American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Defensive Line
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Cameron Sample, Tulane
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Sample clearly measures in a bit less than his counterparts on the defensive line, but he undoubtedly brings good juice off the line. Sample showed good energy on his first day, and he also showed flashes of fast, heavy hand usage. He did jump a snap, but there’s some upside there with the Tulane lineman.
Today was a good day for Cameron Sample. The extremely dense defensive lineman brought good burst off the line, and he also flashed a bit of bend on one rep against Jack Anderson. On top of that, Sample displayed the ability to change directions and engage in pursuit in the backfield. Traits that not all defensive linemen can utilize.
Cam Sample was nearly unblockable in one-on-one drills on Thursday. The Tulane defensive lineman is incredibly dense, but also showed off his explosiveness and quick reaction off the snap. He beat Jack Anderson with violent hands, bested Deonte Brown with a relentless swipe, and ate Drake Jackson for breakfast. Sample aggressively sought out leverage all day as a pass rusher, and in run defense, he held his own. His Thursday practice was one of the strongest performances all week on the defensive line for the American Team.
Cameron Sample was on track to have a good week before Thursday. But on Thursday, he took his game to the next level. He punctuated a strong first two days with an outstanding final act. In one-on-ones, he was dominant and displayed an enticing mix of tools. Over that stretch, he molded together quickness off the snap, fierce, energetic hands, and power at the point of attack. He also displayed exciting refinement with his pass-rushing moves, showing the ability to stack moves quickly and efficiently. Sample was one of the biggest risers of the Senior Bowl.
Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Basham is one of those players who might be an interior hybrid at the next level, and Tuesday confirmed that upside. At 6-foot-3, 281, with an 81-inch wingspan, he has the profile of a tweener. His refined hands, which showed up in spades on Tuesday, give him some flexibility on top of his physical traits. He wasn’t as explosive as his counterparts, but his urgency, hand power, and methodical approach helped to close the gap a bit.
Perhaps it should’ve been expected, but Carlos Basham Jr. has quietly had a very good week so far. The Wake Forest defensive lineman is incredibly sound mechanically, and he has strong, active hands, which he used to gain leverage. Twice, he beat Trey Jones on the interior. That’s not a matchup to take lightly. Basham’s stock had hit a bit of a lull heading into this offseason, but he’s doing well to strengthen his reputation again.
Basham had a few more strong reps on Thursday, especially in one-on-ones. He was a little more up-and-down there than usual, but swiped Deonte Brown’s hands for a victory on one rep. He struggled more versus the run, where his traits didn’t translate quite as well on the interior. It wasn’t as strong a day for Basham, but it wasn’t enough to send his stock down. Basham is stable heading into the weekend.
Projecting as a tweener to the NFL level, Basham needed to show utility on the interior at the Senior Bowl. During practices, he did that. Basham’s skillset translated well as a pass rusher, and while he wasn’t as proficient in running drills on the inside, his upside as a pass-rushing chess piece makes him valuable. He was one of the more consistent pass-rushing threats at the Senior Bowl — a testament to his technical dedication and hand usage.
Chauncey Golston, Iowa
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Golston brings some upside to the table, but Tuesday was an up-and-down day for him. His flashes were extremely bright. On one rep, he used his superior mobility and solid length to wrestle past Deonte Brown. However, there were times when Golston didn’t move his feet fast enough when matching his blockers. Golston will need more consistency moving forward.
Golston can use more precision with his hand usage, but he showed off his upside on a few reps today. In particular, Golston harassed Carson Green in run defense with active hand usage, and his aggressive style stood out. Even if it can be channeled more efficiently in the future.
Golston had explosive hands today. As a pass rusher, he showed a good amount of upside. Occasionally, he was a bit late getting off the line, but Golston displayed good leverage with explosive hands. He could’ve been more consistent breaking free from arm locks, but his flashes were bright. On one rep in one-on-ones, Golston won with a beautiful, swift double-swipe. His length gives him more potential energy in his upper body than most, and he used it today.
The biggest thing Chauncey Golston needed to do at the Senior Bowl was confirm his developmental potential. Early on, he did that with his wingspan measurement. Later on, he applied that length on the field. Golston flashed fast, aggressive usage of his length in one-on-ones, and his wingspan also allowed him to keep himself clean at times in run defense. He could still use more consistency, but Golston benefited from the added experience against quality linemen.
