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Senior Bowl Rising and Falling: North Team

January 25, 2013 in 2013 Senior Bowl

Rising:

QB Mike Glennon, NC State:

-Glennon cemented his status as the best quarterback down here in Mobile, and could be now firmly in the first round discussion.

RB Johnathan Franklin, UCLA:

-Franklin has had a really nice week and in a running back class that has been pretty up in the air this year, he has put himself in the discussion for being one of the top 5 backs in the class.

WR Aaron Mellette, Elon:

-Came in with a lot to prove coming from a small school and has shown himself to be up for the challenge. He's been able to match-up with anyone in terms of size, speed and route running. He should be moving up draft boards to the top 100 picks.

WR Marquise Goodwin, Texas:

-Everyone knew Goodwin would be fast, but people might not have known he'd be this fast. He's also been very impressive in his route running and with his hands, two areas that were question marks coming in.

WR Aaron Dobson, Marshall:

-Dobson didn't have big numbers at Marshall, but showed this week that he wasn't the reason his stats weren't better. He had a strong week all-around and very much helped improve his draft stock.

WR Markus Wheaton, Oregon State:

-Wheaton didn't have as good of a week as some players on this list, but he has been steadily climbing up draft boards. This week he checked off speed, quickness, and 6' size in the boxes of what G.M.'s are looking for. He also had some of the more memorable acrobatic catches this week as well.

TE Nick Kasa, Colorado:

-Kasa was a bit of an unknown heading into this week. He's a former DL who moved to TE two years ago. While he seemed to do okay, no one knew just how real of an NFL prospect he was. Against top notch competition Kasa proved himself as a blocker and more importantly as a receiver.

OL Eric Fisher, Central Michigan:

-Had probably the best week here of any player and will likely be rewarded with a top 10 selection. He can definitely handle the blindside and should be the highest drafted player from this game.

OL David Quessenberry, San Jose State:

-Quessenberry showed great versatility throughout the week working at tackle, guard and center. He probably fits best as a tackle and looks like he could start early on the right side. He was considered more of a late round guy prior, but now legitimately could go in the top 100 picks.

OL Brian Winters, Kent State:

-Winters had such a good week of practice that even though he moved off the tackle position he increased his draft value. He was a 4 year starter at tackle, but took the transition to guard very well this week showing a lot of upside.

DL Datone Jones, UCLA:

-Jones was one of the best defensive linemen on either side of the football this week and really helped his draft stock. He's a bit of a tweener, but has the frame to add more weight to play the 5 technique in a 3-4 or play as a base end in a 4-3. He may be getting some first round consideration at this point.

DL Alex Okafor, Texas:

-Okafor had a really nice week and looks to be every bit the edge rusher that his potential always dictated. He showed nice burst/leverage and should be firmly in the top 25 picks right now.

DL Kawann Short, Purdue

-Short had a big week showcasing himself as one of the better defensive tackles in a very strong tackle draft. He showed nice power and should be off the board in the top 2 rounds.

LB Ty Powell, Harding University:

-A small school guy, Powell had a big week and showed himself capable of playing with anyone. He has nice pass rush potential and could fit well in a 3-4 system.

LB Kevin Reddick, UNC:

-After a questionable senior season Reddick needed a big week and that is exactly what he had. He showed excellent leadership on the field and has been solid in coverage.

DB T.J. McDonald, USC:

-McDonald is another player coming off a down year, but he's made up for it this week in Moblie. Some may knock him for the lack of big plays, but he's been really good in coverage, locking down on receivers and tight ends, and that is what coaches want to see.

DB Desmond Trufant, Washington:

-Trufant has had a big week making exciting play after exciting play. He should be shooting up draft boards.

DB Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International:

-Cyprien really looked good this week despite not having the same hype level as a number of prospects here. He showed really nice range and can definitely make his presence felt with his hitting ability.

