Senior Bowl Pre-Game Story Lines

With Senior Bowl practices over and the game coming up Saturday afternoon at 2:30, here are some intriguing story lines from the week's practices. --Mike B.

Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State. WOW.  After playing QB for three years at Ohio State, Miller switched to WR for this season. He has looked explosive this week, making a few phenomenal plays in practice. Expect him to continue to turn heads come game time.

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott helped himself this week. He looked sharp in drills and showed that he is capable of making NFL throws.

Scouts are talking up Notre Dame center Nick Martin, the younger brother of Zack Martin.  The Cowboys coaching staff seem impressed with him, and the kid has some nice potential as an NFL starter.

Reggie Ragland, the Alabama linebacker, has looked phenomenal in practice. I think he will be an NFL starter, but it's premature to compare him to Brian Urlacher like Mel Kiper has done. Ragland will be a good linebacker, but he needs to become at least somewhat more disciplined in his reads to be dominant in the NFL. Still a good linebacker, but not the dominant monster many call him yet. This week is enough to convince me that the potential is there however. 

Tavon Young, the CB from Temple, is helping his draft stock this week. The kid has looked great even though he's a bit smaller than typical corner prospects.

Louisiana Tech RB Kenneth Dixon looked as good in practice as he does on film. This kid is going to be a good NFL RB.

Kansas State University guard Cody Whitehair is drawing comparisons to Zack Martin and Joel Bitonio. 

Jalen Mills, the LSU CB, looks great in coverage drills. The kid has had a heck of a ride to get here, but he's doing exactly what he needs to to convince an NFL team to jump onboard.

Maurice Canady, CB, Virginia also helped himself a ton this week. Great in coverage drills.

Duke kicker Ross Martin has made long fieldgoals consistently all week, including a 55 and a 60 yarder. This kid could be good.

Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State University. Wentz looks as good as promised. Expect him to be selected somewhere in the first round in the NFL draft, second round at latest.

Sheldon Rankins also looks like a first rounder after practice. He won't play in the game itself due to injury, but the Louisville DT looked outstanding all week.

Jason Spriggs, the Indiana OT, looked solid all week. Great footwork.

The Patriots met with Kansas State fullback Glenn Gronkowski, younger brother of TE Rob Gronkowski.

Speaking of fullbacks, Northwestern fullback Dan Vitale has looked outstanding all week. Could be extremely solid at the next level.

Deion Jones from LSU had a great week at practice. He's undersized for a linebacker, but the guy can play. The kid has a phenomenal motor.

Southern Utah CB Miles Killebrew has been extremely physical all week. He's quiet, but he hits hard and is consistent. I'm intrigued.

Noah Spence from Eastern Kentucky has looked good this week. He's struggled with some off the field issues leading up to the draft process, but he helped his draft stock this week. He has first round talent, but will a team take a chance on him?

Tight end play has been decent this week. Nick Vannett from Ohio State has impressed me as a potential red zone threat and South Carolina TE Jerell Adams has made some nice plays.  I'm intrigued to watch both.

Defensive line play this week? YES PLEASE. This group looks amazing as a whole.

Interesting stat time. Alabama quarterback has started 14 games. He has 14 wins.  He's a developmental prospect, but the kid knows how to win.

Hue Jackson met with Carson Wentz at the Senior Bowl. Could he go #2 overall to Cleveland? Or does Cleveland trade back and try to snag him later? This could get interesting. Cleveland appears to be interested.