2015 Senior Bowl: Who Are the Top Players to Watch at Every Position?
The premier game among the annual circuit of postseason all-star games for college football players, the 2015 Senior Bowl will feature some of the top prospects at each position for this year’s NFL draft class.
Senior Bowl week is already more than halfway complete, as it began Tuesday with the first of three days of practices for the North and South teams. The week will culminate with the game on Saturday (3 p.m. CT, NFL Network) in Mobile, Alabama.
While not every position group on the Senior Bowl rosters includes players who will be first-round picks, all of them have players who were invited to Mobile for a reason and are being looked at closely as potential draft picks by NFL scouts, coaches and personnel executives this week.
Every player in the Senior Bowl has an opportunity to elevate his draft stock with strong performances in practices and Saturday’s game, but some players at each position stand out above their peers, based upon their collegiate careers and/or how they have already fared in practices this week.
We’ll take a closer look at those players in the following slides.
Quarterbacks
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None of the quarterbacks in this year’s Senior Bowl should be first-round picks, but two signal-callers have a good shot at being selected on Day 2.
Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
The most polished pro-style passer in this year’s senior class, Grayson is an accurate intermediate thrower who typically makes smart decisions with the football. There is nothing physically spectacular about Grayson, but his size (6’2”, 215 lbs), arm strength and athleticism are all adequate for the position.
In a draft class that is thin at the quarterback position beyond projected top picks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, Grayson projects as a third-round selection. He should not be viewed as a team’s next franchise quarterback, but he’s good enough to be a spot starter and second-string passer.
Bryce Petty, Baylor
Petty has the size (6’3”, 230 lbs) and arm strength that NFL teams covet in quarterbacks, but he faces a tough transition to a pro-style system from Baylor’s spread offense. While he hit plenty of his open deep balls in his collegiate career, he did not consistently place the ball with precision on intermediate and deep throws.
Having suffered two cracked transverse processes in his back this past season, Petty could be medically red flagged by some teams. Still, he is in competition with Grayson to be the first senior quarterback, and third or fourth overall quarterback, off the board.
Others
None of the other signal-callers in Mobile project as top-100 picks. East Carolina’s Shane Carden and Oregon State’s Sean Mannion are both likely late-round selections, but Alabama’s Blake Sims and Southeastern Louisiana’s Bryan Bennett are likely to go undrafted.
Running Backs
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This year’s running back draft class projects as a deep one, and that is reflected by the quality of talent at the Senior Bowl, which includes three Big Ten stars and a small-school standout.
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
Abdullah is a small player, at just 5’8” and 198 pounds, but he is explosive. Quick to accelerate, he shows the lateral agility to make defenders miss in open space and good vision to find running lanes.
The Nebraska product is also a skilled pass-catcher out of the backfield. Abdullah could be limited as a between-the-tackles runner due to his lack of size and power, but he is always dangerous with the ball in his hands and can play on any down. He should be a Day 2 draft pick as a result.
David Cobb, Minnesota
Coming off a breakout senior year, Cobb is a physical runner who thrives on finishing through contact. He does not have a great burst out of the backfield or breakaway speed, but he regularly breaks tackles and consistently falls forward.
Cobb finds running lanes effectively and has enough cutting ability to make defenders miss. Once he reaches full speed, he is tough to stop. A true between-the-tackles grinder, he is a likely third- or fourth-round selection.
David Johnson, Northern Iowa
A highly productive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, Johnson might be the best receiving threat in the entire draft class of running backs.
A skilled route-runner with good hands, Johnson could end up projecting to an H-back role as a hybrid tight end/fullback/running back more than being a true tailback. He is not tremendously explosive or a true power back despite being 6’1” and 224 pounds, but he moves well downfield. His versatility should make him at least a fourth-round pick.
Jeremy Langford, Michigan State
Langford is a hard-charging runner at 6’0” and 211 pounds with deceptive speed. He has limited burst out of the backfield, which could cause him problems against NFL defenses, but he bounces off contact well once he gets past the line of scrimmage. He should only be a Day 3 draft pick but could end up being significantly productive at the next level.