Falling:

QB Zac Dysert, Miami OH:

-Dysert came to Mobile with high hopes, but too many mistakes plagued him this week. He's going to fall to the 4th-5th round range and may slide even further if he can't improve by the combine.

WR Denard Robinson, Michigan:

-Robinson came into this week trying to answer questions about his conversion to wide receiver, but unfortunately the result isn't the answer he was hoping to give. He struggled all week to catch the football and run routes. On top of that he was unable to effectively catch kickoffs and punts, making it extremely unlikely that he'd be able to offer any production as a rookie.

OL Hugh Thornton, Illinois:

-Thornton looked to be one of the better guard prospects heading into this draft with a solid mid-round grade, after getting manhandled a number of times by the North's top tackles, he will likely slide to more of a later round guy.

OL Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin:

-Wagner had the chance to come here and prove his doubters wrong, but he was unable to do that with a poor showing all week. He had some positive moments, but he doesn't look to be an early starter at even RT and will slide to the last couple rounds of the draft.

DL Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern

-There was a lot of hype surrounding Williams, but the production this week didn't warrant it. He'll still get drafted due to his upside, but he should probably not go in the top 5 rounds.

DL Michael Buchanan, Illinois:

-Buchanan was hoping to work his was into the top 3 rounds and possibly even the 2nd round with a good week, but he was just far too inconsistent. He looks to be just a pass rush specialist, which is nice, but unless he shows he can be elite in that role he's not getting drafted in the top 100.

DB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, UConn:

Wreh-Wilson came in with high hopes, but he had a poor showing this week and really hurt his draft stock. He looks to be a late round guy for me as he allows way too much separation.

DB Phillip Thomas, Fresno State:

-Thomas was a guy who was really trending upwards prior to the draft but he just didn't look good this week. He got beat far too often in coverage, particularly when he was asked to man up on a receiver or tight end. His reaction time also appeared slow, and cost him on other plays as well.

 

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Senior Bowl North Practice Report Day 4 Led by TJ McDonald

January 25, 2013 in 2013 Senior Bowl

It was just shells and helmets again today and they were typically working on certain drills (two minute, inside the 10 yard line etc.) so it isn’t the best evaluation day. The linemen weren’t really hitting so little can be gleaned from them. One note, Offensive lineman Kyle Long was on the field and working at both guard and tackle after missing the past two days due to illness.

Also, check out our Thursday South Practice Report here!

Quarterbacks:

Mike Glennon, NC State:

North Senior Bowl practice

North practice 11 on 11.

Glennon wasn’t as on target today and missed on more passes than he had earlier in the week. He sailed a couple of throws in 1-on-1’s working inside the 10 yard line. He looked sloppy with his footwork despite there being no pass rush. He was better in the rest of practice hitting a couple key throws in the two minute drill, but he still wasn’t great.

Ryan Nassib, Syracuse:

Nassib looked to be the best quarterback today. He had a couple miscues himself, but looked fairly sharp overall. I liked a number of his throws inside the 10 yard line. He had nice placement on his passes and gave his receiver a chance to make the catch. During the two minute drill and 7-on-7 he looked pretty good as well. A good end to an up-and-down practice week, for Nassib who .

Zac Dysert, Miami (Ohio):

Dysert started off pretty well in practice having some nice throws in 1-on-1’s. He did struggle though later in practice, including a bad interception during the two-minute drill. Dysert is clearly behind the other two quarterbacks and lost a little hype this week.

Wide Receivers:

Aaron Dobson, Marshall:

Dobson had two early drops in drill work, but once he started going against live competition he put on a show. In 1-on-1’s, 7-on-7’s and team drills he had a number of nice catches. He got open quite a bit and was a favorite target of all three quarterbacks in 7-on-7 and team drills. He showed good adjustment to a couple off target throws and really put together a good final day of practice.