Malik Herring, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
There were some good moments for Malik Herring on Tuesday, but also some less inspiring plays. Herring has good athletic traits, and he was able to gain penetration with his athleticism on a few plays. With that, he has a solid foundation. Having said that, Herring got turned around pretty easily in run defense, and he can be more measured with his play in the coming days.
After a predominantly uneventful day, Herring pulled up with a leg injury after rushing. He did not return to practice after the incident.
Herring did not participate in Thursday’s practice and was seen on crutches after suffering a leg injury on Wednesday.
Herring could have done more to help his draft stock with more opportunities. Unfortunately, the Georgia defensive lineman missed a practice and half of another with an injury, which was later revealed to be a torn ACL. Before his injury, Herring showed off impressive athleticism for his size. He left Day 1 still needing to use his length with more polish, but the hope was that he could put things together on Day 2 and Day 3. He didn’t get a chance to do that. And now, his ACL injury raises long-term questions.
Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
File this guy away as another player to watch throughout the week. Marlon Tuipulotu was a force on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive lineman has outstanding proportional length, and he used it well against opposing blockers. With powerful, authoritative hands, Tuipulotu won a considerable amount of reps, including one play where he wrecked Drake Jackson.
Once again, Marlon Tuipulotu was incredibly active on the interior. With a nice combination of power, burst, and density, he made things challenging for the National Team’s interior offensive line. Tuipulotu has been one of the National Team’s best interior defensive linemen, and he can punctuate his strong performance at Thursday’s Senior Bowl practice.
Tuipulotu still flashed on Thursday, but he wasn’t as consistently disruptive on the interior. He drove a few guys back, and he had one nice rep where he wrenched down his opponent’s hands with a devastating counter. However, more often than not, Tuipulotu wasn’t ripping free from linemen when they latched on. He does well against linemen who don’t have as much play strength, but against blockers who can match his power, he sometimes struggles.
I wanted to see Marlon Tuipulotu finish the week on a stronger note. He was less consistent on Thursday, and his power wasn’t as effective in helping him gain separation. Having said that, he stood out early on and did enough to make an impression as a dense, well-leveraged lineman, with a lot of the physical tools necessary to produce. With his proportional length and power, he has some versatility from the one to the three-technique, and if he can tap into more of his upside, he can be a multifaceted NFL lineman.
Marvin Wilson, Florida State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Marvin Wilson has a lot of work to do to get his first-round hype back, and he’s not going to do it with his performance on Tuesday. He did manage to beat Deonte Brown on one rep, using a mix of power and burst. But overall, Wilson was extremely inconsistent, and ineffective on way too many reps. He didn’t definitively win against Drake Jackson, who didn’t have a good day, either. That doesn’t bode well for Wilson’s stock.
Wilson’s second day was eerily similar to his first. The Florida State interior lineman had a few good reps, but overall, he struggled to disengage, and his physical traits didn’t often supersede his opponents. Once labeled as a high-upside prospect, even that is starting to slip from Wilson’s grasp.
Marvin Wilson did not play on Thursday — he will not show up on the American Team Senior Bowl practice report for today.
Marvin Wilson came into the Senior Bowl with the most name recognition among interior defensive linemen, and he left with arguably the least confidence. Onlookers hoped to see at least some semblance of upside from Wilson, but even that was in short supply. He measured in with less size than expected, and in one-on-ones, he was unable to string together victories. Wilson didn’t flash dominant traits, and he also struggled to disengage and find clearance. His ineffective week won’t do him any favors in a few months. He looked like a Day 3 pick.
Payton Turner, Houston
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Payton Turner was as advertised on Tuesday. He’s an athletic specimen who should have a ton of versatility on the defensive line at the next level. He provided good energy as a rusher, but I was especially impressed by his stamina through reps. Turner stacked multiple rushing counters on multiple occasions, and showed he could supplement his athletic foundation. With more conversion in the coming days, he could start to stand out.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, Turner wasn’t a top standout, but he had another decent day on Wednesday. He generates a lot of displacement when he has a full extension, and he also flashed violent hands and flexibility. Turner’s been a steady presence so far, and while the breakout hasn’t happened yet, treading water is more than other prospects can boast.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report for today, Payton Turner had his helmet off during drills and did not participate in one-on-ones.
