NFL Draft 2016: Senior Bowl Week Stock Watch
One of the biggest events of the NFL draft season is the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where the top college football graduates go head-to-head in practice. Every NFL team is represented, as well as most of the draft media.
After three days of practices preparing for the North vs. South matchup Saturday, plenty has been learned. Things aren't set in stone, as there are "gamers" who don't perform well in practices, like Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah of Brigham Young a few years back. Still, seven players greatly altered their draft stock Tuesday through Thursday.
For those of you who missed the in-person experience and practice broadcasts, we'll explain who the risers and fallers were—and why they changed their NFL projections.
Stock Down: Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
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If you were judging by the weigh-in, Le'Raven Clark of Texas Tech would have been one of the biggest winners this week. Clark was labeled as an elite prospect from a length perspective, and he sure fit the bill when he was measured in at almost 6'6" with over 36" arms.
In practice, though, Clark's size proved to hold future upside, not current talent. Playing in an Air Raid system in college, he was asked to kick-slide repeatedly to force defensive linemen to declare their stunts before contact, as it was typical for only the five offensive linemen to be in pass protection, meaning that the margin for error was small on switching man assignments.
Because of that, Clark doesn't have any real experience playing in an NFL-like system. He played in about the furthest thing from a professional scheme, actually, outside of the under-center triple option that the likes of Georgia Tech have chosen as their brand. The only player he consistently beat throughout the week was Shawn Oakman of Baylor and Eric Striker of Oklahoma. Striker is the opposite of Clark, a small pass-rusher who can be laid upon due to his lack of size.
Stock Up: Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky
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On draft day, Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence might be the highest-drafted player from the Senior Bowl. Spence was absolutely unstoppable in one-on-one drills.
The Ohio State transfer didn't display a countermove all week—but he didn't need to. Despite measuring in with short 31-inch arms, his one-arm pass-rushing style essentially negates any issue the future 3-4 outside linebacker will have at the NFL level.
Many times, offensive tackles were selling themselves to defend outside pressure against him, and Spence consistently beat them. Even against a long player like Texas Tech's Le'Raven Clark, whose arms measured in over 36 inches, Spence looked like a top-10 talent. As far as anyone is concerned, he was the clear-cut top edge defender at the event on Day 2 and Day 3, when full pads were featured.
His efforts in Mobile earned him a nod in Bleacher Report's Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook for the week:
"The South offensive linemen had no answer for Noah Spence all week. He's too quick, has too much bend in his pass rush and is too powerful with his hands to be blocked in one-on-one drills. Given the matchup problems he can present with his tools, Spence looks like a top-15 player."
Stock Up: Javon Hargrave, DL, South Carolina State
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If you were watching the Senior Bowl broadcasts on ESPN and NFL Network, you were probably wondering: Who was the defensive tackle with a white helmet and numberless jersey on Day 3? That was defensive lineman Javon Hargrave of South Carolina State, a late replacement for Sheldon Rankins of Louisville, who sustained an injury.
Hargrave was the standout player at the East-West Shrine Game last week in St. Petersburg, Florida, and he looked the part in his one day in Mobile. Hargrave has tremendous burst with his first step, which Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash, who was the team's defensive line coach from 2013 to 2015, noted on the field.
Hargrave doesn't have a Senior Bowl official weigh-in measurement since he was a late addition, but he was listed as a nearly 6'1 ½", 315-pounder at the Shrine Game. He has a chance to play either 1- or 3-technique defensive tackle at the next level. He showed great hip flexibility for his size, bending around guards in one-on-one situations. Don't be surprised if he is a three-time riser, finishing the third ring at the combine.
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Stock Up: Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
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There were two Millers who stood out this week. Braxton Miller of Ohio State, the former Big Ten offensive player of the year at quarterback, was the standout receiver, while small-school stud Harlan Miller stole the show as the week's top cornerback.
Miller played college ball at Southeastern Louisiana, the same school that produced the Atlanta Falcons' Robert Alford as a second-round cornerback in 2013. Tall cornerbacks have been a recent craze in the NFL, and Miller was by far the most talented 6'0"-or-taller defensive back in practices all week.