Denard Robinson, Michigan:

Robinson caught the ball better today, but he still wasn’t anything spectacular. He got pushed around by more physical cornerbacks and would have easily been called for offensive pass interference on a couple reps. He didn’t hurt his stock as much as previous days, but he didn’t help it much today either.

Markus Wheaton, Oregon State:

Wheaton had a really nice practice including making a couple spectacular grabs. While the catches were nice the route running was perhaps the highlight for him. He created some nice separation on some throws, but unfortunately the throws were off target for him to get them.

Marquise Goodwin, Texas:

Goodwin had another really nice day, flashing his speed and route running. He was very fluid every time he cut and left more than one defender trailing behind him. He came up with a couple of big catches today and very easily should become a capable slot receiver.

Tight End:

Nick Kasa, Colorado:

Kasa continued to have a nice week catching the football, making some really tough catches in 1-on-1’s. Unfortunately you couldn’t see how his blocking was today, but he did his part receiving.

Cornerback:

Desmond Trufant, Washington:

Trufant continued to have one of the better weeks of any player in Mobile. He played with good technique during the 1-on-1’s and was complimented by the coaching staff a number of times. He also came up with a big interception during the two-minute drill. He showed good speed throughout the day and was rarely fooled, something that had been a nagging issue in some earlier practices.

Jordan Poyer, Oregon State:

Poyer struggled on one of his first reps in 1-on-1’s but made up for it with a really strong practice the rest of the way. I like his positioning and the way he would break on the ball. He really displays nice ball and coverage skills and rarely let his man outright beat him. His week wasn’t as flashy as say Trufant, but he did all the little things right.

Phillip Thomas, Fresno State:

Thomas struggled some in 1-on-1’s and really looked lost at times later in the practice. He couldn’t match some of the tight ends physicality and just got beat inside too often. While he was trending up quite a bit, it’s been a week that has brought him back to earth somewhat.

T.J. McDonald, USC:

Huge day for McDonald, he looked great in 1-on-1’s, he did allow one catch, but his coverage was great the quarterback (Nassib) just made an excellent throw. He flowed to the ball well in other drills and really was strong in every area. You saw good angles and awareness which were the two biggest concerns coming into this week.

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Senior Bowl Practice Report Day Two: North Team Led by Mike Glennon

January 22, 2013 in 2013 Senior Bowl

Quarterbacks:

Mike Glennon, NC State:

Glennon showcased his big arm with a number of nice deep throws throughout practice. He showed nice zip on the ball and probably had the best intermediate-to-deep accuracy of the quarterbacks. Despite his size he had nice overall footwork and showed some ability to move around a bit in the pocket, while keeping his eyes down field. He did underthrow a couple passes in team drills later that would have been easy interceptions. On working some of the out route throws Glennon sailed the ball well over his receivers' heads. Overall it was a strong practice, but it wasn't great.

Ryan Nassib, Syracuse:

Ryan Nassib at North Senior Bowl practice.

Ryan Nassib at North Senior Bowl practice.

Nassib had a pretty good day himself, he threw a number of nice strong, accurate passes giving his receivers a great opportunity to make the play. Overall he had the best ball placement of any of the quarterbacks and was the most consistent. The only real issue about his day was he lacked the number of big plays that Glennon and even Dysert had. That shouldn't be an overall knock on him, but you'd like to see him challenge some tighter windows given that is what he'll see at the next level. He avoided mistakes, but the wow factor wasn't there.

Zac Dysert, Miami (Ohio):

Dysert had an up-and-down day. He struggled at times with his accuracy down field, and didn't seem to be making his decisions as fast as you'd like. On the flip side though he came up with some big plays, including one pass during the scrimmage where he avoided the sack and scrambled to his right with a defender in pursuit throwing a 20-25 yard strike to his receiver. Consistency was a big issue with him and you can see that he's maybe a bit more raw then some of the other quarterbacks here.

