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By: Hussam Patel
Levi Onwuzurike is my favorite player in this draft class not named Devonta Smith or Najee Harris. I believe he can be the steal of the 2021 NFL Draft. While standing only 6’2” at 290 pounds, Onwuzurike has such jarring power on tape that it blew me away.
The Husky product has amazing athleticism and demonstrates good body quickness as an interior pass rusher with his lean frame. Onwuzurike will automatically beat lineman vertically off the snap, setting an early edge. When an overpowering offensive lineman powers their way against him, he can spin his way to the Quarterback. Lost in the power aspect is his knack for spinning back into the play.
Against the run game, his leverage is evident. He plays with low pads, makes him an excellent run defender. His arm length and raw power allows him to move offensive linemen, keeping them from creating holes, and he routinely gets into the backfield to stop the running back. The Huskies product has a nonstop motor; he doesn’t allow himself to stay blocked, and gives opposing lineman and running backs fits throughout the game.
In the NFL, there are bigger, stronger and faster offensive lineman than in college. Onwuzurike will need to put on a little more muscle to lock up powerful running backs around the line of scrimmage and become an immovable force for years to come.
He is a fast riser due to his practices at the Senior Bowl, and could cement himself as the #1 DT come April.
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By: Hussam Patel
Patrick Jones II is an explosive edge defender who is quick off of the snap and gets up field in an instant. Using his quick speed, he fires off the ball quickly, and will get by some offensive tackles while utilizing a spin move that can't be defended.
His quick feet and hands stand out at all times and allow him to wreak havoc in the backfield. Jones also does a nice job of switching from speed to power, and he can bully tackles on the edge. The Panther defensive end is also a strong run defender who understands his gap assignments and identifies what the offense is trying to do well.
With Jones II there are some questions about his motor and consistency; there are some plays where he is very explosive off the ball and violent with his hands, but there are others where Jones plays too high and loses the intensity and leverage he needs to win one-on-one battles.
The concerns with Jones II entering the next level are his lean frame, modest length, and the need to continue developing his hand fighting technique to consistently win 1-on-1 battles in the passing game and possible double teams in the run game. Jones II has the tools to succeed, it is about technique and motor to become a functional starter in the NFL and becoming a starter in a base 4-3 defense.
By: Tanner Elliott
Powell didn’t really see much action in his college career until about halfway through the 2020 season. On film, Powell showed he is fast enough to get separation from a defensive back or get a couple more yards on a catch. Even though he didn’t have many opportunities until late in his career, he could end up being one of the biggest steals in the draft if he continues to improve.
By: Tanner Elliott
Rodgers was Trevor Lawerence’s go-to guy this season, and he showed a huge leap from 2019 to 2020. He is mostly a slot guy, but every once in a while he would line up on the outside. His build is definitely that of an NFL slot receiver, and his ability to catch the ball and physical play are what set him apart from other slot prospects in this draft class.
By: Tanner Elliott
Grimes didn’t put up mind-blowing numbers in 2020, but he did prove he can find the end zone. He only had 38 receptions this year, but nine of them were for touchdowns. Standing at 6’4”, Grimes makes a great high-point target for jump balls and particularly for goal line fades. Even though Grimes didn’t have a ton of production during his college career he has the potential to be a number three or four receiver in the NFL from day one.
By: Tanner Elliott
Smith was a very inconsistent receiver during his time at South Carolina. At times, he looked like one of the best receivers in the country, and others…well, let’s just say he didn’t look great. His 2020 campaign was his most consistent one and it helped with his draft stock. If Smith can put on a good showing at the Senior Bowl, he could be a late day two pick or an early day three pick.
By: Tanner Elliott
Palmer was another one of those receivers who had their production hindered by their teams quarterback play. Even though he was never the top guy in the offense, Palmer has shown flashes of his play-making ability and his ability to move the chains. 66 of his 96 career catches went for a first down. If he can improve his route tree and route running he can be a day three draft choice.
By: Tanner Elliott
Watkins is actually the cousin of current Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins. During his time at UAB, Watkins was known for his athleticism and his route running. He is not a route technician, but runs his routes in a unique way, often making corners second guess themselves. He had very good production in his two years as a starter at UAB, and is one of the most slept on prospects in this draft.
By: Tanner Elliott
Stevenson was one of the most underrated deep threats in the country during his time in Houston. He is known for his big-play ability, not only as a receiver but also as a kick returner. Stevenson does have some injury concerns, but if he can get past those he will be a solid day two pick.
By: Tanner Elliott
McMath may be one of the most forgotten prospects in this draft. His fellow teammates (Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase) were some of the most complete receiver prospects we have ever seen. He had very limited production in college, only having 33 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns during his career. He was a stellar special teams player, and due to that will be a late day three pick.
By: Tanner Elliott
Another big playmaker, Toney is known for his explosiveness. He has the ability to take it to the house at any given moment, as he showed during his time at Florida. At Florida, he improved every year, and defenses made sure they knew where he was at all times. Toney did have a run in with the law in 2018, but other than that he seems like a sure first round pick.
