Complete guide to the 2021 Senior Bowl
The draft starts in Mobile, they say.
For the 32 NFL teams in attendance, the Senior Bowl is a chance to see some of college football’s top players square off in a week of practices and a full game to wrap things up, in order to prove to them that they can prepare, practice and compete like pros.
This year’s event will obviously look a bit different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but prospects will still have a chance to prove themselves in a key part of the predraft process.
For a look at this year’s full rosters, click here.
Here’s everything else you need to know about each position group heading into this year’s event:
Quarterback
Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.
Star: Mac Jones | Alabama -- Jones is the clear top quarterback in Mobile after it was announced that Florida's Kyle Trask would not be playing this week due to an ankle injury. After guiding the Crimson Tide to a National Championship, the Heisman finalist will have the opportunity to show scouts that he's capable of getting the job done with any skill players at his disposal, not just only the immense talent that he had around him at Alabama. Stud: Kellen Mond | Texas A&M -- A four-year starter for the Aggies, Mond set five program records, including career passing yards (9,661), career passing touchdowns (71), completions (801), passing attempts (1,358) and total offense (11,340). He also tied the mark for career touchdowns (93). While he has the tools, Mond needs to sharpen his decision-making and timing to help his draft stock. Sleeper: Jamie Newman | Wake Forest -- Newman enters this week as one of the biggest wild cards. After starting 12 games in 2019, throwing for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, Newman transferred to Georgia the year after, where he didn’t even play a snap before opting out. While he has the size and arm strength, Newman needs to show that he's not rusty after taking a whole year off and show improvement with his passing instincts and accuracy.
Running Back
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Najee Harris | Alabama -- After totaling 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2020, Harris established himself as one of the top running backs in this year's class. His versatility as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield makes him an immediate weapon in the NFL. Barring any injury between now and April, there's a good chance that Harris will hear his name called in the first-round. Stud: Michael Carter | North Carolina -- In 2020, Carter amassed 1,245 rushing yards (8.0 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns along with 25 receptions for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Even though he's a bit undersized for NFL standards at 5-foot-8 and 199 pounds, he has the athletic balance, acceleration, agility, desire and versatility to be a multi-situational running back at next level. Sleeper: Demetric Felton | UCLA -- Former wide receiver turned running back, Felton's versatility as an all-purpose athlete is appealing. At his best when given space to operate, can be a diverse NFL contributor as a rusher, receiver and return man. Felton ran the ball 233 times for 1,101 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has the UCLA record for most catches by a running back in a single season after he caught 55 balls in 2019.
Wide Receiver
AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
Star: DeVonta Smith | Alabama -- Arguably the top skill player in this year's draft, Smith heads to Mobile with very little to prove. The winner of the 2020 Heisman trophy and the Offensive MVP of the College Football Championship amassed 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns this past season after living in the shadows of Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs. Stud: Kadarius Toney | Florida -- Toney was an instrumental part of the highly-productive Gators offense, accounting for 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. A route technician, Toney is a player who can affect the game every time the ball is in his hands, whether it's sweeps, reverses, screens or wide open in the any part of the field. With a strong week, Toney could end up being selected in the first-round. Sleeper: Dwayne Eskridge | Western Michigan -- Eskridge caught 121 passes for 2,244 yards and 15 touchdowns over the course of his Western Michigan career while returning 17 kicks for 467 yards and a touchdown in 2020. The former state champion sprinter's game is predicated off of speed, yards after catch ability and special teams experience, but he will have to show that he can win with route-running in one-on-ones.
Tight End
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Hunter Long | Boston College -- Over three seasons, Long had a total of 89 receptions for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns, including 57 catches in 2020 to lead all tight ends in the country in that category. Long is a smart, willing blocker who shows athleticism in his routes, has very good speed, and chunk yardage creation after the catch, possessing the ability to be a monster off of play action, projecting as a potential starter at the next level. Stud: Noah Gray | Duke -- Gray finished his senior season ranked second in the ACC for a tight end with 29 catches for 285 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Gray will have to show scouts an area of improvement in the blocking department, but his combination of length, leaping skills and body control should garner a lot of attention, making him an ideal mismatch weapon in the NFL. Sleeper: Tony Poljan | Virginia Tech -- Poljan played quarterback at Central Michigan, before converting to tight end. Upon making the positional change, he amassed 71 catches, 907 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Poljan has a large catch radius, soft hands, and enough speed to produce as a pass-catcher at the next level, but like Gray, he will have to impress in the blocking drills this week.
Offensive Tackle
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Alex Leatherwood | Alabama -- Leatherwood elected to return for his senior season, and was arguably the nation’s best left tackle. Leatherwood, a consensus First Team All-American and winner of the 2020 Outland Trophy, made 48 starts for the Crimson Tide. Leatherwood is an excellent blindside blocker who possesses a wide base, clamps as hands and the physicality to grow into either a very reliable tackle or guard at the next level. Stud: Liam Eichenberg | Notre Dame -- Notre Dame has done a fine job of producing quality NFL offensive linemen and Eichenberg is next to join that crop. Arguably one of the most consistent left tackles over the past two seasons, on over 900 pass-blocking snaps in that span, Eichenberg allowed only 27 pressures. He possesses smooth movement skills, is strong at the point of attack with physical hands to occupy pass rushers and a mauler in the run game. Sleeper: Spencer Brown | Northern Iowa -- After starting 32 of 33 games, Brown decided to sit out of his final season due to the delay until the spring because of COVID-19. Towering at 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds, Brown has the combination of size, length and athleticism to thrive at the next level. The former tight end is a mirroring magician in pass protection and is an outstanding run blocker. He needs to develop more power and the finer details of the position, but he could help his draft stock with a strong week.
