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The Reese's Senior Bowl

Ladd-Peebles Stadium

DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2018
TIME: 1:30pm CT
WHERE: Mobile, Alabama
STADIUM: Ladd-Peebles Stadium (38,888)
TELEVISION: NFL Network
TICKETS: $30, $20, $10

MAILING ADDRESS: 151 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36602
TELEPHONE: 251.438.2276
FAX: 251.432.0409
TICKET OFFICE: 251.432.4109 or toll free 1.888.736.2695
INTERNET: http://www.seniorbowl.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/seniorbowl
TWITTER: @seniorbowl


North
No.
Name
Pos.
Ht
Wt
School
Conf.

0 Ja'Whaun Bentley ILB 6-2 260 Purdue Big Ten
1 Christian Campbell DC 6-1 194 Penn State Big Ten
2 Marcus Allen S 6-2 202 Penn State Big Ten
4 Fred Warner ILB 6-4 230 Brigham Young IND
4 Luke Falk QB 6-4 223 Washington State Pac-12
6 Baker Mayfield QB 6-1 220 Oklahoma Big 12
8 Braxton Berrios WR 5-9 186 Miami ACC
9 Mike McCray ILB 6-4 248 Michigan Big Ten
11 Cedrick Wilson WR 6-3 188 Boise State MW
13 Tanner Lee QB 6-4 220 Nebraska Big Ten
14 Darius Phillips DC 5-10 190 Western Michigan MAC
15 Justin Watson WR 6-3 210 Penn FCS
15 Michael Badgley PK 5-10 178 Miami ACC
16 Jaleel Scott WR 6-6 215 New Mexico State IND
17 Josh Allen QB 6-5 233 Wyoming MW
19 Johnny Townsend PT 6-1 211 Florida SEC
20 Isaac Yiadom DC 6-1 190 Boston College ACC
21 Jaylen Samuels RB 5-11 228 North Carolina State ACC
22 Michael Joseph DC 6-1 180 Dubuque Division III
23 Armani Watts S 5-11 205 Texas A&M SEC
24 Duke Dawson DC 5-10 208 Florida SEC
25 Akrum Wadley RB 5-11 191 Iowa Big Ten
26 Taron Johnson DC 6-0 185 Weber State FCS
27 Justin Jones DT 6-2 312 North Carolina State ACC
27 Kalen Ballage RB 6-3 230 Arizona State Pac-12
28 Kyzir White S 6-2 218 West Virginia Big 12
31 Ogbonnia Okoronkwo DE 6-1 240 Oklahoma Big 12
36 Dimitri Flowers FB 6-2 247 Oklahoma Big 12
37 JaMarcus King DC 6-2 186 South Carolina SEC
39 Trayvon Henderson S 6-0 200 Hawaii MW
48 Tanner Carew LS 6-1 242 Oregon Pac-12
49 Nick DeLuca ILB 6-3 245 North Dakota State FCS
50 Myles Pierce ILB 6-0 225 The Citadel FCS
52 Mason Cole OC 6-5 305 Michigan Big Ten
55 Garret Dooley OLB 6-3 246 Wisconsin Big Ten
56 Scott Quessenberry OC 6-3 310 UCLA Pac-12
57 Wyatt Teller OG 6-5 315 Virginia Tech ACC
58 Kemoko Turay OLB 6-5 252 Rutgers Big Ten
59 Tyquan Lewis DE 6-4 265 Ohio State Big Ten
61 Cole Madison OG 6-5 314 Washington State Pac-12
66 Harrison Phillips DT 6-4 295 Stanford Pac-12
70 Brian O'Neill OT 6-6 305 Pittsburgh ACC
73 Tyrell Crosby OT 6-5 320 Oregon Pac-12
76 Will Hernandez OG 6-3 330 UTEP C-USA
77 Chukwuma Okorafor OT 6-6 330 Western Michigan MAC
78 Brett Toth OT 6-6 305 Army AAC
79 Sean Welsh OG 6-3 295 Iowa Big Ten
80 Durham Smythe TE 6-6 257 Notre Dame IND
81 Troy Fumagalli TE 6-6 248 Wisconsin Big Ten
83 Tyler Conklin TE 6-4 240 Central Michigan MAC
84 Michael Gallup WR 6-1 200 Colorado State MW
85 Allen Lazard WR 6-5 222 Iowa State Big 12
88 Mike Gesicki TE 6-6 252 Penn State Big Ten
90 Chad Thomas DE 6-6 275 Miami ACC
91 Jalyn Holmes DE 6-5 270 Ohio State Big Ten
94 Dewey Jarvis OLB 6-2 230 Brown FCS
97 Nathan Shepherd DT 6-5 300 Fort Hays State Division II
98 B.J. Hill DT 6-4 315 North Carolina State ACC

South
No.
Name
Pos.
Ht
Wt
School
Conf.

