Senior Bowl 2015: Full Team Rosters and Predictions for Top Draft Prospects
Many of the nation's best prospects are in Mobile, Alabama for the 2015 Senior Bowl, and they'll put their talents on display in Saturday's game after a week of working with NFL coaches and in front of scouts.
The early impressions have now been made for these players, with so much access to their week of practicing and countless groundwork prior to that. But prospects can separate themselves from others by showing up when the lights come on.
Prospects have already made their impressions on Bleacher Report's Matt Miller and Matt Bowen, who were on hand to share what they learned on Day 2 of practice:
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With a handful of players at each position and everyone guaranteed to see the field, you won't see any eye-popping statistical numbers in the Senior Bowl. But every yard gained by those below will be big in proving that they can make it in the NFL.
The Senior Bowl is finally here, so let's get to know the complete team rosters and look at how some of the most notable players will perform.
| QB Bryce Petty (Baylor) | CB Quandre Diggs (Texas) |
| QB Sean Mannion (Oregon St.) | CB Doran Grant (Ohio State) |
| QB Shane Carden (East Carolina) | CB Quinten Rollins (Miami Oh.) |
| RB Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska) | CB Eric Rowe (Utah) |
| RB David Cobb (Minnesota) | CB Steven Nelson (Oregon St.) |
| RB Jeremy Langford (Michigan State) | CB Josh Shaw (USC) |
| FB Tyler Varga (Yale) | S Damarious Randall (Arizona St.) |
| TE Casey Pierce (Kent State) | S Adrian Amos (Penn St.) |
| TE Ben Koyack (Notre Dame) | S Ibraheim Campbell (Northwestern) |
| TE Nick Boyle (Delaware) | S Kurtis Drummond (Michigan St.) |
| WR Antwan Goodley (Baylor) | DE Henry Anderson (Stanford) |
| WR Vince Mayle (Washington State) | DE Deion Barnes (Penn St.) |
| WR Tony Lippett (Michigan State) | DE Hau'oli Kikaha (Washington) |
| WR Ty Montgomery (Stanford) | DE Marcus Hardison (Arizona St.) |
| WR Devin Smith (Ohio State) | DE Za'Darius Smith (Kentucky) |
| WR Jamison Crowder (Duke) | DE Nate Orchard (Utah) |
| WR Justin Hardy (East Carolina) | DT Carl Davis (Iowa) |
| OT Ali Marpet (Hobart) | DT Louis Trinca-Pasat (Iowa) |
| OT Trenton Brown (Florida) | DT Danny Shelton (Washington) |
| OT Rob Havenstein (Wisconsin) | ILB Hayes Pullard (USC) |
| OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh) | ILB Jeff Luc (Cincinnati) |
| OT Jamil Douglas (Arizona State) | OLB Zach Hodges (Harvard) |
| OT Donovan Smith (Penn State) | OLB Mike Hull (Penn St.) |
| C Max Garcia (Florida) | OLB Jordan Hicks (Texas) |
| C Chris Jasperse (Marshall) | PK Tom Obarski (Concordia-St. Paul) |
| G Laken Tomlinson (Duke) | PT Kyle Loomis (Portland State) |
| G Robert Myers (Tennessee St.) | LS Joe Cardona (Navy) |
| QB Garrett Grayson (Colorado St.) | CB Ladarius Gunter (Miami) |
| QB Blake Sims (Alabama) | CB JaCorey Shepherd (Kansas) |
| QB Nick Marshall (Auburn) | CB Kevin White (TCU) |
| RB Cameron Artis-Payne (Auburn) | CB Senquez Golson (Ole Miss) |
| RB David johnson (Northern Iowa) | CB Imoan Claiborne (Northwestern St.) |
| FB Jalston Fowler (Alabama) | CB D'Joun Smith (Florida Atlantic) |
| FB Connor Neighbors (LSU) | S Clayton Geathers (Central Florida) |
| TE C.J. Uzomah (Auburn) | S Cody Prewitt (Ole Miss) |
| TE Clive Walford (Miami) | S Anthony Jefferson (UCLA) |
| TE Devin Mahina (BYU) | S Jaquiski Tartt (Samford) |
| WR Phillip Dorsett (Miami) | DE Markus Golden (Missouri) |
| WR Devante Davis (UNLV) | DE Preston Smith (Mississippi State) |
| WR Josh Harper (Fresno St.) | DE Trey Flowers (Arkansas) |
| WR Tyler Lockett (Kansas St.) | DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (UCLA) |
| WR Sammie Coates (Auburn) | DT Joey Mbu (Houston) |
| WR Donatella Luckett (Harding) | DT Grady Jarrett (Clemson) |
| WR Dezmin Lewis (Central Arkansas) | DT Kaleb Eulls (Mississippi State) |
| WR Rannell Hall (Central Florida) | DT Gabe Wright (Auburn) |
| OT Tayo Fabuluje (TCU) | ILB Amarlo Herrera (Georgia) |
| OT Daryl Williams (Oklahoma) | ILB Stephone Anthony (Clemson) |
| OT Austin Shepherd (Alabama) | ILB Denzel Perryman (Miami) |
| OT Ty Sambrailo (Colorado St.) | OLB Martrell Spaight (Arkansas) |
| OT La'el Collins (LSU) | OLB Lorenzo Mauldin (Louisville) |
| C Reese Dismukes (Auburn) | OLB Lynden Trail (Norfolk State) |
| C Dillon Day (Mississippi State) | LS Andrew East (Vanderbilt) |
| G Arie Kouandjio (Alabama) | PK Justin Manton (Louisiana Monroe) |
| G Shaq Mason (Georgia Tech) | - |
| G Tre Jackson (Florida State) | - |
Note: Team rosters courtesy of the Senior Bowl official site.
