NFL Draft

2023 NFL Draft: Senior Bowl Recap Day 1

Recapping the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl.

The NFL Draft Bible

2023 NFL Draft: Senior Bowl Recap Day 1
2023 NFL Draft: Senior Bowl Recap Day 1 /
evan-hull-jartavious-martin-jl-skinner-roschon-johnson

Mobile, Alabama – The 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl practices started this afternoon at Hancock Whitney Stadium, located on the campus of South Alabama.

The first day of Senior Bowl practices has come to an end and if it's any indication of what's to come, then we are in for a treat. Many prospects are proving themselves against some of the most talented college football players in the country and are making a case for their NFL Draft stock to rise.

This year’s class doesn’t offer an overwhelming selection of quarterbacks, but with every class, there are certain pockets of talent that resonate amongst each positional group.

Everyone was treated to one of the finest weather days in quite some time, as both the National and American practices started underneath a warm sun.

Let's look at all the players that stood out on day one of the Senior Bowl practices.

Day 1 Senior Bowl Money Makers

Who made themselves money at the Senior Bowl for the NFL Draft?

NATIONAL: S JL Skinner, Boise State

jl-skinner

Coming into the year, JL Skinner was one of the top safety prospects in our rankings. He was more inconsistent throughout the year than was hoped of him, but he's starting the Senior Bowl week with a bang. He flashed the entire day of practice, whether it was positional or team drills, everyone's eyes gravitated to him.

His exceptional length is really what gets the adrenaline pumping when eyeing up Skinner. Today he showed a knack for getting to the deep ball and range that likely impressed NFL scouts in attendance. The All-Mountain West First Team safety held back on one play. If it were full contact, he would have leveled the receiver. Skinner maintained his composure and left the moment to unleash a magnificent hit left to our imaginations.

Scout Take: It is hard to find safeties with all the tools Skinner possesses and his high-level tape will make him one of the most coveted defensive backs in next year’s class.

NATIONAL: OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State

dawand-jones

Measureables alone won Dawand Jones the Senior Bowl. Not only is he a massive human being, but he also showed off his technique. Even at his size, he was balanced, moving his feet well and attacking defenders. Jones has made a strong case for being a lock for round one of the NFL Draft.

Read More: Ohio State Dawand Jones Proving at Senior Bowl He's a Round 1 Lock

Scout Take: A colossal tackle with a robust playstyle, Jones' skill set is few and far between and will leave teams clamoring for his services come the NFL Draft.

NATIONAL: S Jartavius Martin, Illinois

jartavious-martin

With an intriguing safety class, one guy that has the potential to rise up that list is Illinois' Jartavius Martin. He showed his versatility this season, but his athleticism was on full display on the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl. He flashed quick feet, smooth hips and was fluid in his movements, showing comfortability in mirroring wide receivers. 

Scout Take: Martin is a versatile defensive back with significant experience at outside corner and slot corner, but he’ll likely spend more time in deeper safety alignments at the NFL level.

NATIONAL: RB Roschon Johnson, Texas

roschon-johnson

The spotlight was on Bijan Robinson this season, which overshadowed the pure talent of Roschon Johnson. He has a chance to make a big-time rise in his NFL Draft stock. He was beating linebackers in one-on-one pass-catching drills and showed off his footwork in position drills. Make sure you know who Johnson is when the clock starts on the 2023 NFL Draft.

Scout Take: Johnson is a powerful back who showcases blocking skills, contact balance, footwork, patience, and upside as a pass catcher, but he lacks the dynamic agility, burst, elusiveness, and lateral movement to warrant a top 64 draft selection.

NATIONAL: RB Evan Hull, Northwestern

evan-hull

An under-the-radar and versatile prospect, running back Evan Hull is putting his running style and pass-catching ability on full display early on at the Senior Bowl. He had a productive year at Northwestern and has been compared to former New England Patriots running back James White. Hull is showing early indications this week of rising up NFL Draft boards.

Overall, both running back groups looked solid. Hull looked very fast. A burst in his step that was followed by a shifty stride on his lower center of gravity frame. He possesses what many consider some ideal numbers when it comes to the height and weight combination found on most rosters. At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, Hull gives scouts the insurance of a durable frame. Mix in this skill set and something good is brewering for Hull on draft day.

Read More: Northwestern RB Evan Hull Impressing at Senior Bowl

Scout Take: A twitchy back with true utility as a pass catcher and zone runner.

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NATIONAL: EDGE Lonnie Phelps Jr., Kansas

Lonnie Phelps Jr

Scribbling down numbers while watching practice with a few notes as well. Lonnie Phelps Jr. kept catching eyes. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 251-pounds, Phelps is an undersized lineman but he plays with a ton of intensity. He comes off the ball angry. His snaps during the National practice were violent. He showed some technique as well with a nicely executed move with his hands to beat the tackle. Dipping and dunking Phelps Jr. got a passing grade this afternoon.

NATIONAL: OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

Jaelyn Duncan

Duncan looked bored, but in a good way. During one-on-one drills, he had guys barreling at him. Duncan stone-walled them time and time again. He is long-standing at 6-foot-5 and 298-pounds, which made his solid technique in stunting the defenders to beat him. A solid day one for Maryland’s left tackle who appeared in 13 games this past season.

Scout Take: A stellar mover with dominant power in a massive frame, Jaelyn Duncan’s pure athleticism may rival that of any prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class. He can play four of the five offensive line positions and flashes solid technique.

NATIONAL: iOL Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

Jarrett Patterson

Both Duncan and Patterson really helped their NFL Draft stock this afternoon. Patterson lived up to the Notre Dame pedigree of talented offensive linemen that have come before him. His striking ability was fast and furious, he looked very good overall.

Scout Take: A high-floor, low-ceiling prospect, Jarrett Patterson’s advanced technique and intelligence only partially compensate for his underwhelming athletic profile.

AMERICAN: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky

Chris Rodriguez Jr

Rodriguez Jr. is known for his physical style of play. His ball skills and elusiveness were very noticeable this afternoon. The Wildcats' two-time team captain possesses a thick powerful frame (5-foot-11 224-pounds) and when on display, his speed was fun to watch and imagine what his future looks like in the NFL.

Scout Take: A bulldozing runner that churns out yardage in between the tackles.

AMERICAN: LB Sirvocea Dennis, Pittsubrgh

Sirvocea Dennis

A hybrid player at 6-foot-0 and 218-pounds. Several times coaches complimented Dennis during drills. “Good work,” said one coach. Another coach said, “Great leverage,” after another. Dennis looked on point being in the right place, reading his gaps and staying fluid in the play. While those might not sound like worldly exploits, if your defenders aren’t following those two simple traits, then you're in trouble.

Scout Take: Salmonella-raw in coverage, but the physical traits are there and he lives in the backfield on blitzes and run defense.

AMERICAN: iOL Steve Avila, TCU

Steve Avila

Avila is a bulldozer. A mountain of a man at 6-foot-3 and 332-pounds, his movement was most noticeable. It would be easy to think he would lack the extra gear to get to the second level but that is not the case; at least today. Avila was quick with the ball and once he started going, he was plowing down anyone in his path.

Scout Take: Right now, Avila’s game needs a lot of work but he projects as a potential starting gap power guard at the next level.

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