Wide Receivers
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There might not be any first-round picks in the Senior Bowl’s crop of wide receivers, but many pass-catchers in the group are well within the mix to be Day 2 draft choices.
Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
Lockett is small for an NFL player at just 5’10” and 181 pounds, but he is an explosive and polished player with the skills to make an immediate impact as a slot receiver.
Both fast in a straight line and quick laterally, Lockett runs crisp routes and is a consistent pass-catcher. Also a dangerous return specialist at Kansas State, he is dangerous with the ball in his hands but also a reliable intermediate receiver. The son of former NFL wide receiver Kevin Lockett, he plays with toughness.
Antwan Goodley, Baylor
Goodley is built more like a running back than a wide receiver at 5’10” and 210 pounds, but he is dangerous both attacking the ball and with the ball in his hands.
Although he has a lack of height, he is skilled at the catch point and tracks the ball well to make plays against coverage. He can extend plays with his acceleration and ability to run through contact and is a skilled route-runner. Goodley has had some occasional issues with drops, but he’s a likely third-round pick who could be a steal.
Sammie Coates, Auburn
One of just three players in the Senior Bowl who had remaining collegiate eligibility but is able to participate this week because he graduated from college, Coates is showing in Mobile this week why some have projected him as a late first-round or early second-round pick.
Those projections might be generous, as Coates is coming off a disappointing 2014 season, but his potential is high. A 6’2”, 213-pound wideout who has terrific deep speed, Coates had some issues with drops at Auburn but is a big-play weapon who has been catching everything and running clean routes in Senior Bowl practices.
Others
Ohio State’s Devin Smith is not quite as physically imposing as Coates, but he is a similar prospect. Smith is unproven as an intermediate receiver, but he might be an even better deep threat than Coates, and the speedster is likely to be a Day 2 draft pick as a result.
There is nothing physically spectacular about East Carolina’s Justin Hardy, but the Football Bowl Subdivision’s all-time leader in receptions is a precise route-runner who catches the ball consistently. He should be a solid third-round pick.
At 5’8” and 174 pounds, Duke’s Jamison Crowder makes even Lockett look big, but he is a speedy receiver who runs clean routes and shows impressive ability to make plays on the ball. A likely third- or fourth-round pick, Crowder has seemingly elevated his draft stock by displaying his impressive skill set in Mobile this week.
Fresno State’s Josh Harper, Michigan State’s Tony Lippett, Stanford’s Ty Montgomery, Washington State’s Vince Mayle and Miami speedster Phillip Dorsett also have impressive skill sets that could make them top-100 draft choices.
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Tight Ends
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No tight ends in this year’s senior class should be first- or second-round picks, but two of the best prospects at the position in this year’s draft are in Mobile this week.
Clive Walford, Miami
At 6’4” and 254 pounds, Walford is more like an oversized receiver than a true tight end.
A dynamic playmaker who accelerates downfield well but can also make moves in the open field, Walford creates mismatches with linebackers and safeties and can turn intermediate catches into bigger gains. He is not a great in-line blocker, but his big-play ability makes him a likely third-round pick.
Ben Koyack, Notre Dame
On track to be the 10th Notre Dame tight end drafted since the turn of the century, Koyack is a traditional in-line player at the position with a well-rounded skill set.
Koyack is not a dynamic big-play threat, but he is both a consistent intermediate pass-catcher and a solid blocker at 6’5” and 249 pounds. He might not be an NFL starter, but he should be a solid addition to a team’s depth chart as an early Day 3 draft choice.
Offensive Tackles
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Three offensive tackle prospects at this year’s Senior Bowl came into the week as projected first-round draft selections.
La’el Collins, LSU
A two-year starter at left tackle for LSU, Collins is the most polished offensive tackle at the Senior Bowl.