Tight End:

Nick Kasa, Colorado:

Kasa had a strong practice, he's a big physical tight end who can run. He blocked really well in team drills and gave linebackers and defensive backs fits trying to cover him. He showed nice hands and got in and out of his breaks quickly without much extra movement. It was an impressive all-around practice, and one that will make NFL teams take notice.

Wide Receiver:

Denard Robinson, Michigan:

Robinson struggled throughout the day dropping a number of passes, even some without any coverage. Other catches he did make were balls that he allowed into his body. And on another play after making a nice catch he failed to secure the ball and the safety punched it out. He did have one really nice route where he faked out the cornerback on a double-move. Robinson also had a lot of problems fielding punts and was admonished multiple times by the Raiders coaches. He still has some upside given his natural ability, but he's not close to being polished.

Markus Wheaton, Oregon State:

Wheaton had a strong day, showcasing really nice speed and agility. He did have one bad drop, but other than that he caught just about everything he got his hands on. He struggled a little with the press coverage, but not enough to really knock his performance.

Aaron Mellette, Elon:

Mellette is a small school guy, but he definitely is playing like he belongs. He was probably the best receiver on the North squad, showing good speed, route running and hands. He was good about coming back to the ball aggressively and not waiting for it to come to him. He also tracked a couple deep balls despite being in tight coverage. Given that he's one of the taller receivers out there, the fact that he displayed good speed and quickness makes you believe he could start on the outside.

I'll have more from the North practice later this evening!

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North Roster Preview – Denard Robinson and Mike Glennon Lead North

January 20, 2013 in 2013 Senior Bowl

On my way to Mobile, Alabama, I wanted to preview the two Senior Bowl rosters and which players to keep an eye on in practice this week. Here are the North roster players to watch Senior Bowl week (or South Roster is here):

QB Mike Glennon, NC State:

Glennon is a big, strong-armed quarterback who has been rising up draft boards this season. While there is still some projections, Glennon is one of the most NFL ready quarterbacks in this class. He has good footwork and delivers a crisp ball on target. But questions still remain about his overall upside.

QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse:

Nassib doesn't have the measurables as some of the other quarterbacks in this class, but he has some of the highest upside. He's a balanced quarterback who has both a good arm and solid mobility. Nassib didn't have a lot to work with at Syracuse but still kept the Orangemen in a lot of games. He also has more experience in a pro-style offense. Look for Nassib to be a popular 2nd-3rd round quarterback with a chance to start in a year or two.

RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon:

Barner might lack feature back size, but teams won't push him too far down their draft board given his elite speed and explosiveness. Barner fits best in a team that runs more to the outside or a zone team that would utilize his quick cut capability. He also should be a valuable weapon in the passing game, given his ability to make people miss in the open field. He should get a lot of attention in the 3rd or 4th round.

WR Denard Robinson, Michigan:

Robinson was an option quarterback at Michigan, but will transition to a slot receiver/situational player/return man at the next level. Robinson has explosive speed and has shown himself to be incredibly quick but is very raw at the receiver and return man role. This will be a big week for him to show that he can run routes and catch the ball with some consistency. The track record of conversion quarterbacks is not great, but Robinson has the tools to defy the odds. Look for him to go off the board in the 3rd-4th round range.

OL Kyle Long, Oregon:

Kyle is the son of Howie Long and brother of DE Chris Long (Rams). He started his collegiate athletic career in baseball at Florida State, but quickly decided to follow his father's footsteps on the gridiron. Long transferred to a community college and eventually ended up at Oregon this past season where he became a starter along the offensive line. He has experience at both guard and tackle and he profiles best at a tackle at the next level. He's still a little raw and needs to add a little more strength. But he's got a good frame, and plays with good leverage.

DE Marcus Hunt, SMU:

Hunt is a track & field star from Estonia, who came to SMU to run track & field. After their program closed, he made his way to the football team. He's considered a "freak" athlete who has exceptional size 6'8" and 280 lbs., but still has good speed and excellent quickness. Hunt has become has become a premier defender on the line. While he still has some inconsistencies due to how raw he is, he still comes up with big play after big play. He has elite potential and profiles best as a 5 technique in a 3-4. He should go off the board in the 2nd round.

