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As the NFL season winds down, the draft season heats up.
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This year the draft process will be a bit different than in year’s past, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But the unofficial kickoff to draft season is upon us, the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
While this week usually gives teams a chance to see draft prospects up close over the course of a few days of practice, the circumstances of 2021 might mean the Senior Bowl takes on even more importance. With the NFL shelving the Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl Week is now the best chance for teams to get true face time with prospects before the draft, meaning those who have good weeks down in Mobile could truly improve their draft stock.
With that in mind, here are just some of the names I’ll be keeping a close eye on this week on the offensive side of the ball.
Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest/Georgia
(Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
As someone who focuses the bulk of his work on the quarterback position, every QB who will be down in Mobile is worth watching. If I am forced to narrow that field, however, the first name that makes the cut is Jamie Newman. After a strong career at Wake Forest, Newman made the decision to transfer to Georgia as a graduate, perhaps with an eye at shoring up his draft status with a season in the SEC. Yet Newman decided to opt-out this season due to COVID-19, so he never got that chance.
During his time at Wake Forest, Newman showcased the athleticism, arm talent and downfield accuracy that make him an intriguing fit for any number of teams. A solid week down in Mobile could do wonders for his current draft stock.
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
(Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports)
In his time as the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl Jim Nagy has done a tremendous job of reciting elite talent to participate in the showcase event. Players such as Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and more have decided to take advantage of the opportunity to put a full week of effort in front of NFL teams down along the Alabama Gulf Coast the past few seasons.
Nagy added some impressive names to this year’s roster, starting with Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. Fresh off leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship Jones will be down in Mobile along with some of his teammates. This is a huge chance for Jones to show scouts and evaluators that his production this season was due to more than having a number of potential first-round picks – such as Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith – to throw to. Pay particular attention to how Jones fares when throwing into tighter coverage windows this week.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma
(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
There are a few people in the football world who, when they start raving about a prospect at a particular position, I pay strict attention to. One of them is Matt Waldman. When he starts talking up a running back, my ears perk up.
In recent weeks he has been talking up Oklahoma’s Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson is more of a rotational player in the Sooners’ offense, but an explosive one at that. Turn on his tape and you’ll find perhaps an ideal fit in an outside zone offense who can also be trusted as a receiver out of the backfield and/or with pass protection responsibilities. As the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan system starts to expand in the NFL, that will mean Stevenson is a fit for more and more NFL offenses. A solid week in Mobile could see him rising up boards come the spring.
Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State
Another running back who looks to be an ideal fit for zone-based systems is Ohio State’s Trey Sermon. Fresh off an impressive run to the National Championship Game, Sermon looks like another explosive back that can be plug-and-play in a heavy zone system.
A question that Sermon could start to answer is how he will handle the pass catching and pass protection aspects of the position in the NFL. He leaves college with just 48 receptions to his credit during his collegiate career, and that has some thinking Sermon is a two-down back to start his NFL journey. Flashing some ball skills and pass blocking ability will go a long way towards improving his draft stock.
Michael Carter, RB, UNC
(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
Another running back to keep an eye on down in Mobile is Michael Carter, who enjoyed a great finish to his North Carolina career. Over the past two seasons Carter was a true weapon for the Tar Heels offense, amassing over 2,600 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns.
Watching Carter you might get a bit of a James White vibe. Carter is shifty in space and a threat in the passing game who can be trusted as a weapon out of the backfield, or potentially flexed out wide in space. North Carolina found ways to involve him in the passing game both on screen plays as well as the vertical passing game, isolating him on linebackers on downfield throws and wheel routes. That ability will be very valuable to an NFL offense.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
(Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports)
With a Heisman Trophy in tow and the production to match, DeVonta Smith has almost nothing left to prove to NFL evaluators. But his decision to attend the Senior Bowl is another big get for Executive Director Jim Nagy, and a big opportunity for Smith. He has a thumb injury that will prevent him from practicing and/or playing, but he will get a chance to meet with NFL teams including the Miami Dolphins, who are coaching the National team and hold the third-overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Making this an even bigger move for Smith is the recent news that the NFL is canceling the NFL Scouting Combine. This gives Smith an opportunity to get valuable face time with teams that other top wide receiver prospects will miss.
Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
(Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports)
While DeVonta Smith will not be participating in the practices and the Senior Bowl itself, another SEC receiver who will be has a chance to lock up a first-round pick, and that is Kadarius Toney from Florida. Toney had a breakout season for the Gators in 2020, catching 70 passes for 984 yards and ten touchdowns. He is electric off the line with his releases, and has incredible change-of-direction skills as a route-runner and/or with the football in his hands.
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Toney is also a local product, having attended Mattie T. Blount High School in Mobile County, Alabama. He’ll also have a familiar face to catch passes from, as Florida quarterback Kyle Trask is one of the passers on the American roster.
Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State
In addition to recruiting big-name talent to participate in the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy and his staff have done a great job at identifying players from smaller schools who can forge NFL careers of their own. Just last year Nagy invited players such as Jeremy Chinn and Kyle Dugger, who heard their names called in the second round.
