Winners from Senior Bowl Week
Javon Kinlaw DT
Before going down with an injury, Kinlaw proved to be a man amongst boys at Senior bowl practice. He dominated 1-on-1’s not only with power, but speed and technique as well.
Van Jefferson WR
Jefferson’s route running and footwork drew rave reviews from everyone in Mobile, Alabama from his first rep up until the main event was over. He routinely created separation with precision footwork and surprising short-area quickness.
Lloyd Cushenberry
Cushenberry established himself as one of the top Center prospects in the draft with his week at the senior bowl. With other players taking turns getting beaten by Javon Kinlaw, Cushenberry stood out as one of few players able to hold their own and then some.
KJ Hill WR
It’s quickly becoming a Wide Receiver league in the NFL, and sharp route runners will be at a premium. A trend that plays directly into the hands of KJ Hill. Like Jefferson, Hill wowed with his quickness and route-running ability. His skill set translates nicely into an NFL slot receiver and maybe even more.
Darnay Holmes CB
Not only did scouts see the speed and athleticism they witnessed at UCLA, but they also saw an infectious personality and boundless energy. Holmes’ energy on a play by play basis carried on throughout the defense and raised the level of competition. Coaches love those types of players.
Kyle Dugger S/LB
Coming from a small school, there were questions about the level of competition that Kyle Dugger faced and concerns about whether he could play with the “big boys”. Dugger emphatically answered all questions with his ability to cover in man to man situations and speed and strength playing close to the line of scrimmage.
Denzel Mims WR
Another receiver who had his way with defensive backs in 1-vs-1 coverage. Mims won with strength at the line of scrimmage and a strong ability to catch the ball at it’s highest point. Mims also showed some quickness in and out of his breaks that weren’t on tape.
Joshua Kelley RB
One of the biggest winners of the week. Kelley opened eyes with his speed, power, and receiving ability all week long. In the game, he ran for over 100 yards using quickness, vision, and a bruising style to kill the clock in the fourth quarter. Kelley made his claim to be one of the top RB in this class.
Darius Anderson RB
Not to be outdone by Kelley, Anderson put together a strong week as well. Capped off by a 75-yard catch and run for a Touchdown, Anderson showed how his speed and power combination could cause trouble for opposing defenses.
Lamical Perine RB
The running back position was the big winner at the senior bowl. Lamical Perine is the next in line to show off his three-down RB potential. Perine got his work done with good contact balance and exceptional quickness.
Bradlee Anae DE
Anae proved himself to be a fearsome pass rusher at the Senior bowl. Not only does he use his great speed to get around slower offensive tackles, but he also uses ferocious rip and swim moves to keep hands off of him while he’s rushing. Bradlee Anae showed that he’s ready to go hunt QB’s now.
Justin Herbert QB
During the game, Herbert showed a strong arm and accuracy, but we already knew about that. What was impressive was his poise in the pocket, quick decision making, and mobility to hurt the defense still when the play broke down. Herbert is already one of the best Quarterbacks in this draft. On Saturday, he made a case for being THE best.
BONUS: LOSERS AT THE SENIOR BOWL
Essang Bassey CB
It was a terrible week for Bassey. He was routinely beaten by a variety of receivers. A few bad reps really exposed his lack of speed and quickness, couple that with his obvious size limitations, and you have a recipe for disaster. Essang Bassey is going to have a lot to prove when the Combine rolls around.
Ashtyn Davis
Davis had a chance to show off the track speed and range that he was known for in school. In a somewhat shallow Safety class, Davis had a small window of opportunity to force himself into first-round consideration. Sadly a shoulder injury ended his week before it even started.
We’ll check back on all these guys when Combine and Pro Days roll around.