From Day 1 on, it was clear he was the best press cornerback on either roster. He consistently won in one-on-one drills, which, by nature, favor wideouts. Miller did so well that he made Bleacher Report's Matt Miller's Senior Bowl Risers list:
"Miller was a favorite of mine due to his film against small-school competition, but pre-Senior Bowl he ranked at No. 102 on my board. Seeing him against top-tier receivers all week—and comparing him to the other FBS cornerbacks also on the field—Miller looks like a Day 2 cornerback with top-75 potential."
Stock Down: Shawn Oakman, DL, Baylor
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Shawn Oakman of Baylor made a poor decision. It was not a poor decision like the one that got him kicked out of Penn State, but it was one that may impact his long-term NFL future.
Many wanted Oakman to gain weight, rising into the 290- to 300-pound range by the combine and making him a viable option as a 5-technique, 3-4 defensive end with plus length.
Instead, he dropped down to the high 260s, making him a 4-3 defensive end only. As a pass-rusher, he was stonewalled on the majority of repetitions throughout the week. At first, he was able to beat raw athletes like Le'Raven Clark, but they improved as the week went on while Oakman was stagnant.
Sure, he's a giant at over 6'7", but his size doesn't help him when he stands straight up as his first move off the line of scrimmage. His frame makes him look like a potential Pro Bowler, but his practice sessions looked more like that of an undrafted free agent.
Stock Up: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
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Many skill players declare early for the NFL draft after just three seasons of college football, which makes the senior crop at the all-star games some of the weakest units. The players who usually stand out typically have special circumstances. They played for small schools, are non-traditional bodies or are late bloomers at the position.
Braxton Miller of Ohio State was once thought of as a potential starting quarterback at the NFL level. He was training with quarterback guru George Whitfield, who has worked with a who's who of young passers in recent years. After multiple shoulder issues, though, Miller decided it was in his best interest to make the long-term move to receiver, a position he only played during his last year for the Buckeyes.
At the Senior Bowl, he flashed his talents for every team in the NFL to see. He has amazing burst and looks the part of a high-end receiver prospect. He can pass, run and catch. He could be a move player like Buffalo's Percy Harvin or the Rams' Tavon Austin or end up as a gadget player like former pro Antwaan Randle El.
Either way, it's clear he has a long career ahead of him in the NFL. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller even listed him as one of three standouts on offense from the week's events, saying Miller "was the most impressive non-quarterback in Mobile. Miller's quickness, toughness and fiery playing style were the highlight of practice throughout the week."
Stock Up: Jihad Ward, EDGE, Illinois
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The award for the player who came out of absolutely nowhere to stardom this week was Illinois defensive lineman Jihad Ward. Ward was a junior college transfer who only started playing football in 10th grade. The former basketball player spent two years at Illinois, where he was featured as a 3-technique defensive tackle.
At 6'5" and 296 pounds, you don't see many defensive linemen move like him—much less at defensive end, where he played this week. Only Mario Williams and Julius Peppers. That's the list.
His bag work could be heard from half the stadium's distance away. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, in particular, took a liking to him this week. The former Tampa Bay defensive line coach already turned one Illini pass-rusher into an All-Pro edge defender in Simeon Rice. Could Ward be the best Illinois product at the position since then?
He's a fast learner, displaying a one-arm pass-rushing move he didn't have on tape as a defensive tackle. It's very possible that he was simply just used in the wrong role in college. It shouldn't surprise anyone if he is the second defensive end drafted behind Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky.
Stock Down: Dadi Nicolas, EDGE, Virginia Tech
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Against Ohio State two years ago, the Virginia Tech Hokies had great success with a bear of a front defense. This year, they threw out the same defense against the Buckeyes and failed but continued to play it throughout the entire season. Dadi Nicolas, a defensive end/outside linebacker prospect, was asked to play 3-technique in this defense, meaning he was essentially a defensive tackle. That's not ideal.
Nicolas weighed in at 235 pounds after a lackluster senior season. Many hoped he would vault up draft boards with double-digit tackles for loss in back-to-back seasons, but instead he disappeared. At the Senior Bowl, it was apparent that his NFL future was hanging by a thread.
When someone like Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango beats you on every rep in one-on-ones throughout the entire week, your ability as a pass-rusher comes into question. At his size, Nicolas can only rush the passer. At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise if he doesn't have his name called until late Day 3 of the draft, if at all.
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