Senior Bowl 2012: What the Experts Are Saying from Practice Day 1

With the second day of the 2012 Senior Bowl ready to begin, let's take a look at what NFL Draft experts said about the first day of practice in Mobile, Alabama:

QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

The New York Times "Fifth Down Blog" said that Wilson was the first day's best quarterback:

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Wilson is an exceptional athlete and it showed on the first day of practice. He didn’t start particularly well, but as the session progressed he was the most impressive quarterback in the first practice of the week. 

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With a good week of practice, Wilson could boost his draft stock into the early second round range. 

CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia

According to Russ Lande of The Sporting News, Boykin was among the top defensive players during the first day:

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He showed dominant cover skills despite his size and was competitive throughout practice. He displayed outstanding quickness, explosive closing ability and rare recovery speed to deny double moves during the one-on-one period. He has what all great players at his position need: great confidence.

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There are good players above him at his position—Morris Claiborne, Dre Kirkpatrick, Alfonzo Dennard, Janoris Jenkins—but Boykin could be giving himself a chance in Mobile to be an early Day 2 pick this April.

DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

More from Lande on Ingram, who is rising up draft boards as a top pass-rushing prospect:

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While he lacks explosiveness off the edge, Ingram is very aggressive on contact, largely due to his violent hand use, strength and power. He also ran well for a man of his size, and he looked very comfortable playing off the ball in pass coverage.

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These are all comforting signs for a team that sees Ingram as a stand-up, rushing linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He should be a top 25 pick.

DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

There are worries about Coples' up-and-down senior season at UNC, but the Fifth Down Blog thought did his best to ease some of those concerns during the first day:

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Though he has no trouble getting his tall frame into a good stance, he plays a little high off the ball. Still, he routinely beat his opponent with his go-to strong rip and swim move to the inside in one-on-ones. He also flashed a good bull rush and the ability to win on the edge and quickly close the pocket. He held up well setting the edge in team drills against the run.

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If Coples continues to show dominant tendencies in Mobile, he'll lock up his position of being a top-15 pick.

CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

According to SI's Tony Pauline, Dennard had a forgettable first day in Mobile:

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Alfonzo Dennard (CB/Nebraska) has struggled. He does not show a quick backpedal and struggled transitioning to run downfield with receivers. The usually reliable Dennard has not gotten his feet underneath him yet.

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Most mocks you'll see have Dennard as a first-round pick. If he continues to struggle during the Senior Bowl, there's a good chance his stock could fall into the early to mid-second.