3 Quin Blanding S 6-2 210 Virginia ACC
4 Tre'Quan Smith WR 6-1 210 Central Florida AAC
5 Siran Neal DC 6-1 205 Jacksonville St. FCS
5 Kyle Lauletta QB 6-3 215 Richmond FCS
6 Kurt Benkert QB 6-4 215 Virginia ACC
7 D.J. Chark WR 6-4 198 LSU SEC
9 Da'Shawn Hand DE 6-4 288 Alabama SEC
10 JK Scott PT 6-6 204 Alabama SEC
11 Kylie Fitts DE 6-4 260 Utah Pac-12
12 Brandon Silvers QB 6-3 219 Troy Sun Belt
13 Marcell Ateman WR 6-4 220 Oklahoma State Big 12
14 Mike White QB 6-4 225 Western Kentucky C-USA
14 Jeremy Reaves S 5-11 185 South Alabama Sun Belt
15 Nick Bawden FB 6-3 245 San Diego State MW
16 J'Mon Moore WR 6-3 205 Missouri SEC
18 Shaquem Griffin OLB 6-1 223 Central Florida AAC
20 Rashaad Penny RB 5-11 220 San Diego State MW
21 Tray Matthews S 6-1 209 Auburn SEC
22 Chandon Sullivan DC 5-11 195 Georgia State Sun Belt
23 D'montre Wade DC 6-0 200 Murray St. FCS
24 Danny Johnson DC 5-10 194 Southern FCS
25 Ito Smith RB 5-9 195 Southern Mississippi C-USA
26 M.J. Stewart DC 6-0 205 North Carolina ACC
27 Kameron Kelly DC 6-2 200 San Diego State MW
28 James Washington WR 6-0 205 Oklahoma State Big 12
29 Darrel Williams RB 6-1 229 LSU SEC
30 Tre' Williams ILB 6-2 225 Auburn SEC
38 Marquis Haynes OLB 6-3 230 Ole Miss SEC
38 Daniel Carlson PK 6-4 223 Auburn SEC
39 Levi Wallace DC 6-0 183 Alabama SEC
42 Uchenna Nwosu OLB 6-2 240 USC Pac-12
50 Darius Leonard ILB 6-3 235 South Carolina St. FCS
51 Taylor Hearn OG 6-5 330 Clemson ACC
53 Micah Kiser ILB 6-2 240 Virginia ACC
56 Dorian O'Daniel ILB 6-1 220 Clemson ACC
68 Joe Noteboom OT 6-5 306 TCU Big 12
69 Ike Powell LS 6-3 267 Auburn SEC
70 Colby Gossett OG 6-6 320 Appalachian State Sun Belt
71 Alex Cappa OT 6-7 305 Humboldt State Division II
72 Brandon Parker OT 6-7 309 North Carolina A&T FCS
73 Austin Corbett OC 6-4 305 Nevada MW
75 Bradley Bozeman OC 6-5 314 Alabama SEC
77 Isaiah Wynn OG 6-2 302 Georgia SEC
78 Desmond Harrison OT 6-6 313 West Georgia Division II
79 Skyler Phillips OG 6-2 322 Idaho State FCS
80 Ian Thomas TE 6-5 248 Indiana Big Ten
81 Adam Breneman TE 6-5 255 UMASS IND
86 Dallas Goedert TE 6-5 255 South Dakota St. FCS
88 Jordan Akins TE 6-4 262 Central Florida AAC
89 Byron Pringle WR 6-2 205 Kansas State Big 12
90 Christian LaCouture DT 6-5 292 LSU SEC
93 Marcus Davenport DE 6-7 255 UTSA C-USA
94 Greg Gilmore DT 6-4 308 LSU SEC
95 Poona Ford DT 6-0 305 Texas Big 12
99 Andrew Brown DT 6-4 285 Virginia ACC

2018 Senior Bowl Prospects to Watch (Offense)
9 comments
By Joseph Yun Jan 20, 2018, 11:00am CST
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James Washington. Do Want. Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Senior Bowl week! The Senior Bowl is the premier event of the offseason draft circuit. All 32 teams will have representatives in Mobile, AL. In this post, I’ll be breaking down the offensive prospects to keep an eye on throughout the proceedings from both the North and South teams. I’ll be breaking down the defensive prospects tomorrow. Here we go!

Please note that until Monday’s weigh-in process (some say that’s the funniest part of the whole show), all height and weights are unofficial.

NORTH

1. Baker Mayfield 6’1 215 QB RS Senior Oklahoma

- Last seen completely and utterly eviscerating one of the best defenses in the nation in the Rose Bowl against Georgia. Dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner. He’s just so much fun to watch. I think he can be Russell Wilson 2.0 at the next level. He’s had some issues with being too confident (see antics against Kansas and the post game flag plant against Ohio State). Teams will question his many on and off field antics during interviews. The Denver Broncos (North coaching staff) specifically requested that he be placed on the North team. He also signed w/ a Colorado based agency. Do we have our first locked in pick in the first round? Hmm.

2. Josh Allen 6’5 223 QB Senior Wyoming

- The apple of Mel Kiper’s eye needs a huge week to change perception about him. He has the physical talents but people have begun to question his mental part of the game after a disastrous 2017 season marred by injury and woeful surrounding cast. He’s coming into Mobile overrated. In my view, he’s simply not that good enough to merit a top 5 selection.

