NFL
By Bill Carroll
“All things are ready, if our mind be so.” William Shakespeare
King Henry (act 4 scene 3)
Events like the Reese’s Senior Bowl are informative, enticing, tantalizing but also basically unfair. Some players at some positions are positioned to have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. For defensive linemen, offensive lineman, tight ends and wide receivers the Reese’s Senior Bowl is a potential bonanza. For quarterbacks and running backs there are still some chances to shine, but they are more limited and selective. For special team prospects it is a chance to see beautiful Mobile and hobnob with football and football media’s elites.
At the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Wednesday, the second day of padded practice and quite frankly the first day that pads were required, most of the players who were most impressive, continued to solidify there standing. I am going divide the prospects that I studied into the following categories: Accruing Dividends&Interest-players who came in with high expectations and have met or exceeded them, Venture Capital-higher risk versus reward players who have been flashy but inconsistent and Sunk Cost- Players who came in with buzz and excitement attached to them that have not provided a return on that interest.
Accruing Dividends&Interest
The Miami duo of Elijah Arroyo and Xavier Restrepo are largely living off of the windfall that they deposited day one, but Restrepo was a bit less dominant on Wednesday. Arroyo, however continued to be a handful for both linebackers and defensive backs. Grey Zabel is that dude! He was been asked to play at three different positions. He was flat out a menace at right guard and very effective at center and left guard. Another possible tackle to guard projection, Missouri’s Armand Membou has left Mobile after battling gastroenteritis for the past few days. But before he left he made an indelible impression.
was my third favorite pass rusher among those who attended the Reese’s Senior Bowl. If not for the ultra flashy highlight repetitions of Mike Green or Shemar Stewart, he would be even more discussed.
“Marshall edge Mike Green – who had the practice field buzzing after this rep earlier today in 1-on-1’s – has opted to withdraw from the rest of the Senior Bowl week and head home to continue with his draft prep,”
Field Yates wrote on X. He also reported that Stewart
and corner-back Trey Amos of Mississippi have also withdrawn from further participation here at Reese’s Senior Bowl. I am a bit disappointed, but I completely understand. This week, I did not see much from Amos, so I will be revisiting him on tape. He had a bit of a banged up ankle, but he showed good technique with regard to using proper leverage and the ability to wall off receivers and deny them access to the ball.
Jackson Slater the “other” FCS interior offensive lineman has been steady and kept showing why he Did not allow a sack or a QB hit during the season. He is flexible, tenacious and plays with controlled violence.
Linebacker Jack Kiser is clearly linebacker who is solid in all areas. A potential NFL starting CB is Louisville’s Quincy Riley, he showed the speed that made him South Carolina’s Boys 4A Track Player of the Year in 2019, a top 100M sprinter, with a 10.4 personal record and a 10.89 100-meter dash at MTSU. He showed nuance in reading routes and made smooth breaks on the ball. NC&AT/Virginia Tech RB, Bhayshul Tuten displayed natural hands, tremendous foot quickness
Venture Capital
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
Darius Alexander was a preseason member of my All Underappreciated Team. Watch his game versus Miami of Ohio to see how disruptive he can be. He came in at 6’3 5/8″ 304 and with 34″ arms. He has elements of Milton Williams and even a soupçon of Cam Heyward. Demetrius Knight, S. Carolina linebacker, CB Mac McWilliams of Central Florida, Texas’ Barryn Sorrell and Darien Porter the “Seattle CB” from Iowa State has been in my top four corners here at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and he had his best day so far. Porter is 6’2 3/8″ 197 with 33 1/4″ arms and wingspan of 79 3/8″. That alone will get some teams all hot and bothered. Additionally he had his best day Wednesday. He is a converted wide receiver and at times his newness to defense shows. He will be an immediate impact special teams player who has surprising acceleration and change of direction for a player his height. He is already 24 and still raw so he is a risk/reward prospect.
Sunk Cost
Harold Fannin Jr. and Jalen Milroe are divisive prospects. Each has special qualities, but also weaknesses. Fannin “won” his weigh-in coming in at 6’3 1/8″ 238, for comparison, that is a 1/2″ taller but 5 pounds lighter than George Kittle was at the same point in his career. Size and speed were the two biggest questions about him. Size was answered, however his speed and explosiveness are being questioned. He looked tentative on Tuesday, but was better on Wednesday. Perhaps Thursday will be his breakout?
Milroe is a tremendous young man, a great athlete, but as a passer the only consistent thing about him is his inconsistency. He varies overthrowing with under-throwing his targets and over striding with under striding. I simply am not seeing a future NFL starter at QB.
I am heading to practice now, perhaps Thursday will change my impressions of these players. I will be back soon with more.
