Risers day 1
Geno Atkins/DT/Georgia: Atkins disappointed scouts with his play in 2009 but elevated his game on the first day of Senior Bowl practice. Atkins was explosive and unstoppable for most of the afternoon session. He was constantly getting penetration behind the line of scrimmage and regularly beating bigger, stronger opponents.
Perrish Cox/CB/Oklahoma State: Many NFL scouts rate Cox as the top senior cornerback, and he showed why today. Cox shut down just about every receiver he faced and displayed top ball skills. His fundamentals were solid as was his athleticism.
Terrell Skinner/S/Maryland: The former Terp cornerback showed off his coverage skills Monday, culminating with an interception of quarterback Tony Pike. Already possessing very good size, he was physical throughout practice and has many believing he could eventually start at the next level.
Michael Hoomanawanui/TE/Illinois: Hoomanawanui overwhelmed the linebackers and safeties that attempted to cover him all day. He caught the ball very well and did a better-than-expected job at blocking. Hoomanawanui is trying to reverse what was a poor senior season at Illinois and is off to a good start.
LaGarrette Blount/RB/Oregon: Blount was a late addition to the Senior Bowl, and he displayed the skills which made him such a highly rated running back coming into the season. He ran tough between the tackles and showed a burst, which many did not know he possessed.
Mitch Petrus/G/Arkansas: Petrus, a former fullback at Arkansas, has improved his play the past three seasons and looked terrific in his first Senior Bowl practice. He moves well on his feet and does a terrific job blocking in motion. Petrus surprised scouts with his power. He not only handled opponents at the point of attack, but drove larger defensive linemen off the ball throughout the afternoon.
Mike Johnson/G/Alabama: Johnson was an imposing-looking figure Monday morning, measuring 6-feet, 5½-inches and 306 pounds during weigh-ins. The former Alabama starter played to his size during practice, dominating opponents. Johnson did not give up an inch against anyone he faced and was solid as both a run blocker and in pass protection.
Dan Williams/DT/Tennessee: Williams was ferocious on the inside and pushed blockers around all day. He possesses terrific power and was able to collapse the pocket or bullrush opponents off the ball. Williams continues to move up draft boards
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Terrence Cody/DT/Alabama: Cody looked poorly conditioned on Monday, tipping the scales at a sloppy 370 pounds. During practice he quickly tired and struggled to keep pace with the rest of the linemen. He was pushed to the ground and handled by lesser opponents on a number of occasions.
Selvish Capers/T/West Virginia: Capers struggled from the get-go. He was beaten around the corner by speed rushers or pushed back off the line by power opponents. All too often Capers was left to pull himself off the field after being pushed to the ground by opponents.
Notes
One of the more interesting prospects on the field is former Alabama-Birmingham quarterback Joe Webb, who's exclusively lining up at receiver during the Senior Bowl. After some early bumps in practice, Webb got his feet underneath him and looked like the transition to his new position would be a smooth one. Webb's day culminated when he beat Florida State's Patrick Robinson on a deep route and made a difficult, over-the-shoulder reception.
Myron Rolle, the Rhodes Scholar recipient who did not play football last season, looked solid for a someone that's been away from football for a year.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow drew the largest crowds, but it was a coach who received the biggest cheer. At the start of the South's practice Monday afternoon, a black SUV made its' way onto the practice area. Nick Saban then stepped from the vehicle to the thunderous applause of the Alabama faithful, many who jumped to their feet to cheer their national-title-winning coach.
Read More:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/01/25/seniorbowl.monday/index.html#ixzz0dpQ541mh
Risers day 2
Dexter McCluster/RB/Mississippi: McCluster has a slight build at 5-foot-8 and 165-pounds, yet plays big. He was one of the best players on the field Tuesday. He displayed a darting style on the inside and ran hard between the tackles. McCluster is also fast and consistently beat defenders around the corner or made big receptions downfield as a pass catcher. He's being compared favorably to Leon Washington, the former Pro Bowl player from the Jets.
Taylor Price/WR/Ohio: Price has put together two outstanding days of practice. He's a speedster (sub-4.4 in the 40) and plays to that time. Price quickly released off the line, ran good routes and constantly got separation from opponents. He's also caught everything thrown his way. Several teams have Price rated as a top-60 pick in April's draft.
Mardy Gilyard/WR/Cincinnati: Gilyard is another receiver that has made his mark in Mobile. He also runs good routes and consistently finds a way to get free from defenders. Gilyard is both quick and fast and has made a number of solid receptions both days.
Shawn Lauvao/G/Arizona State: Lauvao has been playing his more natural position, offensive guard, after spending his senior season at left tackle for the Sun Devils. He's looked outstanding and has been applauded by coaches on a number of occasions. He rather easily handled the highly rated Jared Odrick of Penn State in drills, then later showed his athleticism in scrimmage by annihilating several linebackers when asked to block on the move.
Alex Carrington/DE/Arkansas State: Carrington entered the game branded as a quick athlete who lacked the strength to beat larger blockers. Thus far, he's quelled that criticism. Carrington has displayed a complete game over the first two days and has run over blockers besides beating them off the corner. Carrington beat the highly rated Mike Iupati in drills and was loudly commended by coaches on the field.
Tyson Aluala/DT/California: Aluala worked hard, played with good technique and showed a lot of power. He easily held the point or defeated blocks all day. Aluala has impressed scouts who feel he has the potential to line up at defensive tackle or as a 2-gap end.
Joique Bell/RB/Wayne State: The small-school prospect has turned heads since stepping on the field. He broke several long runs on Tuesday, displaying outstanding vision and a burst. Bell ran hard on the inside and has competed well all week.
Kyle Wilson/CB/Boise State: Wilson was feisty from the start of the day, battling receivers and breaking up several throws. He's very quick and plays the cornerback position with a degree of suddenness. Wilson has definitely established himself as one of the better cornerbacks from the senior class.
Colin Peek/TE/Alabama: Peek is not the best athlete on the field nor the strongest, yet all he's done this week is make plays. He's done a terrific job as a blocker, taking on then handling larger opponents. Peek also made a number of big receptions, beating defenders into the secondary then coming away with the ball. Peek has improved his draft stock at least a round this week.
J.D. Walton/C/Baylor: Walton really stepped up his play on Tuesday after a slow start on Monday. He blocked with great fundamentals and controlled opponents at the line of scrimmage besides displaying the ability to effectively block on the move. The top spot at center from the senior class is up for grabs, and Walton is stating his case.
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Taylor Mays/S/USC: Mays checked in at a chiseled 231 pounds, but may be a little too big for the safety position. He looked stiff and mechanical with his defensive back fundamentals and really showed limited skills in pass coverage drills. Teams may start projecting Mays to outside linebacker based on his inability to make plays in centerfield.
Darryl Sharpton/LB/Miami (Fla.): Sharpton struggled all day and showed few skills in coverage, besides getting blocked from the action on a continuous basis. He was consistently beaten in drills and chased the action rather and made few plays.
Dekoda Watson/LB/Florida State: Watson also struggled throughout the day. He gave up a lot of receptions in coverage drills and was very slow to react to plays all day. Watson turned in a disappointing senior campaign and has continued that trend in the post season.
Sean Canfield/QB/Oregon State: Canfield threw the ball with poor passing fundamentals and showed marginal arm strength. He sprayed passes throughout the day and really struggled to accurately hit receivers in stride. Canfield was a late riser after a terrific senior campaign, yet has done nothing to establish himself as a draft pick the past two days.