By: Tanner Elliott
Smith is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. There are not many weaknesses to Smith’s game except his frame. Making play after play, it didn’t matter who was covering Smith, he was going to make them look silly. If he can prove he can either bulk up or stay healthy in the NFL, he will be a star in the league for years.
By: Tanner Elliott
Surratt is known for making big body catches down the stretch. He lacks the ability to create separation and top-end speed down the field. Like many others, he opted out of the 2020 season, and also ended his 2019 season with an injury. During the Senior Bowl, Surratt will have to prove to teams he is ready to be an NFL receiver.
By: Tanner Elliott
Due to the pandemic and positive tests on the ASU team, Darby only played in two games this year. The good news for Darby is 2019 was a career year for him. He is known for his hard work, and having two of his teammates drafted in the first round the past two years definitely helps his stock.
By: Tanner Elliott
Another receiver that was potentially held back in college due to the team's mediocre quarterback play, Collins possesses all the tools needed to be an NFL starter. He is an aggressive receiver who isn’t scared to go up and get the jump ball or block for his teammates. If he is able to polish his game from now until the draft, he could rise up many team’s boards.
By: Tanner Elliott
Wallace has quietly been one of the best receivers in all of college football. He didn’t play during the 2020 season, as he opted out and chose to pursue the NFL Draft. Luckily for him, he can show off what scouts missed during his time at the Senior Bowl. Putting up 53 receptions, 903 yards, and eight touchdowns in eight games in 2019, Wallace will be a number two receiver from day one in the NFL if he can stay healthy.
By: Tanner Elliott
The only FCS receiver playing in this year's Senior Bowl is Johnson. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he didn’t play football in 2020, but he had a career year in 2019. Coming from a small school, he will need to prove he can dominate against tougher competition, which is exactly what he can do at the Senior Bowl.
By: Tanner Elliott
Eskridge is fast, very fast. In 2018 he was clocked running a 4.33 forty-yard dash. During the 2020 season, he only played in six games due to the pandemic, but still had 34 catches for 784 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s an absurd average of 23 yards per catch. Eskridge is easily a day two pick, as he has shown he can be the most explosive player on the field.
By: Tanner Elliott
With his most productive year coming in his freshman campaign, Fitzpatrick will have to prove that he can be that same player from 2017. Even though Fitzpatrick is a bit on the taller side for RAC receivers, that is what he is best known for.
By: Tanner Elliott
Skowronek played only one season at Notre Dame after transferring from Northwestern. He is known for his ability to high point the ball and be a reliable red zone threat. Although Skowronek does have issues creating separation, he may find himself drafted during day three due to his ability to make contested catches.
By: Hussam Patel
Creed Humphrey became a starter as a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma in 2018 and had an impressive debut. He anchored the middle of the Sooners' line and was a steady producer at the point of attack.
Humphrey is rock solid at the Center position, and would upgrade any team's Offensive Line. He's had 36 straight starts since 2018, and has not allowed a sack in 1,600 snaps. There are some concerns with his body type physically, but he does have a wrestling background from high school, which has certainly helped mask his physical limitations and helped him hold his ground in blocking.
He's a leader among men who routinely figures out what defenses are doing on the line, as well as pointing out the MIKE linebacker. Being a Center, his communication skills are already a plus. He anchors his lower body very well, and does not let interior defensive lineman get around him.
The Sooner Prodigy is a left-handed Center, which is very rare as most Centers and QB's are right-handed. Having a left-handed Center and right-handed QB can certainly affect the snap of the football a little, although did not show up much at Oklahoma. Remember, Tua is left-handed as well.
His arms and length are a concern, as defenders will try to swipe his arms and swim past him in the NFL, and his ability to reach the second level with proper technique needs to be taught. He's a need for Miami and a mid-level 1st rounder.
More Senior Bowl Prospect Coverage all Week on PhinManiacs.com! By: Tanner Elliott Jaelon Darden North Texas Wide Receiver 5’ 9” 174 lbs.  Strengths
Jaelon Darden was top five in the country in both receiving yards and touchdowns and is one of the fastest and quickest players in the country. He can reach his top speed very quickly, which is good for his release off the line. His footwork and elusiveness are some of the best I’ve seen, and his ability to cut in one direction then immediately cut in the other is impressive. His game is based on making people miss and getting yards after the catch, which he excels at due to his quickness and footwork. Almost every time Darden touches the ball, he makes someone miss and gets an extra four to five yards. Weaknesses
Darden has a lot of flaws on film. This isn’t all his fault; I question whether the North Texas offense was well-suited for his skill-set. However, some of the negative attributes do fall back on him. His limited route tree consisted of mostly drags, slants, go routes, and screens. For his competition, the best team that Darden played during his college career was Cal, when he was only on the field for a small number of snaps. This was due to the North Texas offense wanting to establish the run, which they had a hard time doing. As for contested catches, Darden won’t win many jump balls at 5’9”, and he also has trouble bringing in some passes if he gets minimal separation. His effort on run plays is questionable, and his release is effortless on some run plays, giving the play away. Comparison - Jakeem Grant Darden and Grant are both undersized receivers who rely on their speed and quickness to get extra yards/get open. Like Grant, Darden has a history of returning kicks, which could help his draft stock. Although Darden may not be as fast as Grant, he has better footwork, so he has the potential to be a better receiver. Both players sometimes try too much to make a defender miss, resulting in lost yards or ending up where they started. Outlook Darden is a day three pick in this year's draft, due to the concerns about him being a one trick pony and the quality of competition he faced. He has the potential to be a late round steal if a team can find a way to consistently utilize his skill set. His future depends on whether or not he can improve his route running and find more ways to help out an offense, rather than just being a big play waiting to happen. More Player Profiles on PhinManiacs.com all week!
