What may have been Reese’s Senior Bowl’s most important week in the 71-year history of the game ended Saturday on Mobile.
With the NFL Combine configured to not include personal interaction between players and scouts and that form several professional days will still leave anyone, the Senior Bowl has become even more crucial for candidates for the 2021 draft of the NFL. More than 130 university stars went to Mobile for a week of training and meetings with professional scouts, coaches and talent assessors.
So, who made the biggest impressions during the week of Senior Bowl 2021? With the exception that it is very difficult for a player to damage his stock in the Senior Bowl, here are some of the players who shone on Mobile (listed in alphabetical order):
1. Carlos “Boogie” Basham, DL, Wake Forest – How can you not love a big man named Boogie? Basham, 1.80 m and 81 kg, did not play in Saturday’s game, but proved to be a constant presence in the defense of the other team throughout the week. With the ability to play in and out, depending on the scheme, Basham must be a valuable commodity on draft day.
2. Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina – Robust bass (5-8, 202) Carter was an electric ace for Tar Heels (consecutive 1,000-yard seasons) and showed that ability during practice and Saturday’s game. He also worked a little on the slot receiver during training, increasing his attractiveness for teams looking to find a versatile threat at the next level.
3. Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, Louisville – The group of wide receivers went deep this year, and the 6 to 2 and 202 pound Fitzpatrick stood out as much as any of them during the week. He formed an especially close connection with Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who extended into Saturday’s game. The two hooked themselves twice in an attempt to score the national team and Fitzpatrick ended the day with six receptions for 90 yards.
4. Richie Grant, SAF, Central Florida – If there was anyone who “made money” this week, it could be Grant, who dominated in three days of training. A highly productive three-year holder at UCF, he led his team in tackles twice and finished second in the other.
5. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama – Harris closed things down after Wednesday, but he gets a lot of credit for doing as much as he did in practice with an ankle that was far from healthy. Running backs don’t usually happen in the first round, but Harris’ combination of size, tackling, receiving ability and competitiveness can be too tempting to pass on to professional teams.
6. Creed Humphrey, OL, Oklahoma – Oklahoma has a history of producing outstanding NFL offensive line players, and Humphrey is the most recent. With the ability to play both in the center and on guard, he is the type of guy you can look at in 15 years from now and see that he has been to 10 Pro Bowls.
7. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama – Jones did not play Saturday’s game due to an ankle injury sustained during training on Thursday, but he was by far the best defender on Mobile. Jones’ leadership and precision skills opened his eyes all week, when he proved that his flashy numbers in 2020 were not just the result of his supporting cast. He could sneak into the upper half of the first round of the draft.
8. Quinn Meinerz, OL, Wisconsin-Whitewater – Every year, there is a little player at school who captures everyone’s imagination on Mobile for whatever reason. In the past, it was Carson Wentz of North Dakota or Jeremy Chinn of southern Illinois, and this year it was Meinerz of 6-3 and 320 pounds, a Division III player who appeared with a mullet, trained in a crop-top. shirt and suit on Saturday, despite a broken hand suffered in Thursday’s practice.
9. Dillon Radunz, OL, North Dakota State – Radunz has a prototypical tackle size (6-5, 308) and played for the program that is essentially Alabama at the FCS level (if not more dominant). He more than held on to Mobile, winning the award for best player of the week in general practice based on the vote of the players he faced during training.
10. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida – Toney did not play in Saturday’s game to the disappointment of his hometown fans, but the former Blount High School highlight had an excellent week of practice. His speed and versatility (he is a former high school defender) should play well at the next level, and there is a chance he will end up being drafted in the first round.