2016 NFL Draft: Prospects Who Are Turning Heads at the Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is one of the most important events on the road to the NFL draft, and many of this year's hopefuls have gathered once again in Mobile, Alabama, this week to show their stuff against some of the best talent in the nation.
The annual all-star game gives senior prospects a unique opportunity to showcase their on-field talent as well as meet with teams and media, doing everything they can to improve their draft stock ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine.
Some prospects have delivered on the hype they had heading into this week, such as North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Eastern Kentucky pass-rusher Noah Spence. But others have raised eyebrows with their performance so far this week in both good and bad ways.
Who have been the pleasant surprises in Mobile so far?
Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State
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Kevin Byard has a long track record of making big plays for the Blue Raiders—he set a school record with 19 career interceptions—and he's flashed that playmaking ability multiple times this week.
After grabbing two interceptions in Wednesday's practice, Byard told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the skills he has that will allow him to succeed in the NFL:
"Just my ball-hawking skills that I displayed in college, I know will help me out in the league. I definitely think it helped me out here today. I was making plays. I can definitely play against anybody. I’m facing the highest competition and I enjoyed it today.
Just my coverage skills. Show them my intensity. Show them that I can take great angles to the ball. Just be a ball player. Just flying round to the ball.
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At 5'11", 216 pounds, Byard has a solid frame but still brings the fluidity and explosiveness that allow him to be a playmaker both in coverage and in the box against the run. His college production speaks for itself, and his performance so far in Mobile against some of the best talent in the country is proving he has what it takes to make an impact in the NFL.
Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech
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There have been plenty of scatback types at this year's Senior Bowl, but Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon has easily been the most complete player at the position all week long.
Pro Football Focus outlined Dixon's receiving skills in practice this week while pointing out his ability to contribute on every down:
"He really stood out as a pass-catcher during Wednesday’s practice, consistently getting open in one-on-one and team drills. His route-running appears to be very advanced for a running back.
Dixon’s explosiveness, both as a receiver and as a runner, was on display all season long. He ranked fifth among draft-eligible running backs in breakaway percentage (49 percent of his yards came off of breakaway runs), first in yards per pass route run, and first in elusive rating, which measures how difficult a runner is to tackle. Even more encouraging for NFL teams thinking of him as a running back with third-down capabilities: He had just two drops in 2015, and allowed just five pressures on 142 pass-blocking snaps — the 13th-best rate in the nation.
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Dixon has a solid frame at 5'10", 215 pounds, and has the most well-rounded skill set of any back in Mobile. His combination of explosiveness and toughness between the tackles, in addition to his capabilities on passing downs, could easily put him in the conversation as the second running back off the board this year after Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott.
Jihad Ward, DL, Illinois
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Senior Bowl week often showcases a few prospects who force media and fans to go back and watch more film. Illinois' Jihad Ward certainly falls into that category this year.
Kyle Crabbs of NDT Scouting and Draft Breakdown was immediately impressed with Ward on the first day of practice: "Ward…was the most impressive defensive player on the field for either team. His natural athleticism, crisp and efficient movements skills and active hands made him a handful for the likes of Joe Haeg and Jason Spriggs (who I’m leaning towards as a first-round-caliber offensive tackle)."
Ward's combination of size—6'5", 296 pounds—and power was on display during individual drills, when he showcased an explosive punch and impressive quickness for his frame. His college production wasn't much to write home about, but he's a versatile player who will force scouts to take a closer look at his tape after this week.
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Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
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Once a playmaking quarterback for the Buckeyes, Braxton Miller moved to receiver this past season. While he showed the same explosive ability he had exhibited earlier in his career, most expected Miller to be more of a raw, developmental prospect at his new position heading into the Senior Bowl.
Instead, Miller has proven to be much more than that with his performance in Mobile so far.
Matt Bowen of ESPN.com pointed out some of the traits Miller has shown off this week:
"With only one year of experience at the wide receiver position in college, I expected Miller to show some signs of choppiness in his route running, a gradual learning curve at the position that would need to be polished under pro coaching. But Miller displays the body control and flexibility to get out of his cuts to separate to the ball. It doesn't hurt that he's a top-five athlete in this draft.