3. Tyrell Crosby 6’5 320 OT Senior Oregon

- Crosby had an excellent 2017 season to rise up the boards to merit consideration as a top 5 tackle in the class. There are some excellent tackle prospects so this is no small matter. From the games that I watched, the lateral agility and ability to anchor down as a pass blocker is a huge plus. He mirrors the defender very easily and doesn’t allow much to get by him. He’s improved as a run blocker massively this year.

4. Chukuma Okorafor 6’6 330 OT RS Senior Western Michigan

- He had an standout 2017 season to maintain the stock of a top 3 tackle in this class. CO is a elite talent and is sure to be selected in the first round just like his former teammate Corey Davis was last year. He’s a physical threat to deal with for edge defenders. Excellent footwork. Watch for him to have a big week.

5. Mason Cole 6’4 297 OL RS Senior Michigan

- Cole is the most experienced lineman for Michigan as he has 51 starts under his belt. Position versatile as he’s played center and guard. One of the top center prospects in the country. Possible day 2 pick.

6. Jaylen Samuels 5’11 228 RB Senior North Carolina State

- Samuels is the Wolfpack’s go to weapon. He’s been used as a Swiss army knife of sorts throughout his career. Primarily a running back by trade but has played seemingly everywhere except offensive line and quarterback. Not the fastest athlete out there but in the view that he projects as a tight end / fullback, he has more than enough.

7. Kalen Ballage 6’2 230 RB Senior Arizona State

- He’s a big physical bruiser type of back. It can be argued that he is one of the best athletes in the Sun Devil program. An underrated prospect that is one of the best backs in the conference. Above average in the passing game. He’s a capable receiver out of the backfield though the stats don’t bear it out as much. There have been rumors that he was playing at as high as 235 in order to better absorb the heavy workload. Reportedly he has cut weight.

8. Michael Gallup 6’1 200 WR Senior Colorado State

- Gallup has been my WR2 all year long. He’s that good in a pretty deep class of receivers. The go to guy for the Rams. He’s a technically proficient route runner that can run virtually every route in his sleep. Mike Bobo’s offense is a variance of the “pro style” that requires its receivers to be great route runners. Production is very good. Posted 176 receptions for 2,690 yards in two years. Funny note: He’ll by coached by the home state Broncos in Mobile.

9. Allen Lazard 6’5 222 WR Senior Iowa State

- A big physical receiver that can go up and get it. The biggest knock on him is his testing numbers i.e. 40 time. Not the fastest guy out there so it will be very interesting to see how he looks against faster defensive backs in one on ones. Had a standout bowl game against Louisville to cap his career.

10. Troy Fumagalli 6’5 244 TE RS Senior Wisconsin

- Fumagalli burst onto the scene last year in the bowl game against Western Michigan and never really left. He’s a quintessential Wisky tight end. Good pass blocker. Plus route runner. Among the best tight ends in the country. I really like him as a fourth round pick. He will have to show out to get drafted on Day 2. One of the better all around tight ends in a relatively weak crop.

11. Cedrick Wilson 6’3 188 WR Senior Boise State

- Wilson might possibly rival Gallup for the honor of the Mountain West’s best wide receiver. He’s that good. Above average athlete. Has the physical traits that scouts love with the height. Lateral agility is a plus. NFL legacy as father CW, Senior played for the 49ers and Steelers in late 90s to the mid 2000s. Local tie for the Titans as he is a Memphis native. Garnered both Shrine Game and Senior Bowl invites. It’s pretty rare that a Shrine Game prospect gets a Senior Bowl invite without playing his way in.

SOUTH

1. Mike White 6’4 225 QB RS Senior Western Kentucky

- The record setting quarterback has all the physical attributes you want in a quarterback. Above average arm talent that can make all the throws. Footwork is a plus as well. He transferred to WKU from USF after being beaten out by Quinton Flowers. Ironically, the USF HC at the time was Willie Taggart (WKU alum). He is the most likely to break out like a Jimmy Garoppolo did in Mobile. QB5 in my book.

2. Kurt Benkert 6’4 215 QB RS Senior Virginia

- Benkert transferred from East Carolina to UVA for his junior and senior seasons. 2017 was a banner year for him. He has steadily risen up the boards. I like his game. He has the arm talent but the accuracy (below 60%) and yards per pass attempt (below 7) is a red flag without context. Given some context such as Virginia not being as talented as other programs in conference has something to do with it. The accuracy concerns isn’t a good omen for his future. He singlehandedly kept UVA in the Miami game before the Hurricanes pulled away late.

3. DJ Chark 6’3 198 WR Senior LSU

- Chark is the Tigers main receiving threat as he broke out in 2017 with 35 receptions for 811 yards thus far. Athletically, he’s one of the best in the class. He can get going in a hurry. LSU used him some as a runner during his junior season. A deep ball specialist with pretty solid footwork. Needs to show that LSU has QB issues instead of the other way around.

