, and 101 run stops.
Linebacker
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Prime Prospect: Ivan Tempo Jr., Cincinnati
Henry To’oTo’o would have been beneath this class however opted out of the all-star recreation because of an damage. Tabbed as ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr and unanimous All-American standing, Tempo completed the season with a conference-high 137 tackles and posted ten sacks. He additionally racked up 21.5 tackles for loss and 53 quarterback pressures. Whereas undersized at 6 toes, Tempo’s play overshadows his measurements, as he’s a mainstay within the backfield with a excessive power degree, loopy closing velocity and physicality.
Greatest Sleeper: Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Henley completed his first and solely season at Washington State with 106 tackles – second within the Pac-12 – including 12 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, three compelled fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Nevada switch was the one Cougar named to the All-Pac-12 first staff. With expertise at quarterback, large receiver, edge defender, security and kick returner, Henley’s athleticism is polarizing. He has the velocity and vary to make performs sideline-to-sideline and downhill. As a former defensive again, Henley additionally has protection abilities beneath his belt.
Cornerback
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Prime Prospect: Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (FL)
Stevenson dedicated to Georgia however transferred again residence to Miami in 2021. He recorded 11 passes defended and three interceptions throughout his two years in Coral Gables. Stevenson additionally was named a 2021 All-ACC Honorable Point out. Arguably one of the explosive athletes on this cornerback class, Stevenson has the athleticism and velocity to play man or zone protection, and he’s very bodily on the catch level.
Greatest Sleeper: Julius Brents, Kansas State
Brents, an Iowa switch, completed his profession with 94 tackles, 5 interceptions and 11 passes defended. He boasts an imposing body at 6-foot-4 and 202 kilos with a protracted wingspan. Brents possesses uncommon bodily instruments and high-end motion abilities for his dimension. An early Day 3 projected participant, Brents might improve his draft inventory with a powerful exhibiting towards a few of the nation’s high receivers.
Security
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Prime Prospect: Jammie Robinson, Florida State
With place versatility on protection at a premium, Robinson lined up within the field and the slot, the place he was tasked to man up tight ends and receivers within the slot, exhibiting the motion abilities to lock down his matchup and the aggression and tackling potential to make an influence towards the run and blitzer off the sting. Robinson had 86 tackles, and 5 quarterback hurries, including 4.0 tackles for loss, 4 move breakups and an interception. Robinson was the primary defensive again to win back-to-back first-team All-ACC honors since Jalen Ramsey.
Greatest Sleeper: Jay Ward, LSU
Ward, a former cornerback, was the chief of an LSU protection during the last three years. Ward has the fluidity and velocity to stay with speedy receivers and the size to utterly blanket greater receivers. He’s a bodily participant to shut in on the run and disrupt screens. Additional, he has the vary to man the deep components of the sector. completed his profession with the Tigers with 164 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 6 interceptions.