The Senior Bowl truly is an event unlike any other. Where else do you have the opportunity to evaluate 100 of the nation's top prospects on the same field in actual football conditions? As always there will be a plethora of intriguing storylines to watch throughout the entire week but here are a half dozen players and situations that I will be paying extra special attention to.

 • Small School Standouts

   One of the major knocks on most small school prospects is that they are largely unproven against top quality competition. That won’t be the case after this week. The guy I am most interested to see is actually a former SEC star, North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins. Now we all know that Jenkins has the talent to not only play with the big boys but excel and I fully expect him to show well in Mobile. However, more importantly I want to personally speak with Jenkins, look him in the eye and try to get a read on the type of person he is and whether those off-the-field issues are truly a thing of the past. I guarantee pro scouts and coaches are looking forward to that opportunity as well. How Jenkins performs this week, both on the field and in interviews, will play a key role in determining whether the Asante Samuel clone is actually selected as early as his talent level warrants. A handful of other small school standouts will be trying to prove they can hang with the best of the best as well. Appalachian St. WR Brian Quick is battling a number of other Senior Bowl invitees for positioning in the wideout rankings and his performance this week could send the big, athletic pass catcher soaring up draft boards or spiraling down them. Furman CB Ryan Steed isn’t the type of player who is going to work out extremely well so it will be vital for the Paladins cover guy to show scouts that he can get the job done between the lines despite relatively average measurables. Amini Silatolu of Midwestern St. played tackle in college but will most likely move to guard at the next level and will have to show scouts that he can make that transition smoothly this week to solidify a spot in the top three rounds. Cal Poly’s Asa Jackson might be as physically gifted as just about any cornerback in this class, at least from a height / weight / speed perspective, and this is a huge chance to open some eyes and improve upon a mid-round grade. Then there is Massachusetts TE / H-Back Emil Igwenagu, whose versatility could make him an intriguing developmental option is what is widely considered to be one of the weakest positions in the 2012 NFL Draft. I was REALLY hoping to see Montana’s Trumaine Johnson in Mobile this week to properly evaluate whether he is better suited to play cornerback or safety in the pros but he wasn't listed among the small school attendees that organizers announced. Perhaps there will be a pleasant surprise when the final / full rosters are released.

 • Coming Out Party

   Utah St. LB Bobby Wagner and Louisiana-Lafayette CB Dwight Bentley have been staples of my Underrated List all year long but perhaps I’ll have to make room on the bandwagon after this week. I have often compared Wagner to Mason Foster because while neither is quite as big or fast as you’d prefer they both have a knack for being around the action and are just good football players. That tends to translate well at the Senior Bowl. Bentley doesn’t possess the prototypical physical tools that you look for either but he is very athletic with fluid hips and profiles as an excellent nickel. At this point Wagner and Bentley are probably viewed as mid-rounders by most, but in my opinion each has the talent to compete for a spot in the top three rounds.

 • Defensive Studs

   The 2012 Senior Bowl will feature a number of defenders with very lofty grades, including North Carolina DE Quinton Coples, Alabama S Mark Barron, Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw, North Carolina OLB Zach Brown, South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram and Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard. I want to see those guys play like sure-fire or potential first round picks this week. Last year Von Miller was a star in Mobile and it was clear he was on a different level talent-wise than the vast majority of his counterparts. If one of those aforementioned prospects has a quiet week it could be a warning sign. I'm also hoping to see Ingram get some work at linebacker to determine whether his playing that position in the NFL is a legitimate possibility.

 • Blockers

   Right now three underclassmen sit atop the offensive tackle rankings and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. However, after that top group there is a pretty significant drop-off at the position and this draft needs at least one more offensive tackle to emerge as a legitimate first round possibility. Do not be surprised if it is Mike Adams of Ohio St., who clearly has the physical tools but needs to be more consistent. If Adams plays up to his talent level this week the guy could fly up draft boards. Don't sleep on Zebrie Sanders of Florida St. either as he really opened some eyes after moving from the right side to left tackle to replace Andrew Datko this past season. There is no question that Sanders has the physical tools and all-around skill set to build on that momentum in Mobile. There is also a high-profile battle on the interior, with the massive yet very athletic Cordy Glenn of Georgia competing with blue collar mauler Kevin Zeitler for the right to be called the best offensive guard in this class. Whoever wins in the long run could hear their name called in the first round on Draft Day. Hopefully we will get a shot to see Glenn work at both tackle and guard this week so we can finally put that positional debate to rest once and for all.

 • Skill Position Flash

   There isn’t a lot of flash when it comes to the offensive skill position talent at this years game but two guys who I am excited to keep an eye on are Baylor WR Kendall Wright and Washington RB Chris Polk. There is a growing sentiment in the scouting community that Wright could ultimately be the second wideout selected after Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. Since Michael Floyd of Notre Dame opted not to participate, Wright will be the top rated pass catcher in this game and have the spotlight all to himself. If Wright flashes his elite speed and has a big week the top twenty overall could become a distinct possibility, if it isn’t already. Meanwhile, Polk was a surprise addition to the roster as most thought the Huskie runner was an underclassmen. However, Polk played in two games as a true freshman in 2008 and never applied for a redshirt, thus technically making him a senior. Polk will be battling with a half dozen other underclassmen running backs for a draft slot but while his competition is sitting at home Polk will be strutting his stuff in front of hundreds of league personnel. Let’s see if he can take advantage of that opportunity.

 • Quarterbacks: Who is #2?

   Unfortunately Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill suffered a foot injury while training and won’t be able to take part in the Senior Bowl. However, that leaves the door open for Nick Foles of Arizona, Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma St., Kirk Cousins of Michigan St. and Kellen Moore of Boise St. to shine. All four of those signal callers are competing to be the second senior quarterback off the board after Tannehill and this week could help scouts put some space between members of that group. Whoever looks the best stands a good chance of being selected in the second frame but a disappointing week could send one of them plummeting to the middle rounds. I'm especially interested to see how Moore handles himself in this environment.

   That is just a very small sampling of the things I and others will be keeping tabs on this week. In reality each prospect at this game has a unique story and something they are hoping to prove to scouts and NFL decision-makers. Some will impress, some will disappoint and there will undoubtedly be a surprise or two along the way as well. That is all a part of what makes the Senior Bowl week so much fun!

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