Predictions for Top Prospects
Nick Marshall, QB/CB, Auburn (South)
Former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall isn't high on the list of top NFL prospects in Mobile this weekend but a lot can change in the pre-draft season. And it's already begun changing for Marshall.
The last switch Marshall made, however, may take some getting used to. He was invited to the Senior Bowl as a quarterback after refusing to take an automatic invite as a defensive back. But that has now changed, per SEC Network:
Marshall's ability to play quarterback at the college level was never in question, at least at Auburn, where he led the Tigers to the brink of a national championship with his innate dual-threat capabilities. But despite progressing as a passer in his senior season, he made the switch to give himself the best chance to get drafted and thrive in the NFL.
His performances at corner haven't been perfect in practice, but he had no trouble showcasing his speed and impressive coverage skills, as ESPN's Todd McShay credited him for:
He might get a series or two at quarterback simply because he's one of three on the roster and was invited as such, but these games are draft showcases. And that means Marshall will get plenty of run on the outside, which will come against some of the nation's most prominent wide receivers.
Even in limited play, Marshall will be tested simply due to his inexperience at the position. He may give up one or two plays, but he will make up for them with a couple of batted balls. But simply playing on both sides of the ball will make Marshall's Senior Bowl performance an historic one.
Marshall's predicted stats: 30 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, 2 pass break-ups, 2 tackles
David Cobb, RB, Minnesota (North)
The emergence of Minnesota running back David Cobb is the perfect example of the Senior Bowl booming a player's stock.
When the running backs were named for the Senior Bowl, the names that jumped off the page on the North side were Ameer Abdullah and Jeremy Langford. But the third Big Ten back to join them is running away with the storylines.
Mike Loyko of NEPatriotsDraft.com had no problem crowning Cobb as his best back in Mobile after what he's put on display:
The former Golden Gopher checks most of the boxes for an NFL running back. He possesses the speed to get to the edge or out-run defensive backs, a low pad level to absorb contact and can push the pile with impressive strength and durability.
It's tough for skill position players to emerge in games like this, when they're not only sharing the ball with a number of other similarly talented players but going up against a fresh and star-studded defense every time. But Cobb has been getting it done in practice in Mobile, and he will have no trouble translating that to the field to put a bow on a memorable week.
Cobb's predicted stats: 9 rushes, 45 yards, TD
Nate Orchard, DE, Utah (North)
Most of the top pass-rushing prospects in the 2015 class aren't in Mobile, but Utah defensive end Nate Orchard continues to make up for it.
After an incredible 2014 season left Orchard claiming the Ted Hendricks Award given to the top college football defensive end, his stock is peaking entering the draft season. It's not due to the whopping 18.5 sacks he accumulated in 2014 but rather his impressive skill set and versatility.
At 6'4" and 252 pounds, Orchard might struggle to line up with his hand on the ground off the bat, but he should be able to thrive as an edge-rusher—perhaps in a 3-4 outside-linebacker spot. Even if he is undersized, B/R's Miller sees enough strength for him to get by:
Destined for an early-round draft pick, Orchard won't have any problems showcasing his skills even against the top offensive tackles he'll face Saturday. His ability to switch from a physical rusher to a nimble one from one play to the next will have opponents reeling and unable to stop him.
Expect Orchard to take over a couple of plays as he leaves his fingerprints on the Senior Bowl.
Orchard's predicted stats: 3 tackles, sack, tackle for loss
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