2020 Senior Bowl Week Standouts
After a week in Mobile, the 2020 Senior Bowl Week has come and gone. Scouts and teams are adding information to player reports based on the events of the week. The next step will be the combine in Indianapolis. But before we get there, let’s look at who stood out during Senior Bowl Week.
Javon Kinlaw DT, South Carolina
Kinlaw only practiced one day before leaving for the week, but it was enough to have the football world buzzing. He was mentioned as the clear-cut best player in Mobile and has established himself as a 1st round pick, possibly even in the top 10.
Bradlee Anae DE/LB, Utah
Anae had himself a great week, particularly on Saturday afternoon. Watching practices all week, it was obvious he was a favorite of Coach Patricia. Patricia could be seen constantly conversing with and praising him at each practice. In the game, Anae dominated (as did most of the North defensive line) with 2.5 sacks and even caused an interception by being in the quarterback’s face. His performance prompted Maurice Jones-Drew to identify him as possible first round pick in April.
Josh Uche DE/LB, Michigan
Uche and Anae were basically meeting at the quarterback on every play. If a team finds a way to get both of them, it will cause nightmares for the rest of the league. Known as more of a pass rusher, Uche won the week by showing he is versatile enough to drop into pass cover. His stock has definitely risen.
Jason Strowbridge DL, North Carolina
Speaking of rising stock, there may not be a player who helped himself more than Jason Strowbridge. He made plays all week, and if he didn’t make the play, he definitely found a way to impact it. He was another player you could tell Patricia really liked, showing great intelligence. There was a series of passing plays in practice where he was unable to get to the QB, but he showed the smarts to throw his hands up and knock the passes down.
Josh Kelley RB, UCLA
Kelley was one of the pleasant surprises of the week. He has limited tape from UCLA, since he transferred from UC Davis in the FCS. The NFL Network broadcast team was enamored with what he did against the competition on the field. Kelley would finish the game as the only 100+ yard rusher with 105 yards on 15 carries.
Anthony Gordon QB, Washington State
Gordon underwhelmed a bit in practice throughout the week but showed up in the game. He came in in the 3rd quarter and led 3 touchdown drives for the North, 2 of which were touchdown passes. He looked pretty comfortable and showed some athleticism when on the field. Someone will take a chance on him.
Troy Pride CB, Notre Dame
Pride is a bit undersized but showed great speed and athletic ability. His college coach, Brian Kelly, even mentioned to the ESPN crews during practice that he may be the fastest player Kelly has coached. He showed the ability to stick with receivers and knock down passes during practice sessions and tallied an interception in the game.
Jeremy Chinn S, Southern Illinois
I’ve said it before: You always wonder how small school prospects will fare when rising a level in competition. By all accounts, Chinn passed that test with flying colors. There was a redzone drill in practice, in which he held his own against the North’s talented receiving corps. In the game, he didn’t seem to make many mistakes and looked comfortable in the defense.
Malik Harrison LB, Ohio State
Harrison had a couple nice interceptions this week, one in the game and one in practice. He continued to show good tackling ability, but his passing coverage was intriguing. With the size and athleticism he possesses, showing that ability was key for him. Chalk this up as a win.
KJ Hill WR, Ohio State
Hill had a minimal impact in the game but was noticeable all week. He had the catch of the week with a one hand snag on a quick out route. The media crews praised his speed and route running, comparing him to fellow Ohio Sate alum Terry McLaurin. McLaurin rose after a good performance in Mobile last year, and I expect a similar result for hill.
Adam Trautman TE, Dayton
Another small school prospect. Trautman showed he can be an asset in the passing game with great size and athleticism. He made some nice catches throughout the week. I expect to see him become a mid-round pick.
Tyler Bass K, Georgia Southern
Bass drilled several long field goals over the week in practice, and the ones he missed were just wide. He showed plenty of leg. Coach Patricia even called a timeout to let him nail a 50 yarder as time expired. Scouts and beat writers raved his performance all week.
Honorable Mention: DE Kenny Willekes (Michigan State), S Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne), CB Dane Jackson (Pittsburgh), LB Francis Bernard (Utah), S Jalen Elliot (Notre Dame)
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