A small school player hoping to blaze a similar path is wide receiver Cade Johnson from South Dakota State. With good route-running skills, solid hands and impressive speed, Johnson can be an immediate contributor for an NFL team in the return game and as a slot receiver. Turn on his film and it does not take long to see his impact, as you can see him separating from coverage and erasing huge cushions due to his speed. Johnson projects as a slot receiver in the NFL so he likely is more of a Day Three player, but he will be fun to watch in Mobile.
D'Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michgan
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(Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)
Cade Johnson is not the only potential NFL slot receiver in the Mobile Mix, as D’Wayne Eskridge from Western Michigan also has that skill-set that is needed to work out of the slot in the modern NFL. During his time on campus he wore multiple hats for the Broncos, beginning as an offensive gadget player before carving out a role as more of a pure wide receiver. But then in 2019 he switched to the defensive side of the football, serving as a man coverage cornerback for Western Michigan.
That year was cut short due to injury, but he came back this season to return to the offensive huddle and emerge as a downfield threat for the Broncos’ passing attack. This year Eskridge caught 33 passes for 768 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns. If you want speed, he’s got it:
Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
This year’s Senior Bowl offers a number of interesting prospects at the tight end position, but the player I will be keeping a keen eye on is Hunter Long from Boston College. Outside of quarterback the tight end position might be the toughest to evaluate given how differently NFL teams use TEs as opposed to college teams, but Long showed during his time on Chestnut Hill an ability to function as both a move TE and the more traditional in-line player.
This season Long was a key cog in the Eagles’ passing game, as he led Boston College with 57 receptions. He gained 685 yards on those catches, notching five touchdowns. He showed the ability to operate out of the slot or the wing, as well as an in-line tight end. The Eagles used him on a variety of routes, from quick game concepts to even deeper plays in the passing game. He made a one-handed catch against Duke on a “Leak” concept while being interfered with that is worth finding on YouTube.
Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)
Quarterback Trey Lance might be the member of the North Dakota State football team drawing the most first-round buzz right now, but there is a chance he is not the only member of the Bison to hear his name called on the first night of the 2021 NFL Draft. Joining him could be left tackle Dillon Radunz, and the odds of that happening would be much improved if Radunz has a great week down in Mobile.
In fact, Radunz was the first player invited to this year’s Senior Bowl, and when Jim Nagy made the announcement back in October he declared that Radunz might just be the best of the senior crop of offensive linemen. “Watching tape over the summer looking at this 2021 class, he was head and shoulders when it comes to the finish and the toughness and just wearing on guys, like he was way up there,” Nagy stated. With the size, athleticism and power to fit in any scheme, a great week of practice could solidify Radunz as a first-round pick.
Quinn Meinerz, OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Another small school product hoping to shine on the big stage is Quinn Meinerz, from Division III US-Whitewater. Last year it was Ben Bartch from Division III St. John’s who used a solid week in Mobile – when at times he looked as the best lineman down there – to secure a combine invitation and a selection in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before Bartch it was Ali Marpet, who came from Division III Hobart College and used his Senior Bowl experience to become a second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now he protects Tom Brady.
Meinerz has the potential to be the best of the group:
Owen Riese, who coached him at UW-Whitewater, had this to say about him: “ most physically dominant small school player in the country and a violent blocker who will look to continue his success against higher competition.”
Sound like something NFL team might like?
Deonte Brown, OG, Alabama
Fresh off a National Championship, guard Deonte Brown joins teammates such as DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones down in Mobile. While offensive guards are not often players that teams covet in the early rounds, teams that want to build from the trenches will be wise to study Brown during Senior Bowl week. With impressive size and stature, he looks every bit the part of an NFL starting lineman.
When you watch Brown on film you see the quintessential “road grader” of a guard. Teams that rely heavily on inside zone and gap/power designs would be happy to have him paving the way for their crew of running backs. His size and frame make him able to swallow up many interior pass rushers, and if that continues this week Brown could leave Mobile one of the top interior prospects in this class.
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Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee
If you are an NFL team that is in search of a starter at guard and you run a heavy gap/power scheme, you search can stop here. Trey Smith began his college career at left tackle before kicking inside to guard, and projects as a Day One starter in the interior for the right system. He is a road grader on the inside who can bully you with upper-body power. His athleticism leaves a bit to be desired, so his fit in a more zone-heavy system is a big question mark.
Another question mark might be his medical background, which is why what happens away from the practice field might be the most important part of his week. Smith dealt with blood clots in his lungs early in his college career and required medication to overcome the issue. That might have some teams wondering about his medical checks.
Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
General consensus holds that Oregon tackle Penei Sewell is tops in the OT crop.
After that is where the fun begins.
Part of the next tier hoping for a draft season rise is Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame. He can go a long way towards solidifying that positioning with a huge week of practice in Mobile. He projects as a Day One starter at left tackle for most NFL systems, particularly those with a downhill approach in the running game. He is a technician up front, who combined good footwork and hand placement in both run blocking and in pass protection. I’m very excited to see how he fares in the one-on-one pass blocking drills during practices.