2011 Senior Bowl: 10 Players Who Made The Most Money In Mobile
For all of the metrics that pro scouts use to evaluate a draft prospect—size and weight, subjective review of technique, and NFL Combine statistics—there’s only one variable that really matters: how a player performs in games. So with the 2010 season over for weeks, and the East-West Shrine Game played last Saturday, the one remaining way for players to set themselves apart on the field was in the Senior Bowl, yesterday in Mobile, Alabama. Only for the seniors, of course…
What makes the Senior Bowl so great? Well, if you’re an underclassman and you’re going pro, it’s usually because the scouts already have you pegged as a great NFL prospect. However, there are a handful of seniors out there whose on-paper resumes may not have the pro scouts salivating, and the Senior Bowl was their last chance to prove themselves. It’s particularly advantageous for players criticized of facing weak competition throughout the season. The Senior Bowl allows them to strut their stuff against the nation’s best seniors on the field—where it matters.
So after Saturday’s Senior showdown in Mobile, whose stock rose the highest? Which players guaranteed themselves higher rookie contracts than they would have enjoyed without the Senior Bowl? I’ve ranked the top ten participants whose performances in Mobile earned them the most money in their first NFL contracts. And it was a pretty good day for the ACC.
10. Da'Rel Scott, Maryland RB
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In a very slow day for the North offense, Scott led the team in rushing, sadly, with 15 yards. He had the only rushing touchdown for the North as well as the team's longest catch of the day for 34 yards.
There's not much hype surrounding Da'rel Scott, but the Maryland Terrapin put himself on some teams' draft boards yesterday. I expect him to be a middle round pick—3rd through 5th round—who ends up surprising a lot of people as a solid number two or three back in the pros.
9. Chas Henry, Florida P
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Don't laugh. In a defensive game, field position was crucial and the South was lucky to have Chas Henry. The Florida Gator punted six times averaging nearly 45 yards per punt, and leaving two of them inside the 20 yard line.
Special teams coaches in the NFL understand the value of a skilled punter—just ask Tom Coughlin. Punters aren't going to get picked above sure bets at other skill positions, but Henry proved yesterday that he'll make a reliable punter for whichever team drafts him. Maybe Carolina or Arizona will get him in a later round? Something tells me those teams are still going to have a lot of three-and-outs next year.
8. Derrick Locke, Kentucky RB
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Yes, Derrick Locke had limited touches in the Senior Bowl, and a few attempts that didn't go anywhere. But with a few bursts of speed and quick runs, Locke demonstrated what NFL scouts needed to see: he has the athleticism and quickness to compensate for his size at the next level.
Will Derrick Locke be a number one featured back for any NFL teams next season? Definitely not. But after showing a glimpse of his speed yesterday against other elite players, I see him moving up in the draft and being used next year in the return game and as an occasional contributor to his team's rushing attack.
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7. Kendrick Burney, North Carolina CB
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Kendric Burney entered 2010 with tons of potential, leading a strong UNC defense with monsters in the front seven, including Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn and Quan Sturdivant. We all know that most of them had their seasons shortened significantly following improper interactions with agents.
Burney missed the first seven games of his senior season and entered the Senior Bowl with much to prove. He did just that, earning Most Outstanding Player for the North squad (is North Carolina considered the North??) by leading the defense with seven tackles. Kendric Burney won't get picked ahead of Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamura, but he certainly helped his draft stock yesterday.
6. Dane Sanzenbacher, Ohio State WR
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Dane Sanzenbacher would have unquestionably won yesterday's award for "Most German Name" if that award existed. Names aside, his on-the-field play was one of the few bright spots for the North offensive squad.
He led his team in catches and yards and—let's be honest here—looked like one of the classic white, utility, short yard receivers in the NFL (i.e. Wes Welker, Brandon Stokley, etc). No teams in the NFL Draft will take him as a deep threat or a number one target, but after the Senior Bowl, I'm sure there are several offenses out there who identified Sanzenbacher as a guy who would fit in nicely with their passing game.
5. Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson DT
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Clemson fans know the value that Jarvis Jenkins provided for the Tigers' rush defense this year, but the mainstream college football fan really only knows defensive end DaQuan Bowers. With Bowers as the projected number one or two overall pick, Jenkins kind of fell through the cracks as a highly evaluated pro prospect on the defensive line.
The South squad dominated defensively in yesterday's Senior Bowl, and Jarvis Jenkins was an integral part. With Von Miller behind him and Sam Acho next to him, Jenkins helped plug up the middle as the South limited the North to 18 total yards in the first half. He proved he's a monster, and his stock went up after yesterday's game.
4. Sam Acho, Texas DE
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Was there much doubt about Sam Acho's abilities? Actually there was. Even though he was named an All-American this year, NFL Draft experts frequently list five to seven defensive ends above him on their draft boards, including DaQuan Bowers, Adrian Clayborn, Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Heyward, and Cameron Jordan.
I'm not questioning the pro potential of those guys, but Acho had an excellent Senior Bowl with a sack, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble, and he was a critical factor in shutting down the North offense in the first half. After that performance, there's a chance he breaks into the first round in April's draft.
3. Von Miller, Texas A&M LB
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Von Miller was all over the North offense yesterday, recording two tackles for loss despite recovering from sickness earlier in the week. How much did he improve his stock based on the Senior Bowl? By most standards it would be a dramatic improvement, but with Miller, the game was merely a formal confirmation of his abilities.
Although he probably performed more soundly than any other player in the game, I doubt he rises that much because he's already a projected top-five pick.
2. Leonard Hankerson, Miami WR
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Hankerson turned in one of the more overlooked seasons this past fall, breaking Michael Irvin's Miami record for touchdown catches in a season with 13. The first team all-ACCer has played in the shadows of other receivers like Torrey Smith, Justin Blackmon, Alshon Jeffrey, Julio Jones, and A.J. Green.
In yesterday's game—100 yards receiving, one touchdown—Hankerson proved to the scouts that he has elite play making potential at the next level. Before the game, people had him pegged as a top 10 receiver available in the draft; now the only receivers who I see going before him are Julio Jones and A.J. Green.
1. Christian Ponder, Florida State QB
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After his sophomore season at FSU, people started talking about the pro potential that Christian Ponder possessed, and folks down south even had him pegged as a dark horse Heisman candidate. Unfortunately, Ponder's junior and senior campaigns were marred by injury, leaving a lot of scouts wondering about his future as an NFL quarterback.
More than all of the other quarterbacks in the Senior Bowl, Ponder demonstrated his ability to control the offense, pass efficiently, and move effectively, throwing for 132 yards, two scores and no turnovers, and adding another 17 yards rushing on four carries. More than any other player, his stock rose the most dramatically.
Heading into April, most of the experts have been debating between Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert as the best pure passer prospects. Yesterday, Christian Ponder proved that he belongs in the discussion, and will be picked significantly higher than what the experts had originally predicted.
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