That sells in the eyes of pro scouts. They want to see receivers like Miller who can slip out of press coverage at the line of scrimmage and win with top-end speed in the open field. Go get the ball and finish. That's what I'm watching here with Miller. And it's pretty consistent.
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For someone who only recently transitioned to the position, Miller looks like a much more refined receiver than most would expect. After measuring in at 6'1", 204 pounds, Miller is proving he can project as much more than just a gimmick-type player who would only be used in the slot or as a return specialist.
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
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This week's Senior Bowl practices have been littered with standouts along the defensive line, but the most impressive may be Louisville's Sheldon Rankins.
Rankins' dominant performance reminded Bleacher Report's own Mike Tanier of the one put on in 2014 by the 2015 Pro Football Focus Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald:
"Rankins…put such quick moves on offensive linemen in one-one-one drills Tuesday that they tumbled to the wet grass in one direction while he blew past them in the other. In full-squad and nine-on-nine running-game drills, Rankins routinely knifed through gaps in the offensive line and sometimes got under his blocker’s pads and shoved him into the backfield.
Wednesday’s frigid practices brought more of the same. Rankins demonstrated a nasty spin move and heavy hands when he clubbed blockers aside during one-on-one drills.
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There's no arguing with Rankins' production during his collegiate career—18 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss—and he's proving he can be disruptive against some of the best competition in the nation. He's a bit undersized at 6'1", 304 pounds, but his showing in Mobile this week may cause some teams to overlook that and let him sneak into the first-round conversation.
Jay Lee, WR, Baylor
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When it comes to Baylor pass-catchers, underclassman Corey Coleman has gotten most of the attention during the predraft process so far. But teammate Jay Lee has made the most of his trip to Mobile this week, flashing plenty of promise in practice.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com noted Lee's impressive performance after the first two days of action:
"For the second practice in a row, Baylor wide receiver Jay Lee continued to show why Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage made such a wise decision inviting him to this event. Lee has size and vertical speed, and despite a drop here and there, has made some tough catches, including a spectacular one-hander along the sideline on Wednesday.
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Lee's tape is littered with drops and inconsistent play, but his play this week will definitely send plenty of evaluators back to the film room to dig deeper on his potential. After measuring just a shade under 6'2" and 214 pounds, Lee has an intriguing combination of size and ball skills that should pique the interest of NFL teams after this week.
Tavon Young, CB, Temple
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This year's cornerback class is dominated at the top by underclassmen, but Temple's Tavon Young has made a statement this week with his performance in Mobile.
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks pointed out Young's impact after just one day of practice:
"Young is creating quite a buzz after arriving in Mobile as an under-the-radar prospect. The diminutive cover corner flashes outstanding feet and movement skills in drills, yet is even more impressive in coverage. Although his size could prevent some teams from viewing him as a potential starter, Young's athleticism and agility could make him an ideal nickel corner in most schemes.
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After measuring in at 5'9", 180 pounds, Young will likely be limited to nickel work in the NFL. But with the amount of snaps NFL defenses play in nickel and dime packages, that slot corner is basically another starter in the league today. Young has flashed playmaking ability in coverage all week long, and despite his lack of ideal size, he's looked solid in press coverage and isn't afraid to mix it up with bigger receivers.
Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
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The second Bulldog to show up on this list, Vernon Butler has been one of the many interior defenders who has flashed all week with his combination of power and explosiveness.
Butler weighed in at nearly 6'4" and 325 pounds, but he has displayed impressive quickness for his size, something that didn't escape the notice of NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.
"Butler jumps out when he's on the field," Jeremiah said. "He carries 320-plus pounds very easily. He made a play in pursuit that caught everyone's attention. He closed on the ball-carrier near the sideline, and I had to double check my roster to make sure it wasn't a linebacker making the play."
Defensive line looks to be the deepest position in this year's draft class, and that's been the case all week here in Mobile. But even among stars from bigger programs, Butler has impressed as much as any front-four player this week, which should do plenty to increase his draft stock in the coming months.
Practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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