Practices in Mobile, Ala. have concluded, and several players put in a good week that could ultimately bump up their draft status.
MOBILE, Ala.: A full week of Senior Bowl practices has come and gone, so that means it's time take a look at the players who helped and hurt their stock in the 2015 NFL Draft.
It should be noted that this isn't a complete indictment on these players – for good or bad. But watching practices offers a different perspective. For the players who struggled, it should force people go back and double check what they saw in games.
As our coverage has noted previously, LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins and Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton played as expected. That expectation was a high level of play, so they're not listed here. They should both be in the discussion for the top 12 picks.
STOCK UP
Players from Miami
What the Miami players showed this week, it's almost impossible to figure out how the Hurricanes finished 6-7 this season. Tight end Clive Walford showed better athleticism than expected – especially on a diving catch Wednesday – and should be back in the discussion as being the first tight end drafted. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett relied on his speed to beat defensive backs, whether he was working the slot or outside. Both of those players could be second-round picks. Linebacker Denzel Perryman looked as you'd expect before he got injured. Cornerback Ladarius Gunter showed flashes. Really, that's all he needed to do. At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, a team is going to love Gunter's length and ability to get his hand up and tip away passes.
Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke
In an all-star game environment, it can be challenging for an established interior blocker to improve their stock. Basically, they are who we think they are. But Tomlinson was the exception all week. Of all the North blockers, none did better against Washington's Danny Shelton than Tomlinson. He gets good leverage and ability to hold his position. I probably had Tomlinson ranked higher than most as a late second- to early third-round pick, but now he's getting buzz in that area.
Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke
Forget Crowder's height and hand size. Just watch him play. Hopefully that's what NFL teams do. If they do, they'll see a wide receiver who gets up field after the catch in a hurry and a crisp route runner. Crowder is the type of wide receiver you can pick on the third day and he'll have a solidly productive rookie season.
Kevin White, CB, TCU
Because he's not the biggest cornerback, White has to rely on his instincts more so than any other cornerback in the Senior Bowl. Throughout the week he did that and seemed to play with an edge. He's a player people will have to go back to the tape on and make sure he wasn't just having one good week. But if his performance against West Virginia is any indication, he wasn't. White seems to have everything you want in a cornerback except size and length.
Shaq Mason, G, Georgia Tech
Speaking of a player's tape, Mason has tape that is hard to translate to the NFL since he played in a Georgia Tech option offense that always had him moving. In Mobile, he was asked to be immobile. Ha, that was a joke. Anyway, Mason showed he can hold his position thanks to good strength and leverage. Mason is a squatty blocker who can hold onto his blocks.
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
After Shelton, the most consistently good defensive player for the North this week was Davis. He had a quiet season due to a lot of double teams. But he showed in Mobile, especially in one-on-one drills, that he's an incredibly skilled and powerful tackle. There is going to be a debate over the next couple months about Davis and Malcom Brown of Texas about which one could slide into the first round.
Stephone Anthony, MLB, Clemson
There isn't a lot of flash to Anthony. He's just fast enough, just big enough and just instinctual enough. But when you combine all of those things, you have a solid three-down linebacker. When Perryman went down with an injury this week, Anthony seized the moment. He displayed a knack for filling a gap versus the run and enough fluidity to keep up in coverage. Anthony went from being a late Day 3 player to an early Day 3 player.
Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware
After Walford, the best tight end at the Senior Bowl was Boyle. At first he stood out for his run blocking and during pass blocking drills. But as practices progressed, he has good hands and uses his frame to get open. His play in Mobile was reminiscent to Crockett Gilmore last year. Boyle isn't the fastest, but other than that he projects as a good No. 2 tight end and a good late-round pick.
Small-school gems
It wasn't just Boyle who looks like he'll make the successful jump to the NFL. On Thursday, you met Hobart College offensive lineman Ali Marpet. Samford safety Jaquiski Tartt had a good week. He is a physical safety, but showed he can hold up in coverage. In a draft class that needs that type of safety, Tartt dramatically improved his stock. Central Arkansas wide receiver Dezmin Lewis had the sort of week that should lock up a spot in the draft for him. He showed the ability to high point the ball and looks fluid and speedy. When you add in that he's 6-foot-3, you get solid prospect to mold. Northern Iowa running back David Johnson looked like the best all-around running back in practices. He can handle himself in pass protection and is a good runner. But it's his skills as a pass catcher that will keep him on an NFL roster. Johnson's versatility could lead to a productive NFL career.
STOCK DOWN:
T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Make no mistake, Clemmings is still probably going to be a top 20 pick. And maybe Clemmings was just a victim to the circumstance. But when Titans coaches had him on the left side in drills, he didn't look good. He looked like what you'd expect from player who played just two years at right tackle. His handwork was inconsistent and coaches were often drilling him on where to target. If anyone considered Clemmings a potential left tackle, he showed this week he needs to stay on the right side. Really, there's nothing wrong with that, though.
Quarterbacks
Another all-star game, another week of lackluster quarterback play. Throughout the week the quarterbacks in Mobile were missing easy throws, throwing interceptions, dropping snaps and bobbling handoffs. There were six in attendance – Bryan Bennett of Southeast Louisiana, Shane Carden of East Carolina, Garrett Grayson of Colorado State, Sean Mannion of Oregon State, Bryce Petty of Baylor and Blake Sims of Alabama. How many of these guys will have a draftable grade? Three? Grayson looked the best of the group, but still missed too many easy throws.
Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
The issue with Montgomery entering the week was how well he runs routes and finds the deep ball. Stanford liked to use him in the quick passing game, and it showed during practices. Montgomery will have to be put a team that utilizes his assets as a versatile offensive weapon. If they want him to come in and be a traditional receiver who runs a full route tree, they may be disappointed.
Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
Not to make this an anti-Ty brigade, but Sambrailo had a chance to really show himself as a top 40 pick in Mobile. He didn't. Sambrailo's play clearly shows he's a player who has to add strength and may need to sit a year to do so in an NFL strength program. If he does get stronger, Sambrailo is a good left tackle candidate because of his flexibility and foot quickness. But defensive players often drove him backward and shed him during practices.
Ben Koyack, TE, Notre Dame
Whatever team drafts Koyack will have to do so with the understanding that he's limited as mostly a receiving tight end and not much else. His blocking was criticized early in the week and he didn't make many memorable plays on Thursday. He's not on the same level as Troy Niklas last year or Tyler Eifert the year before.
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