By: Chip Turner
Rhamondre Stevenson isn’t extremely fast. He’s also not super-elusive; you’re not going to see him break anyone’s ankles in the NFL. He hasn’t turned many heads as a receiver, although he definitely improved during his suspension-limited 2020 season at Oklahoma. He also doesn’t have the most impressive scouting history; he was unranked out of high school, took a year off from football, and then came to Oklahoma as a JUCO transfer out of Cerritos College in California.
So why am I writing about Rhamondre Stevenson? It’s because while he’s not exceptional at any one thing, he does a lot of things really well. He’s a short-strider with excellent balance who has decent speed to go with good quickness. And while he’s not going to juke anyone out of their cleats, he has enough wiggle to make people miss at the second level. He also has good vision as a one-cut runner who bursts through holes quickly, and gets up to his top speed in a hurry. With a limited workload, he averaged 8 yards/carry in 2019 (with just one more carry per game to qualify, he would have led the nation) and 6.6 ypc in 2020. 
Oh, also, Rhamondre Stevenson is 6’ tall and somewhere in the neighborhood of 245 pounds. That’s a “business decision” neighborhood. And unlike a lot of power backs, he’s not a rigid, upright runner. He leans forward into contact with a good pad level, and almost always falls forward for extra yardage. He rarely goes down on first contact; there’s not a soul in the NFL that’s going to want to try to tackle this kid in the fourth quarter of NFL games in 2021, and you’re not going to arm tackle him. Just ask Florida.
Will Stevenson end up on the cover of a Wheaties box? Probably not, but I wouldn’t bet against him. Does he have a spot in the NFL as a power back, or even a feature back in the right NFL system? I certainly think so; he’s a perfect mid-round option for a team determined to establish the run. From humble beginnings to Senior Bowl participant, the Miami Dolphins staff will get an up-close at Stevenson and what he has to offer.
I tend to think it’s quite a lot.
By: Hussam Patel
Kylin Hill was not asked to do much during the 2020 season, as Mike Leach took over the offense and later opted out due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am primarily basing Hill as my #4 running back based on his 2019 game tape. He has an all-around skill set as a slashing runner who can pound the rock, and a pass catcher who can catch the ball seven to ten times a game as a check-down option.
Kylin Hill is a north to south, downhill runner. He shines and gets very physical when running in-between the tackles, as he can fight through contact. His frame and build coupled with upper-body strength makes it extremely difficult for defenders to bring him down.
He is a grinder who can fend off defenders, working through body tackles trying to take him down. Hill's low center of gravity makes it increasingly likely for him to fight violently through the trenches and gain extra yardage. The Miss. St. product is surprisingly good in pass protection, which you do not often see from college prospects. He would be able to be a sure-fire three down back in the NFL.
What Hill needs to work on is toning down his toughness and physicality, and using his vision to find holes for easy yards instead of barrelling down defenders; it will be increasingly hard to do at the NFL level with his 5'11 size. While his decision making is good, he does not have the patience as a runner, and he will need to learn to wait for holes to open up.
If he cleans up these issues, he can be a reliable running back for a team for years to come.
By: Hussam Patel
This is a bit of a hot topic; where does Zach Wilson rank among the rest of the QBs in this draft class? The answer is, who cares? Everyone has different opinions. He is the # 3 QB on my board, and here is why. In an ever-changing passing league, gunslingers and cerebral QBs reign supreme.
Wilson is a combination of a gunslinger, a student of the game, and a QB who is mobile enough to play in a zone read offense. He’s an athletic quarterback who uses great footwork and pocket awareness to extend plays. He also has great arm strength and excellent ball placement, particularly in his deep passing game, which is sure to wow any team. He's always looking downfield while remaining aware in the pocket and using his legs to extend plays, which is crucial in today’s game
Furthermore, Wilson would be able to change the game, with just one of his deep passes having the ability to swing the momentum. However, he would probably need to sit for a few games or an entire season to get acclimated to the NFL playbook, as he hasn't faced the tough level of competition that the rest of this QB has.
There are some concerns in his game, specifically when he plants his feet to throw, displaying unorthodox techniques in throwing the ball. Wilson will have to brush up on techniques in the off-season to be a complete QB before starting in the NFL.
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