DE Alex Okafor, Texas:

Okafor is one of the better defensive ends in this draft and has shown a potential to become a premiere pass rusher. Okafor is a balanced defensive end, who excels at defending both the run and the pass. Prior to this season, there were some questions about his pass rushing ability, but after registering double digit sacks, those questions are no longer valid. This week Okafor will need to show his explosion and if he can get to the edge consistently  Right now he profiles best in a 4-3 but should get some looks as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He'll likely go off the board in the 2nd round, but could sneak into the end of the 1st round.

LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State:

Brown led the Wildcats defense this past year, and is one of the best run defending linebackers in the country. There remains some questions about how he defends the pass, but its not necessarily a negative for him. He's got good range and really solid instincts and shows an ability to shed blockers. He profiles as either an inside linebacker or strong side linebacker in a 4-3. He should get 2nd – 3rd round attention in the draft.

LB John Simon, Ohio State:

Simon is making a transition to linebacker, after playing much of his college career with his hand on the ground. He profiles best as 3-4 outside linebacker, given his ability to rush the passer. Questions will remain with how he plays in space and if he can remain in coverage as an outside linebacker. While a good pass rusher, isn't considered elite, and will probably fall to the late 2nd – early 3rd round.

S TJ McDonald, USC:

MCDonald is the son of pro bowler Tim McDonald. TJ has the potential and athletic ability to match his father's talent level, but it hasn't fully come together for him yet. Reaction time and tackling ability are the two biggest question marks surrounding him. This will be a huge week for him as he hopes to show scouts that he can fix those issues that what plagued him in college. If McDonald has a good Senior Bowl week/Combine, then he could work his way into the 2nd round. If he struggles, he could fall to the 4th or later.

 

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Archived Mock Draft: Round 4

December 3, 2012 in Mock Drafts

Archived Mock Draft: Round 4

*Please Note: You're looking at an archived post! Visit our 2013 NFL Draft Headquarters for our most up-to-date mock drafts .

94. Kansas City- WR Aaron Dobson, Marshall

95. Jacksonville- LB Nico Johnson, Alabama

96. Carolina- S Shawn Williams, Georgia

97. Oakland- RB Mike Gillislee, Florida

98. Philadelphia- WR Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

99. Cleveland-  RB Ray Graham, Pitt

100. San Diego- QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

101. Buffalo- LB Sean Porter, Texas A&M

102. Jets- OL Alvin Bailey, Arkansas

103. Tennessee- S/CB D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina

104. Arizona- WR Denard Robinson, Michigan

105. Vikings (via Detroit)- RB Jonathan Franklin, UCLA

106. St. Louis- LB Jamie Collins, Southern Mississippi

107. Miami- LB Jelani Jenkins, Florida

108. Washington- OT Rick Wagner, Wisconsin

109. New Orleans- DT Jordan Hill, Penn State

110. Dallas- TE Dion Sims, Michigan State

111. Cincinnati- S Zeke Motta, Notre Dame

112. Tampa- WR Stedman Bailey, WVU

113. Seattle- LB Gerald Hodges, Penn State

114. Pittsburgh- CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State

115. Minnesota- OT Brian Winters, Kent State

116. Indianapolis- CB Leon McFadden, San Diego State

117. New York Giants- WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

118. Green Bay- DL Joe Vellano, Maryland

119. Denver- C Braxton Cave, Notre Dame

120. Tampa (via New England)- S Rashard Hall, Clemson

121. Chicago- OG Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia tech

122. San Francisco- LB Kiko Alonso, Oregon

123-Baltimore- LB Kevin Reddick, UNC

124.Atlanta- OL Xavier Nixon, Florida

125. Houston- TE Joseph Fauria, UCLA