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By: Tanner Elliott
Brown has been one of the top performers during the Senior Bowl week so far. He has shown that he is a physical corner who is not afraid to attack the ball, and both of these traits are very important for an NFL corner. If Brown can prove that he can be physical and aggressive and not commit penalties at the next level, he will be a day two pick in the draft.
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By: Tanner Elliott
Hall had an injury history in college. He was injured during the 2017 season, as he only played in two games, and had an injury in the beginning of the 2019 season. Other than that, he is known for his ball skills, and is seen by his coaches and peers as a top-tier corner. Coming from a smaller school competition is a question, but he can squash that with an impressive Senior Bowl performance.
By: Tanner Elliott
St-Juste is a player who did not start that many games during his college career, and has little going for him as an NFL prospect. In five games during 2020 he had 14 tackles and three pass break ups, and in 2019 he had 45 tackles and 10 pass break ups. The Senior Bowl is important for St-Juste, as this may be his last shot to show NFL teams what he has to offer.
By: Tanner Elliott
Norwood missed all of 2019 with an injury and only started five games in 2020. Although he did not start much, Norwood made the most of his opportunities. During the team’s final six games of 2020, Norwood had five interceptions. He can play either safety or cornerback, as he has the physicality to play safety but also has the coverage skills of a corner. Norwood may be overlooked by many during the draft process and could be a diamond in the rough.
By: Tanner Elliott
Hamlin was a tackling machine at the safety position during his time at Pitt. During his game against Virginia Tech, he made back-to-back stops at the one-yard line to stop VT from scoring a touchdown. Seen as more of a run stopping player compared to a coverage guy, his physicality plays in his favor. In the NFL he could be used to slow down the more athletic tight ends.
By: Chip Turner
Known primarily as a receiver out of Ole Miss, Yeboah compiled 27 catches for 524 yards and six TDs in his one year there. He looks very fluid and smooth catching the ball, although his route running looks a little bit raw. What’s interesting is that while he wasn’t asked to block much at Ole Miss, that doesn’t mean he can’t. He was known as a good blocker out of Temple before he transferred.
Unsurprisingly, his Senior Week seems to bear this out – he’s reportedly been better at blocking than expected. While he seems destined for a future as a pass-catching tight end, he’s undoubtedly opened some eyes at this week’s Senior Bowl practices. He’s likely a third-day selection with some upside.
By: Chip Turner
Primarily an in-line blocker, Poljan was used from time to time in Virginia’s passing game, and produced respectably. He’s got good size and length, and has reliable hands, but doesn’t move particularly well, and doesn’t appear particularly athletic.
The former QB projects as a developmental TE in the NFL. He’s got the size and hands to contribute in the NFL, but will have to learn fundamentals to succeed.
By: Chip Turner
Hunter Long might be drafted higher than many pundits expect, for one specific reason: He’s exactly what a lot of NFL teams are looking for right now. He’s a big, solid in-line blocker who can also release off the line and run routes well across the middle of the field.
Long had a solid 2020, with 57 catches for 685 yards and five TDs. While he doesn’t stand head and shoulders above the crowd at any one thing, he’s very good at almost everything. Solid hands, good route running, good blocking, and decent speed. For a large-bodied tight end entering the NFL, these are very good things.
By: Chip Turner
Okay, so this Boise State product was supposed to be an easy write-up. He’s primarily a blocking tight-end with good size for the tight end position in the NFL, right? So why is everyone tilting their heads this week during Senior Bowl practices and asking the same question: “Who the heck is John Bates?”
Apparently, John Bates can do more than just block. He’s shown good hands and the ability to get open on seam routes. While he doesn’t seem particularly athletic, his background says otherwise; he was a three-sport star in high school. One of those sports was track, he was a back-to-back 110-meter hurdles champion in the state of Oregon. That leads to the question; is he really unathletic, or just extremely raw as a receiver?
This weekend’s Senior Bowl gives Bates an opportunity to open eyes and potentially land on an NFL roster as a developmental tight end.
By: Hussam Patel
Quinn Meinerz is turning heads this week at the Senior Bowl. The 6'3”, 320 pound Wisconsin-Whitewater prodigy is a hot topic as the only D3 offensive lineman, and he’s holding his own against the top defensive talent and outplaying his teammates.
With a football and wrestling background, Meinerz bullies his opponents at the line of scrimmage and plays with a mean streak. He continuously gets low and understands leverage; he waits to see what the defender is doing and makes his attack.
A relentless run blocker, he holds his ground and routinely pushes defenders to the second level, allowing the ball carrier to get through the hole and play in space.
The Wisconsin-Whitewater prodigy will have to take a lot of practice reps in pass pro as his level of competition is not the same as D1 schools and the NFL. Based on his tape, he is a patient pass protector, giving ample time to his quarterback.