Turner never broke out at the Senior Bowl, but he was a stable performer through the first two days. He didn’t play on Thursday, but in his time on the field, he was able to compete in one-on-ones with his athleticism, flexibility, and hand technique. With his athletic foundation and stellar length, anything beyond that serves as an added bonus. Turner is a specimen with surprising mechanical definition for his experience level, and his versatility, at the very least, was confirmed in Mobile.
Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Wyatt Hubert is visibly lacking when it comes to length, and that impacted his consistency on Tuesday. Having said that, the Kansas State defender did bring a solid motor and good hand speed. At his size, he may need to show more flexibility if he wants to have a chance at starting. Alaric Jackson got the best of Hubert when the latter failed to bend around the edge.
Hubert was somewhat volatile on Wednesday, but he did have a few very good moments, accentuated by his fast hands and energy. Additionally, on one rep against Jack Anderson, Hubert exerted a surprising amount of power. He’ll have to be more consistent heading into the weekend, but he’s managed to make an impression.
Thursday was more of the same for Hubert. He had good urgency, and won a few nice reps with fast, authoritative hands. However, his lack of length enabled longer blockers to negate his rushes early, and he’s not naturally fast enough to win around the edge with juice alone. Hubert’s motor does give him a decent floor, however, and that was clear this week. He never had an outright bad practice.
I’m a big fan of the motor Hubert brings to the table. He has a ton of juice off the line, and he has some underrated power to his game, which is even more impressive when you factor in his lacking length. Having said that, his length also limited his ability to win hand battles throughout the week, and Hubert isn’t quite a good enough athlete to compensate. Hubert’s energy prevented him from dropping too far in the ranks, but it’s clear he has a lower ceiling than other defensive linemen.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Linebackers/Edge
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Janarius Robinson, Florida State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Janarius Robinson might’ve been the biggest winner from the weigh-ins early on Tuesday, and he also showed a lot of promise at practice. With an absurd 87-inch wingspan, Robinson has the length necessary to convert momentum into power, with the length serving as a conduit. He did that several times today, and also flashed good recovery athleticism.
The length is always visible with Robinson, but today, it was visible for some of the wrong reasons. Robinson had trouble acquiring consistency with his placement and timing, and as a result, he was flailing underneath the grasp of linemen on some snaps. He needs to polish his usage in the time he has left, but the upside remains exciting.
Robinson didn’t flash as much on Thursday, but he did show good recovery athleticism to make a tackle in run defense at the line of scrimmage. He needs to avoid giving up too much surface area as a pass rusher because he was knocked off-balance on a couple occasions. His traits continue to stand out, however, and they lend him upside if he can gain more polish.
The moment Janarius Robinson measured in with an 87-inch wingspan, everyone knew that length was going to be a central part of his week in Mobile. He still needs to learn how to use that length more efficiently, but it gives him unprecedented leverage when he extends fast enough and exerts with full force. Robinson has an elite trait to build around with his length, and he also supplemented it with flashes of lateral athleticism and flexibility. There’s more work to be done, but scouts got to see the raw talent Robinson possesses.
Quincy Roche, Miami
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Quincy Roche didn’t start the day on a high note after measuring in at 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, with below-average length. But on the field, Roche had a great day. He was explosive out of his stance, and he won reps against several tackles, including Alex Leatherwood. On top of his first-step quickness, Roche showed nice lean and lateral agility.
Roche’s explosiveness stood out again on Wednesday. The Miami defensive end showcased good speed and flexibility around the edge, and he’s reaffirmed his utility as a decent threat on pass rushing reps. His length noticeably hurts his ability to set the edge in run defense, but he appears to have a future as a rotational edge defender.
Roche is good for one or two nice speed rushes each day, but aside from that, he was underwhelming on Thursday. Roche struggled mightily when trying to gain separation, and he didn’t bring enough power to blast open lanes when opposing linemen got their hands on him. He had his moments this week, but overall, his showing did a better job displaying his limitations than confirming his strengths.
Roche was competitive in Mobile, but he’ll leave with some unanswered questions. On his first day, he managed to quell concerns surrounding his size, but opposing tackles handled him better in the later sessions. His length naturally limits the amount of power he can exert, and unless he has consistent bend, he isn’t always able to get around the edge on speed alone. Roche had his bright moments, but his week was relatively volatile. His limitations were made just as apparent as his strengths, based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports.
