One of the most important events on the National Football League calendar is the Senior Bowl. Held the week after the conference championship games, it is the true beginning of the NFL draft cycle.
Not only do scouts and analysts like us get to see over 100 draft prospects in one place competing against each other, but it’s also an opportunity for analysts and personnel alike to get together and have discussions about a number of topics.
As we look forward to this year’s Senior Bowl, managing editor Tyler Forness will be there in person to break everything down.
During the week, these 10 players on the National Team’s defense are worth keeping your eye on.
Penn State CB Kalen King
This is a fun cornerback class and King is a fascinating prospect. A player with length and athleticism, King has a chance to be a top cornerback in the class but some inconsistencies that he needs to work through. A great week in Mobile could make a huge impact on his draft stock.
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Mitchell is a fascinating prospect. He displayed excellent ball skills but left some on the table by playing the wide receiver over the ball. He has the size and athleticism to play on the outside but he will need some refinement with his technique. A great week in Mobile could get him picked in the first round.
Rutgers CB Max Melton
His brother Bo currently plays with the Green Bay Packers and Max is every bit as good of an athlete as his brother. He has the physicality and experience along with the length and athleticism to thrive on the outside and that is going to show up in one-on-ones. However, his game isn’t at a point where he his consistent with his technique.
Utah S Sione Vaki
Will Vaki play safety exclusively or will the work him in at running back? The Utes used Vaki on offense as well as in the secondary, taking advantage of his excellent athleticism. Vaki does a good job working downhill and has a chance to show evaluators a little bit extra during practice.
Notre Dame ILB Marist Liufau
Second level defenders are becoming more and more important in the NFL. Liufau is a talented player that offers some versatility and intelligence at the next level. There are some athleticism questions but he can disprove those with a really good week of practice.
NC State ILB Payton Wilson
Wilson is the best linebacker talent in the 2024 NFL draft class but there are some major question marks surrounding him. Injuries are significant for Wilson and could potentially force him to either retire or severely limit his career. If the medicals end up looking better than projected, Wilson could be a top player chosen at the position. His size, length and mentality could keep him in the league for a long time but the medicals are a real concern.
Washington ILB Edefuan Ulofoshio
The Washington product is a talented prospect but there are some concerns he will need to address in Mobile. Uloloshio is technically sound and has the frame to be successful but his athletic profile is an issue. He doesn’t display high-end athleticism on film and that can be an issue when chasing tacklers laterally. Displaying the instincts to overcome that athleticism can help raise his draft stock.
Oregon DL Brandon Dorlus
The question a lot will be asking in Mobile is this: what is Brandon Dorlus at the next level? Is he a 3T? Is he a DE/5T in a 3/4? Is he a true EDGE rusher? Those are all real possibilities for the talented player who displays a lot of power and quickness to be able to thrive across the defensive line. Allowing him to show everything he can do will be important for his draft stock.
Washington State EDGE Brennan Jackson
In a similar vein to Dorlus, Brennan Jackson is an edge rusher. His frame and play style say that he could thrive as a 5T in a 3-4 defense. He holds up well at the point of attack and plays tough in the running game. Getting him in multiple positions to thrive will give evaluators the ability to see him in many ways.
Kansas EDGE Austin Booker
There will be similar conversations surrounding Booker as there were with Gregory Rousseau. They both had less than 600 snaps in college and projecting out the future. The biggest difference is that Booker is projected to be a day three guy whereas Rousseau went in round one. Booker has really intriguing athleticism that can be developed over the next few years and a big week in Mobile can expedite the process.
UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
Latu is arguably the best pass rusher in the draft. He is currently my EDGE 2 behind Penn State’s Chop Robinson but the power and technical prowess Latu has is excellent. The biggest issues that Latu faces are the medicals. He was already forced to retire due to a neck injury and the answer could make him undraftable, as neck injuries are both serious and delicate.