4. James Washington 6’0 205 WR Senior Oklahoma State

- Washington is the best receiver in the country and has the hardware to back it up. He won the 2017 Biletnikoff Trophy. The production is unreal, even by OSU standards. He has posted 221 receptions for over 4,300 yards to go along with 38 touchdowns. He’s built like a running back so hits are not as damaging to him. A four year starter.

5. Marcell Ateman 6’4 220 WR RS Senior Oklahoma State

- Washington’s running partner is no slouch himself. He’s a big body red zone threat that can run. A jump ball specialist. Route running is a plus. Really blew up as a senior, posting 59 catches for 1156 yards and eight touchdowns. He could be a steal for someone in the middle rounds.

6. Bryon Pringle 6’1 205 WR RS Junior Kansas State

- Pringle is one of the more unknown receiver prospects nationally. He’s the best weapon on offense for the Wildcats. An explosive deep ball specialist that can accelerate past anyone. Agility is a major plus. A key contributor as a return man. He just pops off the screen when I watch a KSU game. He should have a good week.

7. Rashaad Penny RB 5’11 220 Senior San Diego State

- Donnel Pumphrey who? The Aztecs saw one record breaking running back leave, only to have another one blow up the record books even further. Penny should’ve been a Heisman finalist. Rushed for over 2000 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior. A solid receiving threat out of the backfield as well. It can be argued that he’s the best running back in Mobile next week.

8. Isaiah Wynn OL 6’2 302 Senior Georgia

- Wynn is the anchor of the much improved Bulldogs offensive line. He has played pretty much everywhere on the line so position versatility is a major plus. Projects more inside at guard than outside at tackle for the next level. Best guard prospect in Mobile. It’s not even close in that regard.

9. Ian Thomas TE 6’5 248 Senior Indiana

- Thomas is underrated prospect that no one is talking up right now but with a good week, he can move up his stock tremendously. From the stuff that I watched him in, he was used mainly as a blocker. Hands are above average. The production isn’t there for some reason. He intrigues me as prospect, however. He won’t blow by anyone but just knows how to get open. Really came on during his senior season.

10. Desmond Harrison 6’6 313 Senior West Georgia

- Harrison could be the breakout star next week. He’s a road grading type of tackle that finishes his block through the echo of the whistle. Everything that I’ve seen of him shows signs that he can stick at left tackle with some refinements. He’s a punishing run blocker and above average pass blocker. Didn’t get beat too often in pass protection. Projects as a right tackle at the next level.

Bonus prospects to watch

1. J’Mon Moore 6’3 205 WR Missouri (South)

2. Taylor Hearn 6’5 330 G Clemson (South)

3. Jaleel Scott 6’6 216 WR New Mexico State (North)

4. Mike Gesicki 6’6 252 TE Penn State (North)

5. Tyler Conklin 6’4 240 TE Central Michigan (North)

6. Akrum Wadley 5’11 191 RB Iowa (North)

https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2018/ ... ch-offense

2018 Senior Bowl: Day 1 North/South Practice Notes

January 23, 2018

by Eric Galko



With Day 1 of the Senior Bowl including weigh-ins, media day, and both practices, our Practice Notes for both the North and the South are combined here.

Winners from today include Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage, Oklahoma State WR James Washington, Colorado State WR Michael Gallup, UTEP OG Will Hernandez, Alabama OC Bradley Bozeman, and North Carolina CB MJ Stewart.

Reports from Eric Galko, Christian Page, Derrik Klassen, Dan Matney, Filip Prus, and Parker Henry.

Quarterbacks
-Baker Mayfield made some nice throws today but didn’t look completely comfortable from under center. He had trouble with his three-step drop and wouldn’t completely finish before releasing the ball in one on ones. He muscled a few throws but displayed accuracy and zip on a majority of his throws. It’s only the first day but his comfort in three and five-step drops needs to continue to be monitored the rest of the week.

-With plenty of buzz around the other signal-callers, the biggest name in Mobile struggled out of the gate. Josh Allen continued to display trouble consistently hitting his target and had some bad misses on layups throws in one on ones. While he continues to display tremendous arm strength, he missed too many easy throws, both vs. pressure and without pressure, on Day 1 and will need to have a strong showing the rest of the week if he wants to solidify himself as a top 10 pick.

-Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert had a nice day. He was showing plenty of spin and accuracy on short-intermediate throws. He displayed many of the traits that made him successful during his senior year at Virginia and a strong first day has created buzz throughout Mobile.

-Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers showed off his strong arm today. He was accurate at all levels of the field and threw a beautiful 30-yard throw to the end zone that receiver Marcel Ateman was unable to haul in. He delivers a pretty clean ball and tight spiral and had a solid overall day.

-Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White really struggled in the first practice. He wasn’t showing the same velocity and spin he has throughout the season. He really struggled with his accuracy on easy throws underneath and also had two fumbled snaps. It was a tough overall day for him but, given what he displayed on film this season, there is still hope that he comes out and has a strong showing in tomorrow’s practice.