William Bradley-King, Baylor
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
In my Senior Bowl practice report, few players helped themselves more than William Bradley-King helped himself on Tuesday. The Baylor edge defender flashed elite athletic traits on tape on occasion, but was never consistent enough. But on Tuesday, in downhill pass-rushing drills, he exploded off the line, and used his length to gain initial contact. He also set a strong edge in run defense, and got a lot of penetration overall. Currently a late-round sleeper, Bradley-King can surge with a strong week.
William Bradley-King had an excellent first day, but he was less consistent today. He struggled to gain regular pressure and didn’t flash as much. There were still some moments with Bradley-King. He had a nice spin move against Carson Green, and he had some nice instances of explosiveness. Still, he needs to keep his legs under him as he dips around the edge. Otherwise, a lot of his good traits might be negated.
After an incredible first day, and a less inspiring second day, William Bradley-King concluded his Senior Bowl stint admirably. The Baylor edge defender wasn’t dominant, and he had some miscues. Most notably, a false start. That said, Bradley-King continues to show glimpses of upside. He gave Leatherwood a fight with his length, and also flashed good hand-fighting techniques and solid bend around the edge for his size. He needs to bring more juice off the line on a consistent basis, but there’s something there.
Bradley-King had an excellent week in Mobile. His Wednesday performance was a bit of a lull, and even on Thursday, he still didn’t quite rise back to his caliber on Tuesday. But Bradley-King knocked Leatherwood onto the ground with a long-armed bull rush, and he flashed explosiveness and bend with his length earlier in the week. For a player who’d shown upside in spurts on tape and during the American Team practices, the Senior Bowl in general was a tremendous success in quantifying and confirming that upside.
Charles Snowden, Virginia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Snowden had a boot on his right foot and stood on the sidelines for practice. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to see his rare physical traits in action. Still, Snowden was in good spirits, and supported his teammates as they carried out drills. In an interview with PFN, Snowden, a former captain, emphasized the importance of being engaged with one’s teammates. Even so, Snowden is excited to get back onto the field, and said he has three more weeks in the walking boot. After that, he can take the next step toward his recovery.
Snowden remained in a boot on Wednesday. He will do so for the rest of the week, as mentioned in the previous summary.
Snowden remained in a boot on Thursday. He was cheering on teammates, staying engaged in practice activities.
Snowden did not practice in Mobile, but remained supportive of his teammates as he wore his walking boot. In three weeks, Snowden will be able to take the next step in his recovery. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to test at the Virginia Pro Day, whenever it may be scheduled. But Snowden is progressing well, and in the meantime, he’s doing his part.
Grant Stuard, Houston
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Grant Stuard was used surprisingly often along the edge as an extra rusher in 7-on-7 drills. In that role, the 5-foot-11, 230-pound linebacker showed impressive first-step quickness. His versatility may grant him some real estate in the minds of scouts later on this week, but he’ll have to start producing on top of his flashes.
One day after flashing several times with solid burst and energy off the line, Stuard had a fairly forgettable day. The Houston linebacker had more reps in space today, and on those reps, he was less smooth, and he struggled to cover pass catchers out of route breaks. He was a liability in pass defense, and that eroded at the ground he gained yesterday.
Stuard’s stock trended down fairly steadily over the course of Senior Bowl week. On Thursday, there weren’t many redeeming traits in his game. He wasn’t an easy mover in mobility drills, and he dropped a pass in catching drills. In coverage, he was somewhat handsy and didn’t react well to receiver direction changes, getting beat soundly several times. Stuard communicated well with his teammates, but he himself failed to make a positive impression.
Stuard showed flashes of straight-line explosiveness and speed over the course of Senior Bowl week, but his execution was fairly inconsistent. He wasn’t very good in coverage, frequently losing his balance and compensating with restrictive hand usage. Stuard’s size already works against him, and in Senior Bowl practices, he didn’t show possession of the necessary athletic or instinctive traits to compensate. Already a Day 3 pick, Stuard’s stock likely lowered in Mobile if my American Team practice reports reflect those of other scouts during the Senior Bowl.
