2016 Senior Bowl: A Full Scouting Guide for This Year's Game

Every year, the Senior Bowl is one of the most prominent stops on the road to the NFL draft, and 2016 is no different.

This week, Mobile was transformed into a scouting Mecca, as a smattering of NFL decision-makers, media and fans descended upon the south Alabama city to observe and critique the next cycle of potential draft prospects.

From small-school signal-callers to Power 5 playmakers, this year's Senior Bowl rosters are full of pro-caliber talent. Some players lived up to their hype or proved to be pleasant surprises during this week's practices, while others had their flaws exposed or struggled to stand up to the challenge of some of the top competition in college football.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2016 Senior Bowl.

2016 Reese's Senior Bowl

Date: Saturday, January 30

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Location: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

TV: NFL Network

Official Weigh-In Results

All observations were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Coaches

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Picking in the top five is a rare occasion for the Dallas Cowboys, but one of the positives is the opportunity to coach one of this year's Senior Bowl squads. Head coach Jason Garrett and his staff got a front-row seat and a hands-on look at some of this year's top prospects, which should only help them as they prepare for the draft.

Garrett's crew ran the most intense, uptempo practices we saw all week, and it put an emphasis on one-on-one matchups.

Gus Bradley and his staff from the Jacksonville Jaguars have the somewhat dubious task of coaching the Senior Bowl for the third straight season, though it will give them another year of increased familiarity with the upcoming draft class.

It's a safe bet Bradley would prefer this to be his last time coaching the game, but he'll be able to take away more information again this year.

North Roster

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Here are the players on the North squad:

North Roster

Position	No.	Player	School
WR	1	Braxton Miller	Ohio State
S	4	Darian Thompson	Boise State
WR	5	Ed Eagan	Northwestern State
QB	6	Cody Kessler	USC
RB	7	Tyler Ervin	San Jose State
QB	8	Kevin Hogan	Stanford
QB	11	Carson Wentz	North Dakota State
K	15	Ka'imi Fairbairn	UCLA
QB	16	Jeff Driskel	Louisiana Tech
RB	18	D.J. Foster	Arizona State
WR	19	Jordan Payton	UCLA
CB	20	Deiondre' Hall	Northern Iowa
CB	21	Tavon Young	Temple
P	22	Riley Dixon	Syracuse
S	23	Tyvis Powell	Ohio State
CB	24	Kevin Peterson	Oklahoma State
S	25	Miles Killebrew	Southern Utah
CB	26	Maurice Canady	Virginia
RB	27	Chris Swain	Navy
RB	28	Kenneth Dixon	Louisiana Tech
S	29	K.J. Dillon	West Virginia
CB	31	Eric Murray	Minnesota
FB	33	Soma Vainuku	USC
ILB	35	Nick Kwiatkoski	West Virginia
ILB	41	Jared Norris	Utah
ILB	44	Blake Martinez	Stanford
ILB	48	Tyler Matakevich	Temple
OLB	49	Kyler Fackrell	Utah State
G	51	Josh Garnett	Stanford
G	56	Joe Dahl	Washington State
OLB	58	Joe Schobert	Wisconsin
OT	59	Joe Haeg	North Dakota State
LS	60	Jeff Overbaugh	San Diego State
C	63	Austin Blythe	Iowa
C	66	Jack Allen	Michigan State
G	70	Willie Beavers	Western Michigan
DE	71	Jason Fanaika	Utah
G	72	Nick Martin	Notre Dame
OT	77	Kyle Murphy	Stanford
OT	78	Jason Spriggs	Indiana
OT	79	Cole Toner	Harvard
TE	80	Bryce Williams	East Carolina
TE	81	Nick Vannett	Ohio State
TE	82	Henry Krieger-Coble	Iowa
WR	84	Leonte Carroo	Rutgers
WR	85	Chris Moore	Cincinnati
WR	86	Aaron Burbridge	Michigan State
WR	88	Geronimo Allison	Illinois
DT	90	Matt Ioannidis	Temple
DT	91	Sheldon Day	Notre Dame
DT	92	Adolphus Washington	Ohio State
DT	93	Vernon Butler	Louisiana Tech
DE	98	Lawrence Thomas	Michigan State
DT	99	Austin Johnson	Penn State