-One of the biggest concerns about Washington State’s Luke Falk coming into the week was about leaving his college system that often aids quarterback decision making. In practice, Falk looked hesitant more often than his peers, working to place passes too often, which led to erratically missed throws on Day 1. Still, his quick feet are evident in practice reps, and trait/mental make-up wise, there’s a lot to like

-The quickest release of the quarterbacks is clearly Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta, who’s compares to Jimmy Garoppolo likely won’t stop during practices. He had some misfires today, and the lack of high-end arms strength showed on perimeter and out-route throws. But he, along with all of the South quarterbacks, will look for a better Day 2.

-Tanner Lee displayed exceptional arm strength and put a majority of his throws on a rope while maintaining a tight spiral. He displayed accuracy on short and some intermediate throws, but his long ball continues to plague him. He has all the arm in the world to make the throws, but his touch and accuracy pushing the ball vertical remain an issue that he can’t seem to shake.



Wide Receivers
-Oklahoma State receiver James Washington was the best receiver on the South team on Day 1. He was able to win his reps in 1 on 1 in a variety of ways and displayed exceptional strength at the catch point. Though his height at weight ins was underwhelming (5017), Washington plays bigger than his size and is a player to watch for the rest of the week.

-Colorado State’s Michael Gallup was unguardable today. He displayed tremendous quickness going vertical and was able to separate with relative ease. He continues to display quickness in and out of his breaks and has reliable hands when the ball comes in his area.

-Cedrick Wilson of Boise State product was very impressive during the North team practice. Wilson did a vey good job of using his hands and reducing his pad level to quickly get down the field against press coverage. Wilson ran very crisp routes, utilizing head fakes to make defenders stop their feet, so he could create separation. Down the field Wilson also displayed nice body control by being able to go up and high point the football on the sideline and keeping his feet in bounds.


Offensive Line
-Playing on the edge and in the interior, Isaiah Wynn of Georgia thrived early in practice. He showed easy movements skills in guard drills when exploding out of his stance and then easily transitioning to the second level. Wynn particularly had one rep in which he drove Alabama’s Da’Shawn Hand off the edge nearly into the fence of the back of the endzone. He continued to show off his strong upper body throughout the day.

-One of the more consistent days, overall, belonged to Bradley Bozeman of Alabama. He continued to win at the point of attack showing off balance and explosiveness. Bozeman consistently showed strong tight hand placement inside driving defenders off the ball and creating plenty of running lanes on the 11 on 11 play reps.

-Right guard prospect Cole Madison out of Washington State showed plenty of pop at the snap on one on one drills. He packed a punch with heavy and explosive hands. His placement was somewhat sporadic but still managed to keep his matchup in front of him at the beginning of practice. Madison was overwhelmed by speed and quickness when he failed to latch onto the defender first. He started the day off better than he finished by getting beaten on a consistent basis.

-Will Hernandez of UTEP was one of the more consistent performers out of all offensive linemen on Day 1 in Mobile. Packing a punch with incredible hand strength, Hernandez constantly drove defenders off the ball showing a trend of winning at the point of attack. He would occasionally get beat inside but remained calm and would reset without losing balance. Weighing in at 340 pounds this morning, Hernandez backed that up by carrying his weight well and continuing to overwhelm linemen with elite-level power.


Defensive Line
-Marcus Davenport of UTSA didn’t show out as expected on Day 1. He showed a theme of getting pushed off his base questioning his overall balance and strength. He still managed to display his powerful punch showing off his violence in one on one drills.

-Catching attention early in the athletic bag drills, pass rusher Kylie Fitts of Utah had a strong day. He continued to bend the edge when operating on the outside shoulder of the tackle. Fitts looked to be one of the more athletic defensive linemen on the South squad showing plenty of lower body flexibility and savvy as a speed edge rusher. Fitts showed flexibility when showcasing a shoulder dip off the edge after consistently firing off the snap.

-One of the most dominant days, regardless of team, goes to Harrison Phillips. The Stanford defensive tackle won nearly every rep on one versus one drills. He played with elite balance and power striking defenders constantly at the point of attack. Not only winning with power, Phillips showed off quick rip through moves along with other techniques to consistently frazzle his matchup.

-Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma, put together an inconsistent day filled with high moments and underwhelming moments. Okoronkwo went to a reliable up and under move to fluster the outside shoulder of the tackle. Okoronkwo lined up on the left and right sides to rush the passer. He won with quickness when bending the edge on 11 versus 11 showing elite flexibility. If live play, the Oklahoma pass rusher would have come up with two sacks. One of his pressures resulted in an interception. He looked to be doing too much in some of the one on one reps not being able to successfully execute a couple of spin moves losing balance and control more times than most would like to see.


Defensive Backs
-Alabama's Levi Wallace had an impressive practice, particularly during one on ones, In press coverage Wallace showed quick feet mirroring receivers releases giving receivers a hard time getting off the ball every rep. Wallace was in position to make a play on every rep of one and ones.

-North Carolina's MJ Stewart was one of the more physical corners during practice, using his hands effectively to hinder receivers releases in press situations, deeper into the route Stewart showed fluid hips when opening to run with the receiver, Stewart did a nice job of locating the ball in the once turning his head helping him break up passes.

