The Senior Bowl represents all that’s great about Draft Season. Jim Nagy and his team do an incredible job hosting over 100 seniors from all levels of College Football and give them the chance to showcase their skills against each other on a level playing field in front of NFL personnel. Official measurements are taken of all the players and for a week they compete in practice to force their names up draft boards. At the end of the week the players face-off in a scrimmage that acts as a real-time audition.
This year, I was blessed with the chance to cover the event virtually. Not only will I do my best to cover as much of the event as I can, I will be sharing some of my favorite players going into the event, and summarize where I see them landing once the week is complete!
Kenny Pickett Pitt QB #8
vs. Clemson
Arguably the best showing by any college QB this season, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett threw for 42 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions and added another 5 scores on the ground. This impressive showing, combined with his processing and accuracy, should be enough to land him in the early 1st round. There is one key concern that has the chance to be put to rest in Mobile; Pickett reportedly has 8 1/4 inch hands. Now this may sound like a silly issue, and in reality it might be. Regardless, quarterback hand size is an enigma that has brought the NFL scouting community to its knees. Typically, you want your QB to have, at the minimum, nine inch hands. It helps them with protecting the ball, provides more velocity on throws, and better downfield accuracy. If Pickett’s measurements hold up, he will have the smallest hands of any QB drafted… EVER. The two-gloved wearing warrior has the opportunity to lay to rest this long standing barrier to entry of hand size with some well placed passes outside the numbers using the NFL ball, and maybe bribing the hand measurer at the event.
Jalen Tolbert South Alabama WR #8
vs. UL Monroe
South Alabama wideout Jalen Tolbert possesses the speed, route running, size (6’3), and ball tracking ability to be an immediate impact player and QB’s best friend in the draft. Tolbert caught 22 touchdowns in his career as a Jaguar, and has noticeably improved every year. His senior season saw him eclipse 1,400 receiving yards, and he has a great chance to shoot up boards with a strong showing against NFL caliber corners in Mobile.
Daniel Faalele Minnesota RT #78
vs. Ohio State
Faalele is a massive human being. Listed at 6’8, 380 lbs, Faalele actually lost 30 pounds going into his senior year. On the tape he absolutely shows it, running over second level defenders in the run game, neutralizing power rushers with his incredible anchor, and frustrating rushers with his length and frame. He’ll need to develop in his pass sets and lacks top end lateral mobility, but for a player who only started playing organized American football 4 years ago, he’s an intriguing prospect with a ton of upside. He has the opportunity to show better hand usage and ability against speed rushers in Mobile, and coaches will have a chance up close to see how moldable he really is.
Mario Goodrich Clemson CB #31
vs. Louisville
Mario Goodrich is a personal favorite of mine. I just love a corner who can play the run and who tackles well in the open field, and Goodrich does both of those things very well. Combine that with a knack for the ball and solid press technique, and you get a corner that could end up hearing his name called on day two with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. However, Goodrich still needs to develop in his ability to shed blocks, and could use some bulking up.
Arnold Ebiketie Penn State EDGE #17
vs. Michigan
If your team needs pass rushers on the Edge, this is the class for you. Arguably up to 15 of them could find their way into the top 100 selections, and one to keep an eye on is Arnold Ebiketie. Arnold has a freakishly long reach combined with some impressive explosiveness and power that makes him a nightmare for opposing tackles. He generated 9.5 sacks in his senior season, and showed he could utilize his tools to knock tackles off balance and generate pressure. Look for him to show off a bit more bend and versatility on his rushes in order to impress the scouts down in Mobile, as well as test his speed-to-power combo against NFL caliber linemen.
Be sure to tune back in for more coverage of the Senior Bowl! Follow me on twitter @FrankiesFilm and visit us back here at FrankiesFilm.com for all the best discussions on NFL and Broncos football.
