Senior Bowl 2015: Results and Prospects Who Boosted Draft Stock at Showcase
Some argue that there is little a prospect can do to boost his stock at the Senior Bowl.
Tell that to Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Quinten Rollins and others.
The 2015 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, did not go as planned for some fast risers like Auburn wideout Sammie Coates. As Bill Vilona of the Pensacola News Journal explains, he played in only one half due to injury:
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There is time for a prospect such as Coates to recover, though.
For the game's biggest winners, a strong week of practice and proof in actual live action against the best of the best means the world for their draft outlook.
The biggest stock risers from the North's 34-13 win against the South are as follows.
Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio)
Now the draft world knows Rollins' name.
A bigger corner at 6'0" and 179 pounds, whispers around Mobile for the past week centered on the Miami product thanks to his frame, athleticism and nose for the football.
Rollins put that entire package together for a major play during Saturday's game, as Bleacher Report's Dan Hope explains:
Miami Athletics captured the highlight:
Now that the globe knows his name, the sky truly is the limit for Rollins.
Carl Davis, DL, Iowa
The 2015 draft class somewhat lacks that must-have nose tackle.
At 6'5" and 315 pounds, Iowa's Carl Davis may steal that status outright after a productive week.
Davis turned heads in practice all week long, as NFL Network's Mike Mayock notes, via NFL.com's Chase Goodbread.
"On tape at Iowa, he flashed, here he did way more than that. He played every snap, he showed athleticism, an ability to push the pocket and get to the quarterback," Mayock said. "He may have elevated himself right into the first round and that's what this game is all about."
That same praise can apply to Davis' performance in the game itself.
It is easier to count the times Davis was not in the backfield than to count the times he was, as his high motor and athleticism for a man his size made short work of the opposition.
Look for Davis to use the Senior Bowl as a stepping stone to greater things.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, LB, UCLA
Odighizuwa is another defender who put the spotlight to good use.
As Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net notes, the UCLA product put on a show in practices that will put him in first-round chatter moving forward:
At 6'3" and 270 pounds, Odighizuwa is a physical freak pro teams covet as edge-rushers. In that regard, he did well Saturday, routinely using a variety of moves to sneak past offensive linemen and apply pressure.
The 2015 class is very deep when it comes to rushers, but Odighizuwa is now a top name to monitor.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
Running back is a dead position—or so they say.
When it comes to the 2015 class, there seems to be a consensus that no back will come off the board in the first round, and none will surpass Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon.
Ameer Abdullah's recent performance may help him put both theories to the test.
At this point, it is silly to knock his size at 5'9" and 195 pounds considering the every-down nature of the position. Abdullah showed well on the ground and through the air so much Saturday that he was named MVP:
Abdullah's vision, balance and sheer all-around skill held up well against top-tier competition, as expected.
Become familiar with his name, because Abdullah is on the path to becoming an early selection.
La'el Collins, OL, LSU
If there were any doubts about LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins before the Senior Bowl, they are now nonexistent.
Some were right to doubt Collins as much more than a guard or a mauling right tackle at 6'5" and 321 pounds. As Mike Loyko of NEPatriotsDraft.com helps to point out, though, his athleticism on display Saturday helps to make a case for his playing any spot on the line at the next level:
The 2015 class is wide open at offensive tackle in a way the draft has not seen in years.
Any number of names could wind up being the first lineman off the board come draft day, but with the way Collins' stock continues to rise, it would be unwise to bet against him.
Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Rosters and info courtesy of SeniorBowl.com unless otherwise specified.
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