-Siran Neal of Jacksonville State had a great showing during practice. During one on ones Neal was physical at the line of scrimmage showing strong hands as well as quality hand placement striking receivers in their chests on their releases. Neal also showed well during team periods triggering quickly in the run game and using his linebacker background to shed blocks on the perimeter.

-Weber State's Taron Johnson, the FCS corner from Weber State showed stood out today particularly with his play in the slot. Johnson has very quick feet and does a good job staying square in both press and off coverage. Johnson was explosive out of his breaks quickly closing space between him and the receiver to make a play on the ball.

-Armani Watts of Texas A&M stood out at the safety position today. In one on ones vs tight ends Watts showed he can play press and be physical against bigger tight ends and maintain position throughout routes, Watts also played well in off coverage staying square in his back pedal allowing him to use his quickness and acceleration out of his breaks to break up multiple passes during one on ones. Watts made a great break on the ball during team period where he was able to pick off Nebraska product Tanner Lee.

-Christian Campbell of Penn State exceled in press coverage today where he was able to use his long arms to bother receivers on their releases. Campbell also showed speed down the field able to run stride for stride with every receiver who ran verticals on him

http://www.optimumscouting.com/news/201 ... ractice-re

2018 Senior Bowl Day 2 South: Kyle Lauletta Steps Up, and the DL Impresses

January 24, 2018

by Eric Galko




While the South roster doesn't have the same allure of the North, as none of the South quarterbacks are protected first-round picks, the talent at receiver, along the offensive and defensive line, and in the defensive backfield have continued to impress.

Day 2 South Roster Winners include Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta, LSU RB Darrel Williams, Oklahoma State WR James Washington, North Carolina A&T OT Brandon Parker, Virginia DT Andrew Brown, Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel, and Auburn SAF Tre Matthews.

Reports from Eric Galko, Christian Page, Derrik Klassen, Dan Matney, Filip Prus, and Parker Henry


Quarterbacks
-Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta had the best outing among all the South quarterbacks. Showing plenty of zip on the football, he continued to squeeze the ball into tight windows. He looked plenty calm and comfortable in the pocket trusting his arm to make NFL throws. One throw in particular, Lauletta threaded the needle in the end zone, sandwiching the ball in between the cornerback and incoming safety.

-Mike White of Western Kentucky still managed to underwhelm in Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices. He has shown to get in a habit of throwing the ball short to receivers and not showing enough consistency to develop into a good practice. He showed glimpses of impressive throws down the field while also connecting on the sidelines showing above average anticipation.

-Virginia's Kurt Benkert continues to struggle with consistency across the board. Benkert lacks the zip to nail receivers in stride across the field resulting in many batted passes and near interceptions. The Virginia quarterback shows no consistency with ball placement leaving many throws behind receivers with little to none to gain from the catch (if caught).

-Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers had a mediocre day. He missed some layup throws over the middle of the field and in the screen game. Silvers proves to have a quick release but ball placement has not been sharp this week so far. A middle of the road day is not bad in practices but an opportunity missed in an average South quarterback group is unfortunate.

Running Backs
-A former backup at LSU, Darrell Williams has really helped himself this week and had an impressive 2nd day of practice. He started off the day with a couple of impressive inside runs where he displayed balance and strength between the tackles. Known for his power and ability in short yardage situations in college, Williams was impressive in the passing game today. He hauled in a touchdown and displayed the ability to get open in one on ones.

-Southern Miss speedster Ito Smith continues to display impressive athletic traits. While his straight-line speed and burst are impressive, his lateral agility popped out throughout the day. Though undersized at 5090, 201 pounds, he looked solid running between the tackles. He is projected as a change-of-pace back at the next level but he’s proven to be one of the most athletically gifted running backs in Mobile so far.

Receivers
-Kansas State’s Byron Pringle was impressive all practice, he did a great job of using his acceleration and speed to get on defensive backs toes and making them open their hips before breaking off his routes, this allowed Pringle to create separation all practice long. Another thing Pringle did well was come back to the ball on his routes eliminating the chance for a DB to get in front and make a play. Pringle is sudden in and out of his breaks which also helps him create separation.

-The UCF receiver Tre’Quan Smith was a tough cover all practice long, especially in the red zone period, Smith was very physical all the way through his routes and did a very good job using his body to box out defenders at the top of his routes. Smith showed concentration and hand strength when catching the ball, smith had some trouble creating separation but his strong hands and concentration allowed him to catch the ball despite the defender being in a good position to make the play.

Oklahoma State’s James Washington again was impressive on day two of practice, and quite frankly has been the most consistent and impressive receiver thus far this week. Washington has shown he can win with speed on deep balls, and also with physicality and strong hands on short and intermediate routes. There has not been a defensive back who has been able to really stop Washington through two practices and he is showing why he was the Biletnikoff winner in 2017.

-Oklahoma State's Marcell Ateman feasted over the middle of the field. Ateman regularly won inside and gained enough separation to present a clear window. During the red zone session, Ateman caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone after shredding the defensive back.

In a group of talented deep threat receivers, Oklahoma State's James Washington shined the most. There wasn't a defensive back that could keep up with him down the field. Washington regularly won his short and underneath routes, as well.