He does not have tremendous agility and could end up projecting better to guard than tackle at the next level, but he has a strong punch and good coordination between his upper body and lower body. Having consistently held his own against the SEC’s top pass-rushers, Collins is one of this year’s top offensive line prospects and a potential top-20 pick.
Ty Sambrailo, Colorado State
At 6’6” and 309 pounds, Sambrailo is an athletic offensive tackle who uses his length well, plays with nastiness and can move defenders off the line of scrimmage. He has some issues with giving up leverage and getting pushed backward in pass protection, but he has the physical skills to potentially be a starter on either side of the line.
Sambrailo has struggled in his first two practices in Mobile and has failed to secure his position within the first round, but he still projects to be one of the top draft picks from this week’s contest.
T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Possessing an outstanding combination of length, athleticism and power, Clemmings has arguably the most potential of any offensive tackle in this year’s draft class.
A converted defensive tackle who played right tackle the past two years at Pittsburgh, Clemmings projects well to that position at the next level but remains raw. He has struggled in pass protection this week and is more of a developmental project than an immediate upgrade to an NFL offensive line.
Offensive Guards
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There aren’t any likely first-round picks within the Senior Bowl’s roster of guards, but numerous players who are coming off decorated collegiate careers could be second- or third-round selections.
Arie Kouandjio, Alabama
A long, powerful interior lineman at 6’5” and 318 pounds, Kouandjio is at his best when run blocking, as he can drive defenders off the line of scrimmage and is rarely moved backward. His 84.5” wingspan is a big asset for his pass protection, and he has decent foot skills for his size, but he has had some issues when blocking quicker inside pass-rushers this week.
Kouandjio projects as a good bet to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Cyrus Kouandjio, and be a second-round pick.
Tre Jackson, Florida State
Like Kouandjio, Jackson is a massive mauler, at 6’4” and 323 pounds, who is best known for his power to drive opponents downfield as a run-blocker. Possessing a good burst off the line of scrimmage as well, Jackson has high upside, but he didn’t dominate the way he was expected to in his senior season.
Jackson is a probable second- or third-round draft selection.
Laken Tomlinson, Duke
A four-year starter at Duke who regularly earned accolades for his work both on and off the field, Tomlinson succeeds thanks to technical prowess and intelligence. He’s not the most physically imposing or explosive blocker, but he wins with good footwork and hand placement.
A likely third-round pick, Tomlinson might be passed over for some guards who make more impact blocks, but he should be able to start quickly on an NFL offensive line.
Centers
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Among the four centers participating in this year’s Senior Bowl, only one is a sure bet to be drafted.
Reese Dismukes, Auburn
A four-year starter at Auburn, Dismukes is a smart and technically sound center. He consistently keeps his head on a swivel and is good at switching blocks within a play.
Dismukes has a chance to be the first center selected in this year’s draft, but his first two practices of Senior Bowl week have not helped his cause. Slightly undersized for a center at 6’3” and 295 pounds, Dismukes has looked physically overmatched against much of his competition and could end up falling to Day 3 of the draft as a result.
Max Garcia, Florida
Garcia is on the fringe between being a late-round draft pick and an undrafted free-agent signing, but he has had the best start to the week of any of the four centers in Mobile. There’s nothing special about the 6’4”, 305-pound center, but he has gotten his hands on his opponents and fought hard, while the other three centers have been regularly beaten in practice drills.
Defensive Ends
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The top two pass-rushers in terms of total sacks in the Football Bowl Subdivision this past year are both at the Senior Bowl, but both of them have been working as outside linebackers in practice. Nonetheless, some strong prospects have a shot at being late first-round picks.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
Although he was often overshadowed by some of his other highly talented teammates at UCLA, Odighizuwa was a regularly disruptive player on the Bruins defensive line. He is strong at the point of attack as a run-stopper, while he uses his hands and length well to work his way through blocks and get into the backfield.
