The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl got underway today with the first full day of practice. A nice warm and muggy January day in Mobile, Alabama. If every day was like this no one would ever complain about the weather.
The day started with the opening press conference with Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy. TCU QB Max Duggan and Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey followed him.
Jim Nagy noted that over 1000 media members were credentialed to cover this year’s game. 16 NFL teams are represented amongst the Senior Bowl coaching staffs. Nagy also stated that he expects the game’s 7-year streak of having a first-round QB will end this year. In fact, they may not have one selected in the Top 100.
The last time the SR Bowl didn’t have a QB drafted top-100? Over 20 years ago in 2001. And it could happen again this year.
But it is a really interesting group of passers in Mobile. All the key questions/story lines worth watching this week 👇👇 https://t.co/9zcnf8hRZP
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 31, 2023
SENIOR BOWL NATIONAL TEAM PRACTICE NOTES
GENERAL NOTES
Boise State safety is tall and has length. He has a narrow build but is ripped up.
Daiyan Henley standing next to JL Skinner. Upper bodies are similar, Henley thicker down low. Skinner is a big safety, Henley a smaller LB. Interesting juxtaposition pic.twitter.com/zaOUWDWZrJ
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 31, 2023
To say Dawand Jones (OT/Ohio State) is a mammoth human being is an understatement. He is 6’8″ and 375 pounds. Jones has an unfathomable 89.5″ wing span! To go along with oven mitt-sized 11 3/8″ hands. Jones dwarves nearly every other offensive lineman here.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall struggled with his ball placement today. This, coupled with other issues, really made the Cougar product have poor practice tape on day one.
Louisville QB Malik Cunningham missed practice with a stomach bug.
Iowa CB Riley Moss had a nice day in coverage and was the fastest player on the National team at 19.73 mph.
RB/LB 1-on-1 PASS PRO
Camerun Peoples (RB/Appalachian State) excelled in these drills. He looks the part and then backed it up.
Northwestern RB Evan Hull also blocked well in these drills. Illinois RB Chase Brown did not win a single pass pro rep. Brown also had a fumble today and a dropped pass.
Defensively, Washington State LB Daiyan Henley was the most successful linebacker.
RB/LB 1-on-1 PASS ROUTES
Daiyan Henley also excelled in coverage in the two reps I saw.
Unfortunately, Troy LB Carlton Martial seems to be out of his element here. This is a bit surprising for someone who set the FBS career tackles record. Martial was already behind the 8-ball after measuring in at 5’7″ and 210 pounds. He didn’t handle himself well in pass rush or coverage.
WR/DB 1on-1s
Michigan State WR Jayden Reed and Michigan WR Ronnie Bell looked fantastic getting in and out of their breaks. Both ate up corners in off-man coverage.
Jayden Reed has won every route so far. Another win vs. off coverage. pic.twitter.com/hvCKPr4365
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2023
Stanford CB Kyu Blu Kelly had a great rep covering Puka Nacua (WR/BYU) down the field. Nacua would have more success later in practice, along with Kelly.
Pretty good coverage by Kyu Blu Kelly pic.twitter.com/Svg7FX7ovF
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2023
OTHER NOTES
Fresno State QB Jake Haener was inconsistent throughout the team period and practice in general.
I didn’t watch much of the OL/DL drills today (not in full pads today). However, I glanced over at one point and saw Troy interior lineman Jake Andrews almost hip-toss a defender during a rep.
SENIOR BOWL AMERICAN TEAM PRACTICE NOTES
GENERAL NOTES
Matthew Bergeron (OT/Syracuse) and O’Cyrus Torrence (IOL/Florida) looked imposing as the American team’s left tackle and left guard.
Of the five passers we saw today, Shepherd QB Tyson Bagent had the most zip on his throws.
Georgia RB Kenny McIntosh went down with a right leg injury. It appears that it was just cramping. It was quite humid today. Hopefully, we will have the Georgia product back tomorrow.
WR/DB 1-on-1s
The story of this drill was how unbelievable Nathaniel Dell (WR/Houston) was. The man they call “Tank” annihilated all of the big corners on the American team. I started feeling bad for guys like Darius Rush (CB/South Carolina) and Rezjohn Wright (CB/Oregon State).
Again… these bigger CBs can’t cover Tank Dell. pic.twitter.com/kGpLdc0T49
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2023
Rush and Wright would have better success later in the drill. Rush even had an INT.
Miami-FL CB Tyrique Stevenson looked solid here. He ran the route for the WR on one play.
Other winners here were Xavier Hutchinson (WR/Iowa State), Julius Brents (CB/Kansas State), and Dontayvion Wicks (WR/Virginia).
SEVEN-ON-SEVEN
Auburn EDGE Eku Leota looked natural as a linebacker dropping in coverage. Something to monitor this week.
Alabama safety Demarco Hellams had an interception of Max Duggan.
TEAM DRILL
Florida A&M LB Isaiah Land was one of the most feared sack artists in FCS. But he was only listed at 205 pounds. After weighing in at 226 pounds we can now see how he can project to the NFL. During the team drill, Land beat Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris quickly for a “sack”.
Tulane RB Tyjae Spears showed an excellent burst through the hole. His Green Wave teammate, LB Dorian Williams was consistently filling nicely.
Darrell Luter (CB/South Alabama) had great coverage on a deep ball to SMU WR Rashee Rice.
South Carolina DL Zacch Pickens beat Alabama IOL Emil Ekiyor quickly and could have had a sack of Bagent. Ekiyor spent most of his day at center.
OTHER NOTES
Dell and TCU WR Derius Davis both fielded punt returns in practice. As one would expect. Oklahoma RB Eric Gray also fielded returns.
We will be back again tomorrow with the practice report from day two.
Also, check out my 3-Round Mock Draft from Monday.