For many veteran prospects in college football, the Senior Bowl is their last-ditch effort to show pro scouts they are worth looking into for the upcoming draft. And for this year’s senior crop, it’s especially significant, given how COVID has made it near impossible for scouts and players to interact with one another. With the Combine canceled, pro days becoming much more limited in participation, and interviews being held more and more virtually, Mobile, Alabama has become the go-to stage for players to gain ground for the upcoming draft, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Some players will shine; the early camp favorites will see a chance to highlight their skills and potential when all eyes from the football world are watching. But not everyone shines under the bright lights of Hancock Whitney Stadium. Some players underperformed, others just simply left their chances, and it’s incredibly difficult to recover. We’ll break it down here, as ITH breaks down who were the offensive standouts and letdowns at the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Offensive Standouts
QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
The Texas A&M product was ranked around 4th or 5th on many scouting boards, as his play down in the SEC was often so volatile and inconsistent, it was difficult to determine whether the former Aggie was good or not. Even in practice, Mond had those flashes of inconsistency flash in 7 on 7 drills and 11 on 11’s.
But when full contact started, and the bright lights were shining down on him, Mond put on a show, winning Senior Bowl MVP with a 52% completion percentage for 173 yards and two stellar touchdowns to Clemson’s Amari Rodgers on a short seam route, then to Tennessee’s Josh Palmer off an RPO slant, along with 11 yards on the ground and a 2 point conversion.
RB Michael Carter, UNC
Michael Carter came into Mobile as the second-best running back there, just behind Alabama’s Najee Harris. The two were expected to share the backfield for the National Team, but an ankle injury kept the national champion from playing Saturday’s game day. Carter made the most of his extra snaps, becoming the only effective rushing attack either team had on the day.
Carter finished Saturday with eight carries for 60 yards and a RedZone TD that saw him carry nearly every player on the field into the endzone with him. Carter showed his willingness to play in power schemes, being able to shed tackles in iso and dive players. While Javonte Williams was known more as the hardened power back for the Tarheels, Carter showed he’s not afraid of a little contact.
WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville
What can be said about this 6’2, 210 pounder that hasn’t already been said before? Fitzpatrick is athletic, quick out of his stance, and can outman opposing defensive backs, simply because of his built.
Even going up against a corner bigger than him in Syracuse Orangeman Ifeatu Melifonwu, Fitzpatrick created space and wrestled on contested balls (which was what all these QB’s could create, let’s be honest here), finishing the day with six catches for 90 yards on 11 targets, averaging 15 yards per catch.
Offensive letdowns
WR Frank Darby, Arizona State
Darby was wowing scouts and media with his crisp route running and a knack for finding holes in coverage during this week’s practices, seen on a similar-to-higher footing than some of his counterparts, like Louisville’s Fitzpatrick or Florida’s Toney. But that did not translate well into game day for the former Sun Devil.
Darby started the game out with a great pass from Sam Ehlinger, a 22 yard gain in the first quarter. But that’s all Darby had on the day. The next five targets that came his way, he dropped three of them consecutively, while the others sailed over him, courtesy of Ian Book and Felipe Franks on one each. Confidence in Darby fell sharply for Flores, who essentially moved him to the doghouse for the rest of the game.
TE Noah Gray, Duke
Noah Gray’s addition to this list is more about what he didn’t do than what he did, which was nothing. Nothing at all, not even a target for the 6’4 Blue Devil.
Whether it’s that his quarterbacks didn’t even bother to throw his direction (makes sense, given that Mond developed good chemistry with Rodgers & Palmer and Jaime Newman… well, you’ll see) or that Matt Ruhle just didn’t call any route schemes with Gray as the primary target. Whatever the case may be, Gray was left out to dry, and while there is still game film from his time at Duke and practice footage for scouts to work with, it would have helped Gray get that draft stock trending upwards. Guess we’ll have to wait until April to see the full effects.
QB Jamie Newman
After opting out of the 2020 season, many in the football cognoscente wondered if the year-off football would affect Newman, in terms of draft preparation and his body losing touch with the game. In practice, Newman was, by far, the worst QB in camp, having six total turnovers in team drills over the two practice days.
Gameday wasn’t any better for the former Demon Deacon/Bulldog, despite what the stat line shows. His 10/14 completion percentage came off quick throws and screen passes to his receivers, and it looked like Ruhle didn’t trust him to try any pass longer than 10 yards downfield, with one of his downfield passes getting picked off, with Washington State DB Keith Taylor, Jr. forcing a batted ball into the waiting hands of Pittsburgh S Damar Hamlin. Overall, Newman might need to have an absolute stellar pro day to get back into pro football scouts’ good graces, if they even come to see him.
Writer
-By: Juan Guarin-Camargo