Offensive Line
-Georgia left guard Isaiah Wynn has looked very comfortable this week kicking inside from left tackle. Wynn continues to consistently win his leverage battles and has impressed in pivoting interior lineman to create running lanes, as well as looking extremely explosive when asked to pull. Wynn is also one of the most refined pass protectors from the other interior lineman in Mobile thanks to his experience on the outside.

-Speaking of Brandon Parker, the North Carolina A&T player is making the most of his opportunities against premium competition. After an up-and-down first day, Parker steadied himself and did well to bounce back to anchor against power. Parker is an intriguing developmental prospect and a team could pull the trigger sooner than anticipated simply based on potential.

-Humboldt State OT Alex Cappa’s aggression continues to show up on every rep as he continues to play like an unchained gorilla in individual match ups. Cappa’s biggest issue thus far has been reaching prematurely and losing his balance based on excessive upper body lean, which is fixable with coaching. One thing you can’t coach someone to do is be a rude dude, and Cappa is nasty.

Defensive Line
-In a battle of length vs. length, UTSA’s Marcus Davenport had some issues bending around taller Tackles Brandon Parker and Joe Noteboom in individual drills. Davenport’s power and short area burst continue to be put on display, but he will need to become more calculated with his footwork to be more successful as a pure stand-up edge rusher if he ends up in a 3-4 defense.

-Andrew Brown continues to show off exceptional athleticism to pair with his striking physique. The Virginia defensive end was pound-for-pound the most impressive athlete running hoop drills and has little to no wasted motion with his lateral control. Brown has also won the majority of his match ups and has played with violence and showed off his lightning hands in his individual battles.

Linebackers
-Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel is a bit of a tweener at 6004, 215 pounds, but he has displayed impressive athletic traits all week and did so again today. He covers ground quickly and displayed instincts in run defense throughout the day. He has the speed to match tight ends in coverage, and he needs to continue to play bigger than he’s measured at.

-Auburn’s Tre’ Williams has continued to struggle in all areas of the game. He had a bad play yesterday where he misdiagnosed a run and opened up a wide lane, and he wasn’t anything special in run defense today. Williams is very stiff hipped and got beat consistently in coverage today. A productive college player with a thumping body, Williams is going to need to finish the week very strong if he hopes to have his name called before late Day 3 in April.

Defensive Backs
-Auburn’s Tray Matthews had a standout day today from the safety position. The Auburn Saftey who is one of the more physically impressive looking players played with physicality all day in both the run and pass games. Matthews in run defense knew where to fill his gaps and did a good job of tracking the ball carrier to get in position to make the tackle and showing explosiveness when he hits the ball carrier. In pass coverage Williams working against the tight ends was physical at the line of scrimmage and had the foot speed and frame to keep up with and challenge the bigger tight ends staying in the tight ends pocket throughout the route and breaking up multiple passes during practice.

-North Carolina corner MJ Stewart, who made this list as a standout yesterday, backed up his performance again at practice today. Stewart who was particularly impressive in the slot showed patience in man coverage doing a good job of not opening his hips too early and staying square in both press and off man coverage. Stewart foot and hip quickness have stood out he is constantly moving his feet to get into position and opens his hips to run quickly reaching full speed in a few steps. Stewart has been a tough matchup for every receiver he has faced and is consistently in position to make a play on the ball. In the red zone period today he showed field awareness not giving ground mirroring receivers and being physical at the goal line eliminating throwing windows.

-Levi Wallace: Alabama's Levi Wallace is dangerously skinny, but has the technique to still stand a chance. Wallace was good when asked to run down the field and play in space, though physical receivers got the best of him.

-Virginia's Quin Blanding wasn't getting around as well as one would hope. Blanding didn't show the speed to keep up with most other athletes on the field, and didn't have quick enough recognition to make up for it entirely. Hopefully Blanding can settle in on the final day.

http://www.optimumscouting.com/news/201 ... ta-steps-u

Brady's successor here at the Senior Bowl
If Bill Belichick isn't already head over heels for Richmond's Kyle Lauletta, we'd be shocked
Follow @Eric_Edholm
By ERIC EDHOLM
Published: Jan. 24, 2018 — 10:47 a.m.Updated: Jan. 24, 2018 — 10:47 a.m.

MOBILE, Ala. — If you were playing a game of Bill Belichick Bingo, Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta might check all the boxes pretty darned fast.

First, there are the football traits that this lesser-known prospect possesses. He's a quick processor and reader of defenses. Lauletta moves his feet well and delivers an accurate, catchable ball. For those doubting the FCS level of play, Lauletta did perform well in two matchups against ACC teams — Maryland in 2015 (zero turnovers, a rushing TD) and Virginia in 2016 (when Lauletta played a brilliant game, leading to a 17-point win over the Cavaliers).

On top of that, Lauletta's reputation suggests that he possesses strong leadership skills (he was a leadership studies major, for what that's worth), works hard at his craft and reportedly has strong football character.

That's all fine and nice. But what might get Belichick all lathered up has nothing to do with that. We think we now know who will replace Tom Brady as quarterback of the New England Patriots in a few years. This Jimmy Garoppolo trade is making more sense by the day!