Jabril Cox, LSU
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
In terms of size/athleticism combinations, there aren’t many linebackers who boast more than Jabril Cox. Cox was an easy mover on Tuesday and looked to be the most natural of the American Team linebackers. He generally took good angles in run defense and also showed off good movement skills in coverage. He did get beat once by Tre’ McKitty, but if he can start to make plays on top of that positioning capacity, he could be a riser.
Jabril Cox continues to be one of the better linebackers rostered at the Senior Bowl. The LSU defender showed promising skills in all phases. Against the run, he was fairly solid at disengaging blockers. In pass coverage, he had a few seamless reps sticking to tight ends and was physical near the line. He even got some pressure rushing the edge, for good measure.
Jabril Cox’s coverage ability stood out the most on Thursday. He was a visibly natural mover in the open field, and he showcased great recovery speed and playmaking ability, using his closing speed and length to notch a pass deflection in one-on-ones. Cox did get moved around a bit in run defense, but his upside remains palpable.
Cox was one of the best linebackers at the Senior Bowl during practices, and my American Team reports confirm. There were times when he was a little stiff changing directions, but overall, he displayed natural mobility and fluidity in space, and he also had impressive closing speed and range to go along with his size. Cox made a number of plays in coverage by virtue of his burst and length, and that combination should continue to bear fruit for him in the future. He’s most definitely on the rise.
Jordan Smith, UAB
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Jordan Smith spent most of his time with the defensive line on Tuesday. Even though he’s a little lean for his size, he held his own in one-on-ones. His 83-inch wingspan helped him gain separation against linemen. Although he got beat by Deonte Brown on one rep, he put together a decent start to Senior Bowl week with the American Team.
It’s always nice to see players with traits who start to put things together, and UAB linebacker Jordan Smith did that today. Smith has a lot of the necessary tools to be a versatile playmaker at the second level, and he succeeded using those tools on Wednesday. With his length, Smith gave Alex Leatherwood a good fight, and he also flashed burst, urgent hands, and decent bend around the edge. To top it off, he was physical all day and didn’t flip that switch off. Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, he’s trending up heading into Thursday.
I would’ve liked to see the coaches indulge more in Smith’s versatility, but with his length and athleticism, he’s likely to be used a lot along the edge in the NFL. He’s thrived there thus far at the Senior Bowl, and his strong performance carried over into Thursday’s practice with the American Team. Smith showed explosiveness, and used his length with aggression. He also displayed some multitasking ability, bending around the edge while swatting hand strikes. He appeared to put some things together as the week progressed, and that’s great to see.
As mentioned in the Thursday update, Smith wasn’t used to his maximum potential. But along the edge, he gave scouts a lot of tantalizing upside on tape. Smith is extremely long and athletic, and he used his tools well. He was aggressive with his hand usage, and his amalgamation of traits allowed him to get linemen off-balance on more than one occasion. The upside is immense with Smith, and the exciting part is, we only saw him as an edge defender in Mobile. He may project even beyond that in time.
K.J. Britt, Auburn
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
K.J. Britt didn’t make an incredibly strong impression on Tuesday. He measured in with a smaller wingspan, which might sow doubt surrounding his playmaking ability at the next level. He didn’t do enough to quell that doubt in his first practice. Luckily, he’ll have a couple more shots to move in the right direction.
It was another fairly uneven day for K.J. Britt. The Auburn linebacker failed to distinguish himself. He had some nice plays, and flashed some athletic quickness. However, his execution was streaky. He dropped a pass in catching drills, and struggled to maintain a presence at the line.
Britt still wasn’t able to put things together on Thursday, but he did flash his athletic upside again, and that will be enough to pique scouts’ interest in the lead-up to the draft. Britt had surprisingly brisk, smooth change-of-direction skills in movement drills. Although he dropped a pass and got bested at the contact point, his athletic freedom provides him a nice foundation based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report.
K.J. Britt didn’t have an overly strong week, but at the very least, he flashed some potential. He was never able to shake inconsistency from his game. He struggled with tackling angles at times, and he wasn’t very good with his hands. Still, Britt displayed upside with his short-range athleticism, and he had a couple sticky coverage reps because of it. There’s a definite need for polish and repetition based on my American Team practice reports, but Britt’s trip to the Senior Bowl served a purpose in quantifying his potential. At 6-foot-0, 239 pounds, he has some upside.
