The Senior Bowl's Big Winners from Monday’s Official Measurements

In one of the biggest annual spectacles of the year for football fans, the Senior Bowl officially started on Monday with the long-awaited weigh-ins. While it may seem silly for a bunch of people to pay close attention to the measurements of these athletes (It sort of is a bit) the measurements are arguably the most important part of the all-star week. With many colleges not providing the most accurate information, a lot of prospects height an inch or two off, the Senior Bowl is the first time the media and teams can accurately get official measurements for players. There’s a big difference in an offensive tackle who is 6’5 instead of 6’3. Here are four winners from the Monday measurements.

Daniel Faalele, OT Minnesota

This one was expected… Daniel Faalele was a massive player on film, and his measurements check that out. Faalele walked into Mobile at 6’8, weighing a colossal 387 pounds. He boasts Andre The Giant-like hands at 11 inches, making it extremely hard for defenders to escape once in his grasp. Daniel Faalele will be one of the largest players in the league upon arrival.

Zion Johnson, IOL Boston College

Zion Johnson is a player who can go very high on day two with a good Senior Bowl performance, and his measurements have him off to a phenomenal start. Johnson is pretty much everything you want in a guard size-wise. At 6’2 he offers natural leverage against taller opponents. He combines that with 33 ⅞ inch arms, which is phenomenal arm length for a guard. He checks all of the measurable boxes and has high-quality tape. Watch out for Johnson.

Phidarian Mathis, IDL Alabama

If there’s one guy who I completely believe can propel himself into the first round with a strong Senior Bowl, it’s Alabama’s, Phidarian Mathis. Mathis decided to return to Tuscaloosa for his senior season, the decision yielding his best season yet! I was shocked to find out that the Louisiana native had nine sacks this year, especially after only having one combined sack the previous three years. He has fantastic size, especially with 34 ⅝ inch arms, and that length can be seen in his tape. Mathis makes his money getting hands-on defenders first, and using violent pass rush moves. He seriously has some of the heaviest hands in the class. Quicker than you’d expect at 313 pounds, Mathis should be on most teams’ radars. 

Jesse Luketa, EDGE/LB Penn State

Jesse Luketa’s status as a winner heavily depends on his performance this week. If he plays with the same athleticism he did at Penn State, he’s a massive winner and a player to watch out for. If he looks a bit slower, then not as much. I legitimately cannot fathom that Jesse Luketa moves that well at 262 pounds. On film at Penn State, he flies to the ballcarrier, looking like Bullet Bill from Mario. If he has that same tremendous burst and explosiveness at his current listed weight of 262 pounds, sign me up for Luketa on my roster.

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-By: Jacob Keppen