South Roster

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Here are the players on the South squad:

South Roster

Position	No.	Player	School
ILB	0	Deion Jones	LSU
CB	1	Harlan Miller	Southeastern Louisiana
DE	2	Shawn Oakman	Baylor
WR	3	Sterling Shepard	Oklahoma
WR	4	Jay Lee	Baylor
CB	5	Cyrus Jones	Alabama
WR	9	Charone Peake	Clemson
QB	10	Brandon Allen	Arkansas
ILB	10	Kentrell Brothers	Missouri
QB	12	Jacoby Brissett	North Carolina State
QB	14	Jake Coker	Alabama
QB	15	Dak Prescott	Mississippi State
S	16	Jeremy Cash	Duke
RB	17	Kenyan Drake	Alabama
WR	18	K.J. Maye	Minnesota
OLB	19	Reggie Ragland	Alabama
S	20	Kevin Byard	Middle Tennessee State
S	21	Sean Davis	Maryland
RB	22	Aaron Green	TCU
CB	23	Jonathan Jones	Auburn
CB	25	James Bradberry	Samford
CB	28	Jalen Mills	LSU
RB	31	DeAndre Washington	Texas Tech
RB	32	Jonathan Williams	Arkansas
ILB	33	Antonio Morrison	Florida
K	35	Ross Martin	Duke
S	36	DeAndre Houston-Carson	William & Mary
P	38	Alex Kinal	Wake Forest
FB	40	Dan Vitale	Northwestern
ILB	45	Josh Forrest	Kentucky
TE	48	Glenn Gronkowski	Kansas State
OLB	49	Eric Striker	Oklahoma
LS	50	Jimmy Landes	Baylor
ILB	51	Jake Ganus	Georgia
G	55	Cody Whitehair	Kansas State
OT	58	Spencer Drango	Baylor
OLB	59	Jordan Jenkins	Georgia
C	61	Graham Glasgow	Michigan
OT	62	Le'Raven Clark	Texas Tech
G	65	Christian Westerman	Arizona State
OT	71	John Theus	Georgia
G	73	Sebastian Tretola	Arkansas
OT	74	Vadal Alexander	LSU
C	77	Evan Boehm	Missouri
TE	84	Darion Griswold	Arkansas State
WR	86	Malcolm Mitchell	Georgia
WR	88	Paul McRoberts	Southeast Missouri State
TE	89	Jerell Adams	South Carolina
DE	90	Jarran Reed	Alabama
DE	91	Charles Tapper	Oklahoma
DT	93	Javon Hargrave	South Carolina State
DT	94	D.J. Reader	Clemson
DE	95	Bronson Kaufusi	BYU
DE	96	Dadi Nicolas	Virginia Tech
DE	97	Noah Spence	Eastern Kentucky

Quarterbacks

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Carson Wentz put on a show in Mobile this week. The North Dakota State signal-caller further increased his pre-draft buzz with a strong performance, displaying his physical tools and a take-charge attitude.

He's firmly planted in the top-10 conversation and will challenge Cal's Jared Goff and Memphis' Paxton Lynch to be the first quarterback taken in this year's draft.

There was a clear divide between Wentz's level of talent and the rest of the North squad quarterbacks: USC's Cody Kessler, Stanford's Kevin Hogan and Louisiana Tech's Jeff Driskel.

For the South team, Dak Prescott of Mississippi State weighed in a 6'2", 225 pounds and had a solid week of practice, showing the same improvements as a passer he displayed during his senior campaign for the Bulldogs.