Monty Rice, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Monty Rice was not dressed for practice on Tuesday.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl report, Monty Rice remained on the sideline for Wednesday’s practice.
Monty Rice remained on the sideline for Thursday’s practice.
Monty Rice did not practice at the Senior Bowl.
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Paddy Fisher has good size, and that was confirmed by his weigh-in. He also brings some physicality in the box. Having said that, it wasn’t a great day for him in coverage. He got beat deep by Duke tight end Noah Gray. Fisher doesn’t boast elite athletic upside, and his inability to compensate for that may hurt his stock if it persists.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, Fisher improved a bit on his Tuesday performance. He showed better quickness in movement drills, and he also sunk his hips better when changing directions. He could have improved his angles in run defense, but overall, Fisher had a good day, showing decent sideline-to-sideline range and physicality up in the box.
Until late, it was a bit of a tumultuous day for Paddy Fisher. The Northwestern linebacker was late in coverage a couple of times, and he dropped a pass in catching drills. However, in the final session of team drills, Fisher was solid. On one play that saw the QB roll out, Fisher showed good eye discipline, locking onto the QB and driving him out the sideline for a minimal gain. Later, Fisher closed in on a screen with impressive reactionary quickness, stopping the play for a loss.
Fisher left the Senior Bowl as he arrived — a larger linebacker with decent physicality and instincts in the box, but average athleticism. On Thursday, two late plays showcased his upside, but in coverage drills, he was sometimes late to flip his hips, and he didn’t have the acceleration or closing speed necessary to shrink the gap between himself and the receiver. Fisher didn’t tank his stock by any means, but it’s clear from his traits that he wasn’t going to show out. There is a cap on his upside, and the Senior Bowl confirmed that based on my American Team practice reports.
Riley Cole, South Alabama
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Much like other linebackers, Riley Cole didn’t distinguish himself on Tuesday or draw many new eyes to his play. He’ll face an uphill battle if he wants to start boosting his NFL Draft stock in the coming days. Luckily, after weighing in at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, it’s clear he has enough size to have some utility.
On his second day, Riley Cole managed to make a few plays. He blew up Alaric Jackson on one play in run defense, using his size to break open a lane. Later, he displayed good awareness by seeing past a play fake and seeping out to the side to cover the running back. It was a good day for Cole, and if he can compound this forward momentum later on, his stock could start to rise.
Cole didn’t stand out a ton on Thursday based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, neither in ways good nor bad. He was a little late in coverage on occasion, but he did have decent gap fills in run defense, and he also showcased serviceable range on one play, recognizing a sideline pass and roaming to it.
Cole had a decent week based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports. His Wednesday performance was his strongest one, but overall, he didn’t always distinguish himself. In one-on-one drills, he didn’t display the requisite closing speed to recover after getting beat at the stem. However, he did show flashes of instincts and awareness in 7-on-7 drills. Cole appeared to fare better in a team setting, so there’s still a chance that he can stand out on game day. As of now, however, Cole is in the middle of the pack among the Senior Bowl’s linebacker group.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Defensive Backs
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Aaron Robinson, Central Florida
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Robinson is hard to break away from at the point of release, but when he is playing off the ball, he struggles a bit. He had a few flashes, including a pass breakup on Kadarius Toney, but I would like to see more.
Robinson looked good in one-on-ones. He had a notable rep against Trevon Grimes where he prevented any separation and forced the incompletion. He also made a big hit on Amari Rodgers during a scrimmage coming off an end around. He is a bit handsy, and that could lead to more penalties at the next level, but he had a very good day coverage-wise based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report,.
Robinson had a few nice reps today. He had solid coverage on the Richie Grant interception and was just solid all day. Nothing that blew you out of the water, but he has been one of the toughest guys to beat all week based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports.
He showed great ability to keep up with his man and break up the pass. His stickiness forces passes into tight windows, which lead to takeaways. He had a very consistent week.
Bryan Mills, NC Central
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Physical at the point of release, but that did lead to him losing a step on more than one occasion. He also got beat deep on a good inside move by Josh Palmer.
Mills had several good reps, specifically one in one-on-ones in which he stayed step for step with Marquez Stevenson down to the end zone which led to an incompletion.
Mills got beat a few times today, specifically on the fade in the end zone by Trevon Grimes. Nonetheless, his week has been stout based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports. He is a bit slow when transitioning, but his downfield coverage has been very solid.
