Senior Bowl Preview

 

The Senior Bowl, seemingly becoming more popular every year, is viewed as the unofficial start of draft season. After all, the Senior Bowl’s motto is “The draft starts in Mobile.” Executive director Jim Nagy and his scouting staff work tirelessly all season to handpick who they view as the best crop of seniors in the nation. Every year, the opportunity presents itself for players to make a name for themselves. And every year, there are players who truly stand out and boost their draft stock immensely. Here are some storylines to keep an eye on in the 2022 Senior Bowl.

 

Quarterbacks

Quite simply, this year’s crop of quarterbacks is not very good. There will be top 10 selections and first round selections because of the demand for the position, but this is one of the weaker classes in recent memory. The Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for the quarterbacks in position to be a high selection prove to teams that they are worthy. What is unique about this year’s class is most of the top quarterbacks are Senior Bowl eligible. 5 of the top 6 on most draft boards and mock drafts to this point will be playing, with Matt Corral being the lone exception.

There are questions surrounding all five of these quarterbacks, and how they play in Mobile will determine whether they are Day 1 or Day 2 picks. Sam Howell, Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Carson Strong are all talented with vastly different skill sets. Teams likely stack them up differently and will continue to do so even after the conclusion of the Senior Bowl. Of these guys, who will show the strongest intangibles throughout the week of practice and in the game? Who will show the most consistency with the accuracy and progressions through reads? It will be fun to judge these guys against one another. Bailey Zappe, the record-setting QB from Western Kentucky, is the other signal caller who will be in attendance.

 

Devin Lloyd

 

Arguably the best prospect at the Senior Bowl, certainly in my mind, is Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd. Lloyd has a strong chance to be a top-10 selection in this draft, which is somewhat of a rarity for inside linebackers. Pegging him as an inside linebacker, while true, comes with a caveat because of his versatility and ability to blitz. Lloyd projects best as a 4-3 weakside linebacker that will be asked to rush the passer frequently because of his effectiveness in doing so.

This is my favorite prospect in the entire class that ranks as the #1 linebacker and a top 10 overall prospect. Against the best upperclassmen in the country, it will be fun to watch the impact that Lloyd makes as a blitzer and in a more traditional role in coverage. There is an opportunity for Lloyd to really solidify his position as one of the draft’s best players.

 

Non-FBS prospects to watch

As is the case with every Senior Bowl, there are a number of players from the FCS level and a few players outside of Division I. Joshua Williams and Gregory Junior, both of which are defensive backs, played for Division II schools and are among the prospects from non-FBS schools to watch. Offensive line is the position that comes to mind when thinking about who impresses at the Senior Bowl and end up getting drafted by the conclusion of Day 2. Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa, Spencer Brown, and Quinn Meinerz are some recent Senior Bowl participants from non-FBS schools who were drafted in the second and third rounds.

 

Here is a complete list of the 2022 non-FBS player list:

Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Zyon McCollum, DB, Sam Houston State

Braxton Jones, OL, Southern Utah

Joshua Williams, DB, Fayetteville State

Gregory Junior, DB, Ouachita Baptist

Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State

Matt Waletzko, OL, North Dakota

Nick Zakelj, OL, Fordham

Cole Strange, OL, Tennessee Chattanooga

Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

 

Who sticks out amongst offensive linemen?

The offensive line group that will be at the Senior Bowl this week will be fun to watch for a variety of reasons. There are impressive non-Power Five prospects. There are some tackles that are mammoths of human beings. And there are players that are borderline first-round talents whose performance here will go a long way in determining whether they are selected Day 1.

 

OT Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa is the first name that comes to mind of the group. Standing at 6’7, Penning is a massive human being and offers extraordinary athleticism. He seems like the next big-time linemen out of the FCS, following in his teammate Spencer Brown’s footsteps from last year. Guards Zion Johnson from Boston College and Darian Kinnard from Kentucky have a decent shot at going in the first round as well. Both are undoubtedly top-50 prospects and enjoyed solid senior seasons at their respective schools. It will be fun to watch whether either one of these guys distances himself from the other.

Tackles Bernhard Raimann out of Central Michigan and Daniel Faalele from Minnesota are other massive blockers in this class. Raimann hails from Austria and had never heard of football until he was 14. The 6’9, 380 lbs. Faalele was born in Melbourne, Australia and also picked up football late. Both of these players, while raw, offer the kind of potential that teams crave. And while there are no Division II or Division III linemen as seen in the past, there is a group from the FCS highlighted by Matt Waletzko and Cole Strange that offer intriguing potential as well. It will be fun to see who sticks out amongst this group.

 

Under the radar players I am excited to watch

 

Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

Shakir is a sleeper receiver in this class who isn’t a part of everyone’s top 10 position lists, but easily could be. Shakir’s film shows a game that will translate well at the next level because of his smooth route running, reliable hands, and toughness over the middle.

 

Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Likely plays more like a receiver than a tight end in terms of his athleticism and speed. He has put up impressive numbers as one of the focal points of an impressive Coastal Carolina offense over the past few years.

 

Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

Faalele entered his freshman year at Minnesota standing at 6’9 weighing 400 lbs. That alone is enough to want to watch this man line up on the line of scrimmage. But Faalele moves well for a person his size and has shown consistent improvements during his career.

 

Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia

I watched plenty of Tindall this season and was impressed by a lot of the things he did in the middle of a loaded Georgia defense. Playing alongside Nakobe Dean certainly helps, but Tindall was an unsung contributor all season. He is still one of the better inside linebacker prospects in this draft.

 

Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky

I didn’t get to watch much of Zappe this season, which I regret after his record statistical season. Zappe doesn’t offer the immense arm talent and prototypical size that teams look for, but he is a gunslinger who can make plays inside and outside the pocket. It will be fun to see him next to the other five quarterbacks in Mobile, all of which are considered top 60 picks.

 

Players that can boost their stocks the most

 

Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

Muma led the nation in tackles this season and was arguably the best defensive player outside the Power-Five. There is a legitimate opportunity for Muma to be the third inside-linebacker off the board. I expect Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean to be the first two. Can Muma, against better competition, prove that he is the real deal?

 

Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia

Salyer is most likely a Day Three selection at this point in the process. As a strong left tackle on a national title winning team, you may be wondering why. Well, Salyer is more suited at guard at the next level. Neither does he offer the elite physical traits teams are looking for more and more. Salyer could boost his stock big-time if he quiets these concerns with an impressive week.

 

Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

Kendrick, a former five-star recruit and Clemson transfer, has all the natural ability in the world. His ball skills and athleticism are huge plusses at the cornerback position. He can also play in a variety of coverages. He does have a thin frame, which has led to some tackling issues. Also, teams will want to know more about his prior arrest and dismissal from Clemson. Kendrick can boost his stock if he answers these things.

2022 Senior Bowl Preview Analyst Justin Trevisani.