Successful rushing both outside and inside, Odighizuwa is a scheme-versatile prospect but projects best as a left defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. He does not have great bend and speed for an edge defender and is slightly undersized at 6’3.5” and 266 pounds for a 3-4 defensive end.
Markus Golden, Missouri
Golden was overshadowed this past season by fellow Missouri defensive end Shane Ray—and was often hidden behind Michael Sam and Kony Ealy in previous seasons—but he is a skilled pass-rusher off the edge in his own right. He combines great athleticism with a good set of rushing moves.
At 6’2” with a wingspan of only 76.75”, Golden lacks the length NFL scouts look for in a defensive end, but he bends around the corner as well as any edge defender in the draft class. He should be a second-round draft choice.
Preston Smith, Mississippi State
Smith, who measured in at 6’5” and 270 pounds with 34” arms, has the versatility to play all along an NFL defensive line. He’s not a great speed-rusher around the edge, but he can play both inside and outside, can beat blockers with his hands and holds up well with good strength.
While he doesn't have one outstanding trait, his ability to play a wide variety of roles significantly increases his value and should push him above some other defensive ends. He has a good shot of ending up in Round 2.
Others
Hyped by a faction of media draft analysts prior to the Senior Bowl, Stanford’s Henry Anderson has made his supporters look smart in the first two practices. A 6’6”, 287-pound defensive end who exhibits great strength and hand usage, Anderson might be the best 3-4 defensive end prospect in Mobile.
Like Golden, Trey Flowers is short for a defensive end at just 6’2”, though he personally makes up for it with his arm length. Flowers has a good arsenal of pass-rushing moves, and although he is not spectacular physically, he is an overall well-rounded player.
The defensive MVP of last week’s Shrine Game, Za’Darius Smith has continued to establish himself as a Day 2 draft pick by continuing to perform well at the Senior Bowl. A big 4-3 defensive end prospect at 6’5” and 270 pounds, Smith has effective pass-rushing moves and sets the edge well against the run.
Defensive Tackles
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Led by Danny Shelton, the Senior Bowl’s crop of defensive tackles has some highly intriguing physical specimens.
Danny Shelton, Washington
Shelton looks like a nose tackle at 6’2” and 343 pounds, yet he plays more like a penetrating tackle. Possessing rare athleticism for a man of his size, Shelton is explosive off the snap and can actively make plays all along the line of scrimmage.
At the collegiate level, Shelton has typically been able to win his battles by overmatching his opponent's physically. In the NFL, he will need to do more with his hands to work off blocks. Still, his combination of mass, quickness and power gives him huge upside and will make him one of the top draft picks from this year’s Senior Bowl.
Carl Davis, Iowa
Davis’ senior season at Iowa failed to live up to expectations, but he is impressive when he is at his best. Fast for his size (6’5”, 321 lbs) with long arms and quick pass-rushing moves, Davis has the skills to burst into the backfield and blow up plays in a hurry.
Although he was never consistently dominant at the collegiate level, Davis is a high-upside talent who should be a second-round draft choice.
Marcus Hardison, Arizona State
Hardison is best suited to continue playing defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, like he did at Arizona State, but he is working as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 unit at the Senior Bowl.
Combining a great burst for a 6’3”, 311-pound defender with good point-of-attack strength and adequately long arms, Hardison broke out in his senior season and is a rising talent. A likely third- or fourth-round pick, he has the skills to be disruptive despite being somewhat raw and inexperienced. He has the potential to continue developing into a terrific player.
Outside Linebackers
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The majority of prospects working as outside linebackers this week are players who were used primarily as edge defenders for their college programs but are facing potential transitions to linebacker roles at the next level.
Hau’oli Kikaha, Washington
The FBS leader in 2014 with 19 sacks, Kikaha is arguably the most skilled pass-rusher in this year’s draft. He has terrific hands to work his way off blockers and a burst that enables him to put himself in advantageous positions.
Rushing the passer is Kikaha’s strength, and it could make him a first-round pick, but he’s somewhat small for an edge defender at just 6’2.5” and 246 pounds. He has enough athleticism to make more plays in space and in coverage but is not naturally fluid with his movements in those capacities.
Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville
Mauldin played outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme last season after working as a defensive end in a 4-3 unit for his first three years at Louisville, and he has the skill set to play either position in the NFL. A skilled pass-rusher on the line of scrimmage and effective edge-setter versus the run, Mauldin also shows the ability to play the run in space and drop back into coverage.
At 6’4” and 256 pounds, he has good size for an NFL edge defender. He does not have the burst and quickness typically found in a first-round pass-rusher, but he should be a solid second-round pick.
Nate Orchard, Utah
Second in the FBS this past season with 18.5 sacks, Orchard was a highly productive defensive end at Utah who is experimenting with playing outside linebacker this week. Slightly undersized to play on the defensive line at 6’3” and 251 pounds, Orchard could project best to playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
Orchard does not have elite athleticism or prodigious power, but he has the foot skills to make the transition to a rush linebacker role. A skilled pass-rusher who finds technical ways to beat blockers, he should be an edge player regardless of the scheme he is drafted into but should be a solid second-round pick with his versatility to play multiple roles.
Lynden Trail, Norfolk State
Trail is one of the most physically intriguing prospects in Mobile. He has outstanding measurables for an edge defender, at 6’6” and 262 pounds with 34.75” arms, while he runs like a linebacker.
Highly productive at the Football Championship Subdivision level, Trail can be an outside pass-rusher but can also drop into coverage downfield. He is a developmental project, but his upside is huge and could entice a team to take a chance on him as early as Round 3.
Inside Linebackers
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Miami’s Denzel Perryman, the top inside linebacker at this year’s Senior Bowl, was forced out of action after one day of practice with an abdominal strain. There are multiple other linebackers in the game still who deserve top-100 consideration.
Hayes Pullard, USC
Among true linebackers who play primarily at the second level of the defense, Pullard has stood out through two days of practice as the most fluid athlete at his position in Mobile. The USC product can accelerate to the ball rapidly while he also moves well in dropping back into pass coverage.
Pullard is slightly undersized for a linebacker at just 6’0” and 236 pounds, but he is an aggressive player downhill who shows the skill to work his way around blocks. Best suited to play as a weak-side linebacker, Pullard should be a Day 2 pick in this year’s draft.
Stephone Anthony, Clemson
A true thumper at the middle linebacker position, Anthony excels at making run stops between the hashes. He has a good short-area burst at 6’2” and 245 pounds and is an authoritative tackler.
There are questions about Anthony’s range and ability to cover significant ground, but he is great at making plays in front of him. It’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play consistently well enough on pass defense to be an every-down linebacker, but he should make an instant impact for a team’s run defense as a middle-round draft pick.
Update, Thursday night: Denzel Perryman returned to practice Thursday for limited action after missing Wednesday's practice. He has not had a full opportunity to display his skill set this week, but if he is able to play in Saturday's game, he could be the best linebacker on the field.
An authoritative run-stopper who tackles well and has great short-area burst, Perryman projects as a late first- or early second-round pick. He is short for a linebacker at 5'11", and could be limited in pass defense, but he is even better than the aforementioned Anthony between the hashes.
Cornerbacks
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In a draft class that lacks a star prospect at their position, many cornerbacks among this year’s Senior Bowl participants are vying to emerge as potential early-round picks.
Eric Rowe, Utah
At 6’1” and 204 pounds, Rowe has the best combination of size, athleticism and ball skills of any cornerback in Mobile. While he does not have sprinter speed, he has fluid hips and good feet while being physical with his opponents and has good coverage instincts.
Rowe projects as a second-day draft pick, but a void in top-tier cornerback talent in this year’s class could allow him to work his way up into the late first round.
Josh Shaw, USC
Best known for lying about a pool rescue that never happened to cover up a balcony-jumping incident this past summer, Shaw can still play high-level football. A physical and fluid cornerback, he has the skills to be an outside starter in the NFL.