Mills had reps in which he looked unstoppable, but he also took chances in which he was beat handedly. His feet could be a little quicker, but he showed out in the game. He made a perfect read in which he dropped an interception that would have seen him walk into the end zone. Regardless, he showed up on gameday.
D.J. Daniel, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Daniel had one of the better one-on-one performances among all defensive backs. He doesn’t bite on head fakes and was step for step with his man for the majority of the day. A really productive first day for Daniel.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, Daniel didn’t have as good a day Wednesday as he did Tuesday. He was beat in one-on-ones a few times, and he allowed a touchdown in a scrimmage. He is a talented corner in man-to-man situations, which is why I expect a bounceback on Thursday.
Daniel was everywhere today. He looked great in one-on-ones, and had great coverage in seven-on-sevens that earned him a lot of praise. Thursday was his best day of the week based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report.
You take the good with the bad with Daniel. He can lockdown receivers with the best of them, but he will take some chances on the ball and get a little aggressive. He looked really good this week, though. Very sticky, not fooled by hip movements or sudden breaks — a really good press corner.
Mark Webb, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
He is mechanically sound. While he did give up the inside leverage in one instance during one-on-ones, he made it difficult for whoever he was covering to get what they wanted.
Webb had an interception in a scrimmage, and it was an impressive one. Jacoby Stevens tipped it into Webb’s hands, where he bobbled it before gaining control of it. He was in the right place, and he made the right play.
Webb had a really nice PBU on the sideline in the middle of practice. He did well in not allowing guys to get leverage on him, his coverage was tight but not too grabby — a great way to wrap up practice for both Georgia corners.
He was in the right spot all week, and it paid off with an interception in practice off a tipped pass. Very active, goes up for the ball, and doesn’t make anything easy.
Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Got beat deep with a bad dive attempt on Kadarius Toney. He didn’t have the best of days which leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, this was not his best day. While Kadarius Toney had some drops, he also made some plays while being lined up across from Rochell. He will need a big Day 3 to help his cause.
Did not practice.
Not the best week for Rochell. Kadarius Toney had his way with him throughout the first two days, and Rochell didn’t participate much after Wednesday.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Melifonwu had a really good play in one-on-ones. He got off the ball slow and the receiver ran a “9 route,” but his eye discipline was on full display, as was his ability to make up lost ground and recover to prevent the deep play. Aside from getting the rug pulled from under him by Trevon Grimes, Senior Bowl practice report indicates he had a really solid day.
Melifonwu had an amazing day. He had multiple pass breakups in one-on-ones, and was arguably, the best defensive back in the drill. He did have an unfortunate break when he broke up a pass and it landed in the arms of another receiver. Regardless, he was everywhere today. Phenomenal showing.
It was a relatively quiet day for Melifonwu, who’s play has had people talking this week. No egregious errors, but nothing that jumped out either. I will say, though, his footwork in warmups looked great, and he was very quick and clean while closing in on the ball through the day.
A jack of all trades. He can be put in the box, in the slot, as a deep safety — no matter where he was lined up, he was making plays. He has so much versatility and makes an impact no matter where he is on the field. He is one of my favorite players in this draft.
Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Nasirildeen was great while playing down in the box, but his coverage is hit and miss. He is the best box safety in this class in terms of having a nose for the ball and making plays at or near the line of scrimmage, but his coverage needs to be more fine-tuned going forward.
Struggled in one-on-ones again, but how often will a safety be in single coverage on a WR1? Not often. He was almost solely lined up as a SAM linebacker throughout scrimmages and made multiple plays at or around the line of scrimmage. This is where he belongs, as an Isaiah Simmons-type defender.
Nasirldeen looked good against the tight ends today in coverage. He had an interception in one-on-ones and a PBU in a scrimmage. The box is where he belongs, and it seemed more and more evident through the week that down low is where he will be more often than not.
I’ll sound like a broken record, but keep him in the box. His ability to make plays when lined up down low is second to none. He will thrive in nickel and dime packages where he can cover the short passess and make plays close to the line of scrimmage.
JaCoby Stevens, LSU
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
There is no practice report for today.
Stevens looked good today. He had the tipped pass in the scrimmage that led to the Mark Webb interception. He spent most of the day inside the box at linebacker, so we’ll see how that transfers over into Thursday.