Interior Offensive Line
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Josh Myers | Ohio State -- A two-year starter, Myers made the All-Big Ten first team, was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country this season. Anchoring an offensive line that helped the Buckeyes rush for 256.9 yards per game, the 6-foot-5 and 312 pounder is a very fluid and mobile lineman with the pop and flexibility to succeed at different levels of the defense. Myers has all the physical tools to be a solid starting center early in his career. Stud: Aaron Banks | Notre Dame -- Playing next to Eichenberg, Banks started the last 30 games for the Fighting Irish at left guard. He allowed just two sacks in 844 snaps as a junior. The first-team All-American is a good-sized smooth-moving mauler as both a run blocker and pass protector who won’t lose many one-on-one battles. Banks has a mammoth body type with 330 pounds neatly packed on his frame. He has the versatility to play both guard spots and even left tackle at the next level. Sleeper: Jack Anderson | Texas Tech -- Anderson, who started all 38 games that he appeared in as a Red Raider, will go down as one of the best offensive linemen in the recent history of the program. Offering experience in both zone and power schemes, Anderson, the first-team All-Big 12 honoree, is a tough, physical interior blocker with quick feet, good range, and solid mirror skills in the pass game. If he has a good week, Anderson could hear his named be called on Day 2.
Edge Defender
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Star: Quincy Roche | Miami -- After transferring from Temple, Roche accumulated 4.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in ten games for the Hurricanes. Roche is a slippery rusher with the initial burst, functional strength, and natural leverage to threaten the pocket on a regular basis and defend the run. Roche could be a Round 2 selection if he performs well this week. Studs: Rashad Weaver & Patrick Jones II | Pitt -- After missing the 2019 season due to injury, Weaver made up for lost time with a strong 2020 campaign, logging 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His running mate, Jones, earned first-team All-America honors after posting 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Both have the skill sets NFL teams are looking for in today's edge defenders. Sleeper: Elerson Smith | Northern Iowa -- One of multiple UNI prospects with a chance to prove themselves against top competition in Mobile this week, Smith didn't get a chance to play a 2020 season, but he was dominant in 2019 (21.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks). His combination of size, length, athleticism and versatility could make him a favorite this week.
Interior Defensive Line
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Levi Onwuzurike | Washington -- One of the most disruptive interior defenders in this year's entire draft class, Onwuzurike has a dangerous blend of power and explosiveness that allow him to camp out in opposing backfields. He should dominate this week of practice in Mobile, solidifying himself as a first-round prospect. Stud: Marvin Wilson III | Florida State -- Once considered a potential top-10 pick by many, Wilson stock has dipped since last offseason. That said, he's still a massive force at the point of attack, and if he can play with more consistency and make the most of his physical tools, Wilson is the kind of vocal leader who can instantly transform the identity of a defense. Sleeper: Cameron Sample | Tulane -- A versatile prospect who can line up inside or on the edge, Sample's ability to play different positions and make an impact in any scheme should be on display this week. With a strong showing against some of the best competition in the country, he could send his draft stock in the right direction.
Linebacker
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Chazz Surratt | North Carolina -- An athletic playmaker with a complete skill set, Surratt can do it all at the second level. A converted quarterback, Surratt made an immediate impact at his new position, earning first-team all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons. Stud: Baron Browning | Ohio State -- Browning looks like the prototypical linebacker getting off the bus, and while his play has been inconsistent at times, his size and skill set give him tons of potential at the next level. If he can play to that high ceiling more consistently, he can be a difference-maker in the NFL. Sleeper: Tony Fields II | West Virginia -- While some might see an undersized linebacker in Fields (listed at 6-1, 220 pounds), creative defensive coordinators in the NFL will see a versatile, athletic defender who could excel in a hybrid role in the right defense. Fields will have a chance to prove that in Mobile this week.
Defensive Back
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Star: Ifeatu Melifonwu | Syracuse -- The brother of former second-round pick Obi Melifonwu, Ifeatu has the size and athleticism combination that made his older brother such an attractive prospect. While Obi never seemed to find the right position fit at the next level, Ifeatu already has the kind of comfort level at corner that should allow him to succeed. Stud: JaCoby Stevens | LSU -- A hard-hitting playmaker and respected leader on the back end of the Tigers' secondary, Stevens is the kind of defender every coach wants on his team. His combination of physical skills, intelligence and competitiveness will make him a favorite among NFL decision-makers this week. Sleeper: Robert Rochell | Central Arkansas -- Listed at 6-2, 195 pounds, Rochell has the size and length NFL teams love at the corner position. He's a playmaker with a nose for the ball, logging 25 pass breakups and 10 interceptions, even without the benefit of a 2020 season. He'll have a chance to prove himself against some of the best pass-catchers in the nation this week.