While teams will have questions about his infamous poor decision, Shaw has another opportunity to redeem himself on the field at the Senior Bowl, coming off a strong week at the Shrine Game. As a result, he has positioned himself to go as high as the second round.
Doran Grant, Ohio State
One of two members of Ohio State’s national championship team participating in this year’s Senior Bowl, Grant is a fluid and technically sound player with the skills to be a No. 2 or 3 cornerback on an NFL team’s depth chart.
Grant has great feet that enable to change directions quickly and stay tight to receivers on their routes. He does not stand out physically and measured in at just 5’10” and 199 pounds, but he has some ability to make plays on the ball. He projects to be a third-round pick.
Others
A former basketball player at Miami University (Ohio), Quinten Rollins is generating buzz after one very good season of playing cornerback. He measured in smaller than expected this week, at 5’11” and 193 pounds, but he exhibits physicality and has a clear skill for making plays on the ball.
Another under-the-radar cornerback prospect from a mid-major FBS program is Florida Atlantic’s D’Joun Smith. He does not have excellent size or strength at 5’10” and 189 pounds, but he is fast and fluid and has shown the ability to go toe-to-toe with the top receivers on the outside.
TCU’s Kevin White and Mississippi’s Senquez Golson were both excellent collegiate cornerbacks, but both of them are likely limited to playing slot cornerback at the next level due to a lack of size. Still, both of them should be third- or fourth-round picks because of their abilities to turn and run, close on the ball and make plays. White has slightly more size than Golson and is the better all-around prospect, although Golson is coming off a 10-interception senior year.
Safeties
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No safety at this year’s Senior Bowl has a complete skill set, but a number of attending players at the position have talents that should enable them to at least contribute in situational roles on NFL defenses.
Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State
A well-built safety at 6’1” and 205 pounds, Drummond is a good athlete with great ball skills who projects as a Day 2 draft selection.
He has trouble with route recognition on the back end and has been burned in coverage for some big plays during his collegiate career as a result. That said, he has experience playing as both a deep free safety and as an in-the-box strong safety. The latter role is his strong suit, as he excels at identifying screen passes and outside runs and then accelerating downhill to close on the ball and make a strong tackle.
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss
Like Drummond, Prewitt has the physical tools to play as either a deep free safety or as a strong safety closer to the line of scrimmage, but inconsistencies in coverage leave him better suited to play primarily in an in-the-box role.
Prewitt has great size for a safety at 6’2” and 212 pounds, and he is a solid hitter. He has good speed and the range to make plays all over the field, but he is not fluid enough defending the pass to be a regular center fielder in an NFL secondary.
Anthony Jefferson, UCLA
With experience playing both cornerback and safety, Johnson is the best coverage safety at the Senior Bowl. He is a fluid athlete who is good at finding the ball in the air and making plays upon it.
Jefferson is fairly small for a safety at 6’1” and 194 pounds, and he does not stand out as a physical tackler. He projects as a fifth or sixth defensive back more than he does a starter, but he should be a solid contributor to an NFL team in both the secondary and on special teams.
Special Teams
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The three kicking specialists and two long snappers at the Senior Bowl all might be more likely to be undrafted free-agent signings than draft picks, but one has the best chance of being a selection is pulling double duty this week.
Justin Manton, K/P, Louisiana-Monroe
Working as both the kicker and punter for the South roster this week, Manton has a chance to audition for twice as many jobs as there would potentially be if he was focusing on just one discipline.
Manton made 20 of his 24 field-goal attempts as a senior at Louisiana-Monroe, while he averaged 42.4 yards per punting attempt. He might not excel enough in either discipline to earn one of the league’s 32 place-kicking openings or punting openings, but at the least, his ability to do both with some success makes him more likely to stick with an NFL team through the preseason this summer.
All measurables were acquired firsthand at Senior Bowl weigh-ins in Mobile.
Full rosters for the 2015 Senior Bowl can be found on SeniorBowl.com.
Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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