Lauletta was a bit of an unheralded football prospect coming out of high school, with only two FBS offers — Toledo and Old Dominion — both of whom offered straight off his tape. But Lauletta strongly considered chasing his other passion as a prep: lacrosse.

"I was a big lacrosse guy, absolutely," he said. "For a while I thought I might enjoy playing that in college. I just enjoy football more. I think it’s a better team sport. But I’ve always grown up a lacrosse guy. My dad was an All-American in high school. My uncle played in college."

A-ha! Now we're really getting into Belichick's wheelhouse here. For the uninitiated, Belichick is an absolute lacrosse nut. He has a stick at the ready in his office and is always ready to toss the ball around with anyone who is interested and passionate about his second-favorite spot. Belichick also has spoken often about incorporating lacrosse strategy into football and said he loves listening to coaches of that sport talk about how they design their offensive and defensive strategy.

"You think about skills on the lacrosse field that translate to football — toughness, change of direction, lot of good things that helped me in football," Lauletta said.

We think he and Belichick will have a few things to talk about whenever their paths cross, perhaps at the NFL scouting Combine in a month. (Belichick is a little tied up with this Super Bowl prep thing this week.)

"A couple Patriots scouts came in to see me [at Richmond this season] and when they found out how much I liked lacrosse, that was one of the things they said, ‘Oh, Belichick will love this!’" Lauletta told PFW on Tuesday before practicing with the South Team, coached by former Belichick lieutenant Bill O'Brien and his Houston Texans coaching staff.

We can only assume that word has trickled back to the Death Star on this one. And if somehow it hasn't, Lauletta can pull at Belichick's sometimes cold heartstrings with this incredible nugget that hits even closer to home: Both Lauletta's father and uncle played for the Naval Academy.

Good lord almighty, Belichick might have to choloroform the kid and drag him back to Foxborough to ensure he gets his man.

Belichick's father, Steve, was a long-time assistant on the Cadets' staff, and Belichick grew up in the shadows of the legendary program that was led by players such as Roger Staubach in the early to mid-1960s. Belichick has always held reverence for the program and addressed the staff last year while visiting his elderly mother who still lives in the area.

Joe Lauletta, Kyle's father, was a quarterback for Navy in the mid-80s. His uncle, Lex, was a punter in the late 1970s. Dollars to doughnuts says Belichick has broken down both of their tape. I mean, a punter at Navy, are you kidding? Belichick recently held a dissertation on the finer points of punting on a Patriots media conference call that stretched out to the 25-minute mark. We have a feeling he could have gone on longer than that.

This is just central casting right here. Write your mock drafts in dark ink now.

Lauletta has respect for the Navy, obviously, but didn't consider them for football because of the triple-option offense they ran not being conducive to his skill set. That's understandable. Actually, Lauletta is one of the few quarterbacks in Mobile this week who has experience running a pro-style offense — including for one year under John Garrett, brother of Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, in 2016.

In his first Senior Bowl practice, Lauletta had an auspicious start. Though not flashy, he consistently connected on short and intermediate passes and gave his receivers great chances to make catches and plays after the catch. He'll have more opportunities to shine on Wednesday and Thursday, working alongside what appears to be lesser-talented South Team quarterbacks. (Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen are on the North Team.)

"I’d say if you look at quarterbacks who have been successful over the long haul, accuracy is the most important attribute," Lauletta said, "and I think I’ve shown that my accuracy is elite. Anytime you can put the ball where you want it to be, I think you have a chance at the next level. First and foremost, I do think that is my best attribute, quarterback skill-wise."

It's actually remarkable that Lauletta asserted himself as well as he did on Day 1 considering that two nights earlier, right after he arrived at the Senior Bowl on Sunday night, he was up all night vomiting profusely.

"I was throwing up all throughout the night Sunday night," he said. "I started throwing up at like 10:30 that night and every hour on the hour I was in the bathroom. They took me to the ER.

"They gave me a couple IVs to get the fluids back in and stuff. But that was scary."

Our theory? It was Belichick. He must have slipped something into Lauletta's chicken salad as a way of keeping him off the field and letting the quarterback impress another team. What, you're not buying that theory? Don't underestimate Belichick's long-range chess moves, people.

And for all of you who still harbor serious doubt about the Patriots' decision to trade Garoppolo, consider this: The quarterback whom Lauletta has most often heard his game compared to is ...

"Jimmy Garoppolo, an FCS guy, a guy I’ve been compared to a few times throughout the process," Lauletta said. "He’s a great guy to be compared to; he’s doing really, really well. That whole system they have, the success speaks for itself.

"You look at the quarterbacks they’ve taken over the years, and I think I fit that profile as far as a guy who processes information well, good football IQ."

That's it, blow the whistle, we've heard enough. And we suspect Belichick has, too. Oh sure, he's up to his sleeveless armpits in the Philadelphia Eagles right now leading up to Super Bowl LII. But in a few weeks? It'll be a whole lotta Lauletta on his radar.


http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/0 ... l/ag96z6l/