Nice day for Stevens. He provided exceptional coverage in seven-on-sevens and had an interception in the drill as well. Good way to close the week before Saturday.
Stevens, much like Nasirildeen, will more than likely be used more in the box as a SAM or a WILL linebacker. He has the size and quickness to stay with tight ends and the playmaking ability to force turnovers close to the line.
Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Bledsoe had an interception off Jamie Newman.
There is no practice report for today.
Bledsoe got absolutely cooked by Kadarius Toney. He was turned around in the middle of the field, leaving Toney wide open.
It was a quiet week for Bledsoe in comparison to the other DBs in Mobile. He had an interception on Day 1, but besides that, nothing too eventful.
Richie Grant, Central Florida
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Richie Grant had a day. He made a play breaking up a Mac Jones pass in which Trevon Grimes had a step on his man by coming over the top and nearly intercepting the pass. He has flown under the radar in comparison to the other top safeties in the class, but his stock will rise if he continues this type of play through the week.
Based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports, Richie Grant has been the best defensive back in Mobile. He was all over the ball, had multiple pass breakups in one-on-ones and during scrimmages. Grant has skyrocketed his stock and could very well go in the first round.
He somehow did even better than the last two days. Grant had two interceptions in 11-on-11s throughout the day, he looked spectacular in all facets. Grant has been the guy who has raised his stock the most throughout the week, and may have crept into the first round.
A bonafide stud. He got better every day, had two interceptions in the final practice, and was the consensus best DB in Mobile. He may have crept into the first round with his performance.
Shawn Davis, Florida
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Davis got beat in one-on-ones by Amari Rodgers before the pass was dropped. We didn’t see too much of Davis today, so we’ll see what Wednesday brings for him for the American Team during Senior Bowl week.
A much better day for Davis. He had an interception during a scrimmage and looked solid in one-on-ones. A good improvement from Tuesday.
It wasn’t the best day for Davis. He got cooked by Josh Palmer in one of the plays of the day, and Kadarius Toney had his way with him in one-on-ones.
Davis had an interception in the Senior Bowl to wrap up the week. He was hit and miss through practice, but he is a good coverage safety option to pick up in the mid rounds of the draft.
Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
He got beat by Shi Smith in one-on-ones. He attempted to make contact early in the route, but lost a step and was ultimately beat. Nevertheless, though, he has a ton of talent in the back end and was one of the vocal leaders in full team drills.
Didn’t look great in one-on-ones and didn’t have any “wow” plays throughout the day. Didn’t do much of anything wrong, but didn’t do anything to stand out either.
Gillespie had a nice rep against Kadarius Toney. Toney made a nice move trying to gain separation but Gillespie stayed with him and forced the incompletion. He has rebounded well from the underwhelming performance on Tuesday.
He looked good against tight ends and actually had a good rep against Kadarius Toney. He will be a solid rotational piece of a secondary with coverage skills that will continue to get better.
Christian Uphoff, Illinois St.
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Uphoff had one of the better showings in one-on-ones among the safeties for the American Team at the Senior Bowl. Although Cade Johnson made a good toe-tap catch against him, Uphoff tailed him the entire drill.
Had a few really good reps in one-on-ones. Stayed step for step with a few tight ends and is continuing to play well through the week.
It was an underwhelming day for Uphoff based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report. He got beat in seven-on-sevens by John Bates, and Desmond Fitzpatrick got the best of him in one-on-ones. Uphoff has looked really good this week, though — nothing to be ashamed of.
He was one of the most fun safeties to watch all week. He is explosive to the ball, and although he did struggle at times, it’s always great to see these smaller school guys make plays and get noticed.
Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
There is no practice report for today.
Deablo was very good in one-on-ones. He stuck to Cade Johnson in one occurrence, preventing a curl that could have led to a catch. Instead, the pass was too far and incomplete. He did look flat footed against Demetric Felton, but based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report, he had a solid day.
Nothing too much stood out today. He did okay in one-on-ones, but nothing really jumped off the field to catch the eye. Nonetheless, I did like what I saw from him on Wednesday and he has had his moments this week.
Deablo did well in the game. He had a few plays on the ball and got a decent amount of snaps. His gameday was more notable than his practice week, which was somewhat of a hit and miss.