2020 Senior Bowl Practice Report – Day 1

Reese’s Senior Bowl Gets Underway in Mobile

In what was a very cold day in the Gulf South, the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl began its week, as the final college all-star game on the schedule before the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in February. Aside from the weather, the performances on the field took center stage on Tuesday, as there were a lot of impressive starts to the week.

South Team Observations and Standouts

  • CB Darnay Holmes (5’10 198, UCLA) was highly impressive all throughout the day. He started off stellar in 1-on-1s, being both competitive and physical, breaking up numerous passes intended for the receivers. He finished up his day being equally as impressive during team periods.
  • WR Devin Duvernay (5’11 210, Texas) is built like a running back and plays like both RB & WR. I thought he had an excellent 1-on-1 period, using his physicality to win vs tight coverage.
  • CB Dane Jackson (6’0 190, Pitt) was another one of the standout corners on Day 1. He’s very fluid in his transition and did a great job of playing the ball. During 1-on-1s, is where he did his best work.
  • Both Florida Gator WRs Van Jefferson (6’2 197) and Tyrie Cleveland (6’2 205) looked excellent running routes on Tuesday. Jefferson has a different level of quickness that was very noticeable when he got in and out of his breaks; excellent body control.
  • OT Alex Taylor (6’8 305, South Carolina State) showed how when skill and size are on the same street, great things can happen. During OL/DL 1-on-1s, he more than held his own throughout the period.
  • DL Jonathan Greenard (6’3 263, Florida) I felt like was one of the few DL to give the OL fits during 1-on-1s. He found ways to win with both power and leverage.
  • DL Marlon Davidson (6’3 278, Auburn) was another DL with a variety of ways to get to the QB. I thought he did a great job of using the 1-on-1 period to showcase/work-on multiple moves.
  • Both players wearing #2, RB Lamical Perine (5’11 218, Florida) and CB Kindle Vildor (5’11 190, Georgia Southern) stood out during Team-vs-Team. Perine’s explosiveness is what caught my attention, and Vildor’s ability to click-and-close on receivers was also very impressive.
  • I thought the South Team QBs each had their moments in practice. Colorado QB Steven Montez’s arm looked the strongest, considering the brisk wind that whipped around Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Oregon Ducks QB Justin Herbert was probably the most consistent, and Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma, started out slow, but had impressive 7-on-7 and Team-vs-Team periods.
  • DL Terrell Lewis (6’5 252, Alabama) did a great job during team-vs-team in defending the run, as well as pressuring the QB.
  • OL Terence Steele (6’6 310, Texas Tech) had himself a strong showing in the run blocking department during team periods.

North Team Practice Observations and Standouts

  • WR Denzel Mims (6’3 215, Baylor) plays bully ball…and I LIKE IT! He was physical in WR/DB 1-on-1s, but also showcased his ability in WR/DB blocking drills. You can tell he definitely takes pride in that aspect of his game. Also, he plucks the ball out of the air with aggressiveness, ala Dez Bryant,
  • It was a great day for North TEs Charlie Taumoepeau (6’3 245, Portland State) and Adam Trautman (6’6 253, Dayton). Taumoepeau has a solid RAC skills, resembling Alge Crumpler running down the field. While Trautman’s speed and fluidity made him a very tough cover throughout the day. I thought a lot of defenders slept on his acceleration as well.
  • CB Troy Pride Jr. (5’11 194, Notre Dame) looked solid in 1-on-1s. I thought his mirror-and-match ability was where it needed to be.
  • WR Antonio Gandy-Golden (6’4 220, Liberty), came into the week with a great deal of fanfare, and showed why on Day 1. He’s very comfortable catching the ball away from his body, and shows good stack-and-accelerate ability running deep downfield.
  • RB Joshua Kelley (5’11 219, UCLA), to me, had the most impressive day for the RBs. He consistently found openings and showed and explosive burst once he planted his foot in the ground to head north and south.
  • DT Mctelvin Agim (6’3 300, Arkansas) was a call-up from the Shrine Bowl, and just picked up right where he left off in St. Pete. During the Team-vs-Team periods is where his disruptive nature started to show itself again.
  • OL Matt Peart (6’7 303, UConn) had an impressive showing during OL/DL 1-on-1s. I liked how his footwork and hand placement stayed consistent.
  • DL Jason Strowbridge (6’5 285, North Carolina) was the most disruptive defensive lineman during the OL/DL period. Quicks, explosiveness, burst and technique were all on display for the former Tar Heel.
  • DE Alton Robinson (6’4 260, Syracuse) was as good as advertised. It wasn’t just his reps during 1-on-1s, I thought he had a strong showing in Team-vs-Team as well.
  • DL Davon Hamilton (6’4 310, Ohio State) was the standout in my eyes during the Inside Run period. He showed his ability as a one-gap penatrator throughout the period.
  • OL Charlie Heck (6’8 315, North Carolina) was another Shrine Bowl call-up who showed out on Day 1. For a taller offensive tackle, I felt his knee bend was solid, and got his hands up, and on the defender pretty quickly.
  • WR James Proche (6’0 193, SMU) and QB Jordan Love (6’3 222, Utah State) connected on a beautiful intermediate crossing route in-between two defenders during 7-on-7s. I thought Love was the best QB on the North squad during Tuesday’s practice.
  • CB Michael Ojemudia (6’1 200, Iowa) stood out consistently during 7-on-7 as well. Broke up a nice ball on a comeback route, showing good burst out of his break.

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