Alabama's Jake Coker flashed some draftable traits during the week, while fellow SEC thrower Brandon Allen of Arkansas struggled to look like an NFL passer. Jacoby Brissett was inconsistent at best during practices and shouldn't hear his name called until Day 3 of the draft.

Running Backs

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Most of the backs in Mobile are scatback types, smaller runners who project better as third-down fill-ins at the next level. The lone exception is Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon, who looked like the same every-down back his film suggested as he put together an impressive week of practice.

San Jose State's Tyler Ervin helped himself a great deal by weighing in at 192 pounds—15 pounds heavier than his listed weight—while still showing quickness and explosiveness in open space.

Alabama's Kenyan Drake is lightning in a bottle when the ball's in his hands, but his struggles in pass protection will limit his value on third downs at the next level.

Arkansas' Jonathan Williams gets less press than his Hogs teammate Alex Collins, but he could be an effective runner in the right situation at the next level.

Texas Tech's DeAndre Washington had a solid week, running strong between the tackles despite his 5'8" stature. TCU's Aaron Green had an inconsistent week, and he will need a strong finish to the pre-draft process to convince NFL teams he's worth drafting.

Wide Receivers

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Plenty of receivers moved the needle during Senior Bowl practices, but none stole the show quite like Ohio State's Braxton Miller. The former quarterback showed off his dynamic athleticism on multiple occasions, but he also ran much more precise routes than expected. His performance could have him in the first-round conversation moving forward.

Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard was the pass-catcher with the next-best performance in Mobile. Despite measuring in at just 5'10", 193 pounds, Shepard was the best route-runner on either squad, and he showed off his strong hands and superb ball skills throughout the week. He should be able to make an instant impact as a slot receiver and return man before developing into a dynamic starter at the next level.

Southeast Missouri State's Paul McRoberts is an intriguing prospect who had his best performance during Thursday's practice, while Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell was one of the smoothest, most fluid targets on either team.

Jay Lee of Baylor, Chris Moore of Cincinnati and Charone Peake of Clemson all have attractive size and physical tools, while Jordan Payton of UCLA was consistent throughout the week.

One name to keep an eye on is Illinois' Geronimo Allison, who was a late addition to the North roster due to injuries at the position. He dominated at the Shrine Game last week and earned his spot among the nation's best in Mobile.

Tight Ends

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Braxton Miller wasn't the only Buckeye to lead a crop of pass-catchers this week, as teammate Nick Vannett was easily the most impressive tight end on either squad during practice. After measuring in at just a shade under 6'6" and 256 pounds, Vannett showed solid hands and the athleticism to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses down the field.

The rest of this year's tight end crop left a bit to be desired. East Carolina's Bryce Williams struggled with focus and drops all week, while Glenn Gronkowski—yes, another brother—looked like a poor fit as both a tight end and a fullback.

Iowa's Henry Krieger-Coble did have a highlight-reel, one-handed catch during practice, so scouts will be looking for more of the same from him.

A late addition to the South roster, Arkansas State's Darion Griswold is the most intriguing developmental prospect of the bunch, while South Carolina's Jerell Adams helped himself by coming in with 13 pounds of added bulk over his originally listed weight of 231 pounds.

Offensive Linemen

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Ohio State's Taylor Decker declined his invitation to the Senior Bowl, and Indiana's Jason Spriggs took full advantage of the opportunity, putting on a performance that could move him ahead of Decker when it comes to this year's offensive tackle rankings.

Texas Tech tackle Le'Raven Clark's 36-inch arms turned plenty of heads at the weigh-ins, but his on-field play during practice was more in line with his inconsistent film. He's incredibly raw but has some physical tools NFL coaches would love to get their hands on.

Western Michigan's Willie Beavers struggled all week, while LSU's Vadal Alexander, Stanford's Kyle Murphy, Georgia's John Theus and Harvard's Cole Toner had up-and-down weeks.

Arizona State's Christian Westerman and Stanford's Josh Garnett were among the best guards and should be two of the first names drafted at the position this year. Kansas State's Cody Whitehair was inconsistent, but his experience at both guard and tackle will be attractive to NFL teams.