Throughout the Senior Bowl week he has played some reps at Center and at Guard, which will help him understand more protection concepts and prepare for the NFL. Meinerz will have to shed the small school issues all Division III prospects face and shine in the game to be picked in the Top 150.
By: Hussam Patel
Tre Norwood missed all of 2019 with an injury, and only started five games in 2020. Although he didn’t start much, Norwood made the most of his opportunities. During the team’s final six games of 2020, Norwood had five interceptions.
Norwood was a big part of the reason the Sooner defense shut down its opponents late in the season, making his impact in the secondary and proving to be a play-maker. He can play either safety or cornerback, as he has the physicality to play safety but also has the coverage skills of a corner. This is a huge asset to any NFL team; switching between Corner and Safety in a single possession can certainly make an opposing team switch its offensive philosophy.
With his five picks, Norwood showed that he can read the Quarterback's eyes and come down with the ball in contested ball situations, or jump on a route. The Sooner defender is very fluid in coverage, embodied by his smooth hips and footwork.
Norwood may be overlooked by many during the draft process because of his slim 6’ build and inability to defend against edge runs. He has a bit to learn, but Norwood can be a diamond in the rough to whomever selects him.
By: Hussam Patel
Chazz Surratt was originally a Quarterback at UNC, but only started 2 games for the Tar Heels. He switched to defense his junior season, and progressed as a linebacker. At 6’3”, 230 pounds, Surratt has the perfect frame for the linebacker position and the athleticism to cover all types of skill players.
As an off-ball Linebacker, Surratt is a menacing rusher. In his senior season, he piled up 91 tackles, tied for the team lead with six sacks, and was second with 7.5 TFL. He also had six hurries, three pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Surratt's 91 tackles were fifth most in the conference, while his six sacks tied for 10th.
The Tar Heel Linebacker can cover in the slot, play weak side linebacker, and do well as the MIKE. What's really important is his coverage ability; he held his own against some of the top slot wide receivers in the ACC.
Surratt can also cover tight ends and running backs with his agility and smooth hips, allowing him to move freely like a deep safety. In the run game, he accelerates and pursues running backs with chase-down speed that often leaves them shocked with zero yards gained.
While still new to the linebacker position, Surratt still has a lot to learn about NFL concepts, particularly communication from the MIKE position. In rushing the passer, he will need to build up more strength to compete against bigger lineman and shed blocks.
By: Tanner Elliott
Bynum started every single game he played in from the time he was a redshirt freshman to a senior. He isn’t scared to go out and make a tackle, which is one of his strong points. Bynum does have some issues with his technique, which is very questionable and inconsistent. Even though he doesn’t have the best technique, Bynum is a very physical player.
By: Tanner Elliott
Thomas is known for his speed and athleticism in college. He frequently showed off his speed as he rarely got burned by the opposing receiver. He does have some concerns over his frame and technique. If Thomas is able to bulk up and improve his technique, he could sneak into round two.
By: Tanner Elliott
Graham is a player who goes after the ball. Leading the FBS in passes deflected and pass breakups during his time in college, he showed he can be a lockdown corner. Over his three-year career he also had eight interceptions. If Graham can improve his technique, he has the potential to be a very good starting NFL cornerback.
By: Tanner Elliott
Taylor is a corner who isn’t afraid to tackle anyone. He is very involved in the run game and doesn’t allow a lot of yards after the catch. In college, he mostly played man and press, and showed he can excel in them. With his ability to play man and his willingness to tackle, Taylor could end being drafted in the third or fourth rounds.
By: Tanner Elliott
Deablo is a former receiver who switched to safety during his college career. Due to this, his instincts and play recognition are not the best. He is not as physical as one might think for his size and has some athletic limitations. Deablo will be a project player and a day three pick.
By: Hussam Patel
D'Wayne 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, maybe a surprise 1st rounder, as his tape shows he can be the most explosive player on the field. In open space, he destroys opposing defenders with a quick 1-2 step and cut, and he does a great job of securing the ball.
As a former defensive back, he knows how to beat press man coverage, and he varies his release at the line of scrimmage to disguise his routes. Only 5’9’, he can STILL bench press 350 pounds and squat 505. You don’t often see undersized receivers this strong, unless they have a running back background.
The Western Michigan prodigy can be a reliable special teamer, which increases his value, and helps toward a roster spot. As a rookie, he could look to become a dangerous kick returner. He played in the MAC, so Eskeridge will have to prove himself at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL level; he has to prove he can compete with the best of the best and solidify himself as a slot WR.
By: Hussam Patel
Dan Mullen deserves the credit for building Kyle Trask into who he is now. Trask is not one of the high sought after mobile QBs; he is more of a pocket passer who can weave in and out and still get the ball out of his hands.
It has taken time for Trask to grow into his role. I believe it will take him time to become a starting QB in the NFL, unless he’s selected by a team that has all the tools and fully supports Trask becoming its Franchise QB. He is like a bigger Matt Ryan per Matt Miller; not splashy, but can get the job done with the right tools.
