The Senior Bowl is regarded as one of the premier events for scouting senior prospects in preparation for the NFL Draft. Not only is it an opportunity for players to perform in an all-star game in front of NFL scouts, but the week of practices also offers teams and media the chance to witness players in a true football setting among their peers. I believe it will be the most telling look at prospects we’ll see during the many events leading up to the draft, which is why I will be covering the event in Mobile, Ala. next week for Draft Wire, beginning Jan. 25.
This week we will be previewing the Senior Bowl with in-depth looks at each position group. This should give you some idea of what each player brings to the table, as well as what they need to show throughout the week of practice and during the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 30.
To see our other positional breakdowns, select an option below:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends/Fullbacks
Offensive Tackles
Interior Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Edge Defenders
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
North/South roster breakdown and comparison:
Safeties
K.J. Dillon, West Virginia (6-1, 203)
Areas of Strength: Solid athlete with the range to play in deep zone coverage. Often in the slot for WVU, brings versatility to the table. Highly energetic player with ball skills.
Areas to Improve: Not fluid enough to play nickel in the NFL. Gets into pedal too early and struggles to break on the ball. Lacks vision and will lose track of the ball in run support, taking poor attack angles. Dillon needs to show scouts he can be more efficient in the run game, while staying disciplined in coverage on the back end.
Tyvis Powell, Ohio State (6-3, 210)
Areas of Strength: Long, well-built frame with ideal ball skills in the air. Assignment sound safety who
will fill his lane in run support with good vision to find the ball. Good form and long arms to wrap up as a tackler.
Areas to Improve: Not a great athlete, could struggle in a center field role at the next level. Doesn’t possess much of an explosive burst to the ball, and was rarely asked to mirror wide receivers in man coverage. Powell isn’t exceptionally physical, and will win more with his mind than his athletic skill set. The more he can show coaches he’s not a liability in various coverage schemes, the better.
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah (6-3, 230)
Areas of Strength: Good burst to the ball carrier. Active hands to strip the ball loose. Will dish out punishment over the middle.
Areas to Improve: Not as big as his listed size. Misses way too many tackles. Not instinctive, has to see it developing, which often results in being the last player moving off the snap. Short, choppy strides, lacks elite range on back end. Killebrew has gotten some hype in a so-so safety class, but he’ll need to prove his athleticism and instincts are on par with his FBS colleagues.
Darian Thompson, Boise State (6-2, 212)
Areas of Strength: Good instincts and range in coverage. Aggressive and energetic, with the physical mindset to attack against the run. Fluid athlete who moves well and could potentially fill a variety of roles for a defense. Strong ball skills/good hands.
Areas to Improve: Likely not as big as listed size. Lanky frame without ideal bulk. Aggressive nature can lead to being manipulated in coverage at times, falling for route fakes. Thompson is probably the best free safety in Mobile, so if he can show scouts his ability to stay disciplined on the back end and in man coverage, the senior’s stock could soar in an average safety class.
DeAndre Houston-Carson, William & Mary (6-2, 195)
Areas of Strength: Quick feet to cover a lot of ground in run support. Active safety who won’t hesitate
to come downhill with velocity and excellent wrap-up skills. Tackling machine in college. Three-year starter at corner before moving to safety in 2015.
Areas to Improve: Upright in his pedal and can struggle to transition moving forward. Thrived on athletic/physical advantage in the FCS, and will need to develop his vision and route-recognition against pro-level concepts. Houston-Carson is a nice looking athlete who lights up the tape for the Tribe, but it will be interesting to see how he handles top-tier competition in Mobile.
Sean Davis, Maryland Terrapins (6-1, 202)
Areas of Strength: Solid overall athlete with long arms and the ability to play corner or safety. Well-built defensive back with good burst and wrap-up skills as a tackler. Aggressive mindset, will come downhill in a hurry to play the run.
Areas to Improve: Will take false steps and get caught looking in the backfield at times. Needs to refine movements and technique. Gets turned around in coverage at times, playing upright and losing sight of the ball or his man. Davis is a good athlete with raw technique and footwork, which should make him better suited at safety if he can show good route recognition ability and range on the back end.
Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State (5-11, 217)
Areas of Strength: Sturdy build to play in the box when necessary. Excellent ball skills to battle
receivers at catch points down the field. Short-area burst to the ball is impressive. Great form tackler. One of the best players on the field against Alabama.
Areas to Improve: Average overall speed and range. May not be able to suit a single-high role at the next level. Byard isn’t an incredible athlete, but he is smart and instinctive, showing the ability to play the run and defend the pass at a high level with the Blue Raiders. I think he’ll open some eyes in Mobile.
Jeremy Cash, Duke (6-2, 210)
Areas of Strength: Incredibly instinctive with an excellent burst to the football. Frame to fight off blockers and keep leverage in the box. Sifts through trash extraordinarily well to shoot gaps and locate the football. Zone coverage awareness and anticipation is sound. Top-notch intangibles.
Areas to Improve: Not a great athlete in space. Labored change of direction and lateral agility. Lacks fluidity downfield in man coverage. Limited usage on the back end, typically in the box or manning the slot. Cash is one of my favorite defenders in the draft, but his traits may best be put to use as a faux-linebacker, which could limit the number of teams interested in his services for their scheme.