Though undersized at 6'1", 297 pounds, Jack Allen was arguably the most impressive center this week. He's a smart player who might be available on Day 3, and he could jump into a starting role early in his NFL career.

Notre Dame's Nick Martin—brother of Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Zack—worked at both center and guard this week and looked good in both spots.

Interior Defensive Linemen

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Two of the most dominant defenders from this week's practices—Louisville's Sheldon Rankins and Illinois' Jihad Ward (h/t the Courier-Journal and News-Gazette)—won't play in the Senior Bowl due to injury, but there's still plenty of talent to watch at this year's deepest position.

Alabama's Jarran Reed came into the week as a potential first-round pick, and his performance during practices did nothing to weaken that projection. He's scheme versatile, quick and powerful, and he should be among the most disruptive players in this year's game.

One of the more pleasant surprises of the week was Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler, who weighed in at 325 pounds but showed incredible quickness to go with the power that comes with his frame. He's an explosive defender who could sneak into the top 50 picks after his performance this week.

There will be plenty of prospects from big-name schools to keep an eye on in this unit—Notre Dame's Sheldon Day, Penn State's Austin Johnson, Clemson's D.J. Reader and Ohio State's Adolphus Washington—but don't sleep on South Carolina State's Javon Hargrave.

After dominating at the Shrine Game on Jan. 23, Hargrave was a late addition to the Senior Bowl. He wasted no time making his presence felt. He's undersized at 6'2", 295 pounds, but he plays with an impressive combination of power and explosiveness.

Edge Defenders

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Plenty of former Buckeyes stood out this week, and Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence—an Ohio State transfer—certainly made his mark.

After having to leave Columbus because of a pair of failed drug tests, Spence got back on the right track, transferring to EKU and wreaking havoc on the field while staying out of trouble off it. If his team interviews were anywhere near his level of play during practice this week, he could find himself drafted in the top half of the first round.

Georgia's Jordan Jenkins turned heads with his 34-inch arms, and he showed plenty of quickness and explosion off the edge. Utah's Jason Fanaika and Michigan State's Lawrence Thomas also had strong performances during this week's practices.

Though he spent much of the week out of position as an off-ball linebacker, Utah State's Kyler Fackrell could make a significant impact as an edge-rusher at the next level.

Edge defenders who didn't make the most of their trips to Mobile included Penn State's Carl Nassib and Baylor's Shawn Oakman—who both looked incredibly stiff—as well as BYU's Bronson Kaufusi and Oklahoma's Eric Striker.

Striker is too small to be an effective pass-rusher at the next level, but he also looked lost in coverage when lined up off the ball, while Kaufusi came in 16 pounds heavier than his listed weight of 265 pounds and was unimpressive.

Off-Ball Linebackers

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This was one of the more underwhelming position groups on either team.

Alabama's Reggie Ragland spent much of the week trying to line up on the edge and rush the passer, but his best spot in the NFL will be as a run-defending specialist in the middle. Missouri's Kentrell Brothers didn't look as athletic as his film suggested, but game tape carries more weight than one week of practice.

LSU's Deion Jones and Florida's Antonio Morrison were the two most impressive players, and they both did as much as they could to boost their draft stock.

Temple's Tyler Matakevich isn't the most athletic defender in the country, but his production should attract plenty of attention from NFL teams when the draft rolls around.

Defensive Backs

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This group had a strong week of practice.

Boise State's Darian Thompson solidified himself as one of the top overall safety prospects in the draft, showcasing his balanced skill set against both the run and pass. Duke's Jeremy Cash showed off his versatility, while sleepers like Middle Tennessee State's Kevin Byard, West Virginia's K.J. Dillon and Southern Utah's Miles Killebrew also impressed.

This week's best corner was Southeastern Louisiana's Harlan Miller, who was simply superb in coverage on seemingly every rep. Temple's Tavon Young is undersized at just 5'9", 180 pounds, but he made plenty of plays in one-on-one drills and should get mid-round consideration as a potential nickelback.