The other concern is the quality of weapons Trask had at Florida. With their electric weapons, he was able to put up video game numbers. Will he be able to do that with higher quality opponents and mid-level weapons in the NFL? He's used on QB options on short yardage opportunities, and his body frame is an asset to convert on these type of plays. He reminds me of Carson Wentz, particularly in his deep passes, as arm strength is another concern.
The Gator product is best suited to play in a West Coast scheme that involves a high-volume of quick passes, short and intermediate throws, with the occasional deep shot to keep defenses honest. If a team can provide the tools and scheme to allow Trask to succeed, he will have a good career in the NFL.
While Trask isn’t playing in the Senior Bowl due to injury, interviewing and being in practice rooms and film prep is key to boosting his draft stock
By: Chip Turner
There’s not much left to say about Najee Harris; he’s going to be one of the first two backs drafted at the end of April. There are plenty of highlights to peruse displaying his power and athleticism, but the one that I keep coming back to is his run against Missouri this past year. Safety Martez Manuel latched onto Harris’s leg and refused to let go. Undeterred, Harris continued forward on one leg while Manuel was dragged behind him like a tin can tied to the back of a tractor trailer. Harris hopped for another 7 yards before finally hitting the turf. Martez Manuel weighs 200 pounds.
Harris is elusive, hyper-athletic, and an excellent receiver. His balance and vision are phenomenal, and he has everything one could hope for with the exception of top-end speed. Senior Bowl week has revealed two more things about Najee Harris: First, he’s almost entirely composed of quadriceps. Second, the Miami Dolphins seem to have a keen interest in his
By: Chip Turner
You can read my full write-up on Stevenson here: https://www.phinmaniacs.com/articles/sooner-or-later-for-stevenson Stevenson’s Senior Bowl practices have drawn mixed reviews; we’ll see how he looks on game day.
By: Chip Turner
Trey Sermon fascinates me, because I can’t quite figure him out. He’s got good quickness, better-than-advertised speed, good balance, and is a fairly upright runner that defenses are going to loathe in the 4th quarter of NFL games. What worries me is his inconsistency and occasional lack of vision.
In 2020, Sermon rushed for 870 yards, but 40% of those yards came against Northwestern in one record-shattering game. Splitting time with Master Teague contributed to that, but he also had inconsistent performances at Oklahoma before transferring. His championship game injury against Alabama was unfortunate, because he’d just finished demolishing Clemson in the previous playoff game. I genuinely have no idea how good of a receiver Sermon is out of the backfield, because he wasn’t asked to do it much.
Has Sermon finally arrived? Was the Clemson game the sign of things to come? We’ll have to wait to find out in the NFL, and some team is going to gamble on him in the Draft, as early as in the 3rd round.
By: Chip Turner
Khalil Herbert played one year at Virginia Tech after transferring from Kansas, and made the most of it, finishing with the 5th most rushing yards in FBS (right behind Senior Bowl squad mate Michael Carter). What really stands out about Herbert is his vision; he’s very good at finding a running lane, whether on runs or returns.
Every once in a while, I’ll run across a RB who reminds me of someone I’ve seen before; Herbert’s play style reminds me quite a bit of Stump Mitchell. While I wonder about his ability to succeed at the NFL level due to a lack of speed or explosiveness, he’s certainly opened eyes this week in Senior Bowl practices. His ability to return kicks won’t hurt his chances to succeed, either.
By: Chip Turner
Felton is listed as a RB on the Senior Bowl roster, but his future in the NFL is likely as a hybrid RB/slot receiver. You want quickness and speed? Felton has it in abundance; his ability to cut laterally and make defenders miss is on display this week, and people are taking notice. He’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field, and also has experience as a returner. 
The question about Felton is whether or not he ends up in the right situation on the right NFL team. The hybrid weapon is becoming increasingly popular in the NFL, but Felton’s size limitation out of the backfield and lack of blocking experience could limit his opportunities. He also had some issues with drops, but increased repetitions at WR may be the remedy for that.
By: Chip Turner
The majority of the North Carolina RB hype in 2020 went to Javonte Williams, but it’s a legitimate question as to whether he was the best RB on his own team. Michael Carter has the ability to be a complementary back in the NFL at the very least and is particularly well-suited to a pass-heavy offense.
While Javonte Williams runs with violence, the best word I can use to describe Carter is smooth. Everything he does looks natural. He’s a patient, smart runner with good vision who follows his blockers well and is a very good receiver out of the backfield. He doesn’t have blistering speed, but he’s certainly fast enough to get chunk yardage.
As far as weaknesses, there’s nothing glaring. Carter isn’t a big back, so I don’t know that he’ll ever be a feature back, and he’s not a very good in pass protection. Those things aside? Carter should have a good NFL career, and he appears to be turning heads during Senior Bowl week. It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear his name called before the end of Day 2 of the NFL draft.
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