Minnesota's Eric Murray was the most physical of the corners this week, often going too far and getting too grabby with opposing receivers. Virginia's Maurice Canady has an intriguing combination of size—6'1", 191 pounds—length and quickness, as does LSU's Jalen Mills, who is 6'1", 194 pounds. Northern Iowa's Deiondre' Hall is raw and rail thin, but he's a fantastic natural athlete with the kind of swagger it takes to be a successful NFL corner.

Specialists

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Of all the specialists in this year's Senior Bowl, the one to keep the closest eye on is Duke kicker Ross Martin, a four-time All-ACC selection who ranks second all-time in points scored in conference history.

Martin provided one of the most impressive moments from any of this week's practices, nailing a 60-yard field goal in windy conditions and despite a poor snap.

This year's rosters are full of dynamic return specialists, as well. Ohio State's Braxton Miller, Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard and both Cyrus Jones and Kenyan Drake of Alabama are explosive playmakers who should make an instant impact on special teams in the NFL.

Players to Watch

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Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

There was plenty of buzz about Wentz before practices even began in Mobile, and he lived up to the hype. Wentz looks the part of a franchise quarterback in every way, and he instantly took command of the North team this week. He's firmly planted himself to be the first signal-caller taken in this year's draft.

Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky

Spence's behind-closed-doors interviews with NFL teams were likely the most important part of his Senior Bowl week, but his on-field performance proved he belongs in the top-10 conversation. He was nearly unblockable for most of the week, with an explosiveness reminiscent of Khalil Mack.

Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State

Miller entered the week as a projected mid-round gadget-type prospect, but he'll leave Mobile as a potential first-rounder. He looked way more refined as a receiver than most could have expected, and his combination of size—6'1", 204 pounds—and explosiveness may entice a team to take a chance on him in the top 32 picks.

Darian Thompson, S, Boise State

Thompson was the best overall safety prospect heading into the week, and he further solidified that with his performance in practice. He's a balanced player who can cover and hit, and his attitude and enthusiasm will make him an effective leader early in his NFL career.

Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

Spriggs showed some weaknesses during Thursday's practice, but his overall performance was strong. He's incredibly athletic and should challenge Ohio State's Taylor Decker to be the third offensive tackle off the board this year.

Practice Winners

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Carson Wentz, Braxton Miller, Noah Spence, Jihad Ward and Sheldon Rankins were among the bigger names who impressed during this week's practices, but here are a few players who pleasantly surprised Senior Bowl attendees with their performances.

1. Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana: Despite the presence of a truckload of bigger names at corner, Miller was arguably the best cover man in Mobile.

2. Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech: No position group was deeper or played better than the interior defensive linemen, and Butler was one of the top performers on either roster. Despite weighing in at 325 pounds, he was quick and explosive while displaying the power you'd expect from a defender his size.

3. Jay Lee, WR, Baylor: Quite a few receivers impressed this week, but Lee had the most out-of-nowhere performance I saw from this group. After weighing in at just under 6'2" and 214 pounds, Lee made a handful of great catches, showing a combination of ball skills and focus that didn't show up on his film. He'll be an intriguing evaluation for NFL decision-makers.

Practice Losers

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1. Willie Beavers, OG, Western Michigan: Beavers was the most outmatched player from either squad. He fared slightly better when playing inside at guard, but when forced to block in space on the edge, Beavers struggled against both speed and power.

2. Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State: It's not entirely Fackrell's fault that he's on this list. He was asked to line up off the ball way too much, instead of where he's at his best, which is as a pass-rusher off the edge. Still, teams should see a potential impact edge player on tape, which will keep his draft stock from moving in reverse.

3. Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State: Though he finished with a strong performance Thursday, Burbridge had a difficult time creating separation. When he did find himself with some space against his defender, he had multiple drops on balls that should have been routine catches.