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What we learned at the 2020 Senior Bowl

After three days of practice and a football game, everyone knows a little more about these players now than they did before the week started. Here are the players I took notice of at the Senior Bowl, and how I view them heading into the combine a month from now.

Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert: Oregon, 6'6, 227 pounds

Herbert was considered a first-round pick before the Senior Bowl and he did nothing to dispel those expectations. He has a full tool shed when it comes to playing the quarterbacks position with his combination of size, athleticism, and a big time arm. His accuracy was fairly consistent most of the week and there's no reason to think he won't be under heavy consideration in the first half of the first round.

Jordan Love: Utah State, 6'3, 225 pounds

Like Herbert, Love showed all the same strong raw tools that made analysts consider him a potential day one pick. He showed the ability to make all the throws and put the ball into some very tight places for some high-level completions. Like Herbert, he helped his stock and no one should be surprised to see him as a first round selection.

Running Backs

It is difficult to judge running backs in practice without anyone trying to tackle them. Darius Anderson (TCU) and Joshua Kelly (UCLA) had productive days in Saturday's game.

Wide Receivers

It is a deep wide receiver class, which is why there are so many players listed here.

Van Jefferson: Florida, 6'1, 197 pounds

Jefferson might have been the top receiver at the Senior Bowl. He showed great speed, quickness, hands and superior route running ability. He was getting open on a variety of route and routinely created separation or adjusted to the ball in the air to come down with catches. Analysts might now consider him a day two player.

KJ Hill: Ohio State, 6'0, 192 pounds

Along with Jefferson, Hill was impossible to cover in Mobile. His quickness, speed and route running nuance allowed him to create separation at every level of the defense at will. He flashed strong hands and can play outside and in the slot. Much like his former roommate Terry McLaurin last season, he helped himself in Mobile and could now be in day two consideration. He can also return punts.

Denzel Mims: Baylor, 6'2, 206 pounds

This big bodied wide receiver made contested catches all week, but also showed he could separate from faster cornerbacks down the field. He can go up and get the football on jump balls and could draw heavy interest on day two of the draft.

Jauan Jennings: Tennessee, 6'3, 206 pounds

If you are looking for a deep threat from the Senior Bowl, Jennings is your man. He used his speed and physicality to make big plays down the field all week. His combination of height and speed will draw suitors in the 2020 draft. He closed out the week scoring a touchdown in Saturday' game.

Antonio Gandy Golden: Liberty, 6'3, 222 pounds

This small school receiver did not look out of place at the Senior Bowl. He was able to win over the top and separate underneath from the cornerbacks in attendance. He ended his week on a high note with a touchdown in Saturday's game. His size, athleticism and performance last week will help him on draft night.

Collin Johnson: Texas, 6'5, 221 pounds

His 6'5 frame will draw eyes, but his ability to contort his body to make contested catches will make those eyes stay a while. He separated well at the combine but some analysts still have lingering questions if he can do it at the next level. He is an intriguing big receiver.

View the best images of the week in Mobile, Alabama.

Three to watch moving forward…

Devin Duvernay: Texas, 5'10, 202 pounds

Duvernay had an up and down week, but his speed is apparent. He is also thick at 202 pounds, which allows him to run through contact. His sprinter speed and his ability to break tackles will draw interest from NFL teams.

Michael Pittman Jr.: USC, 6'3, 219 pounds

Pittman did not play in the Senior Bowl game due to injury, but during the week he showed the route running and hands to be an effective big possession receiver. People will be watching his 40 time closely at the NFL Combine.

Chase Claypool: Notre Dame, 6'4, 229 pounds

Claypool had a productive week at the Senior Bowl, but at 6'4 and 229 pounds he looks like he is built more like a NFL tight end. His speed and agility measurements at the combine will be key to where he gets drafted.

TIght Ends

Adam Trautman: Dayton, 6'5, 251 pounds

The 2019 Pioneer League offensive player of the year looked like the best tight end in Mobile. Despite playing FCS level football he was the most athletic tight end in attendance, and was more than willing to block at his position. His raw tools translate to a potential impact player in the NFL.

Offensive Linemen

OT Josh Jones: Houston, 6'5, 311 pounds

It was easy to spot the top offensive tackle present in Mobile. Jones was excellent in one on one pass protection drills, and he has the strength necessary to move people in the run game. He was consistent and helped himself in Mobile. Most analysts see him as a day two selection, but perhaps he can garner some round one consideration.

OG Damien Lewis: LSU, 6'2, 329 pounds

Lewis is built like a tank and showed excellent power throughout the week. He consistently won in one on one pass protection drills and looks like a NFL caliber guard. He had a couple excellent blocks in space in the run and screen game during Saturday's game.

OG Jonah Jackson: Ohio State 6'3, 310 pounds

If Jackson lost any reps during the week in Mobile, I didn't see them. He isn't the most mobile player but his combination of hand usage, positioning, and technique made him excellent in pass protection drills.

C Lloyd Cushenberry: LSU, 6'3, 312 pounds

Cushenberry was considered by some analysts to be the top center in the class heading into Mobile, and he did nothing to dispel those opinions. He was solid throughout the week and made his case to be one of the top centers off the board.

C Nick Harris, G/C Matt Hennessy, G Logan Stenberg, G John Simpson, G Ben Bredeson were other solid contributors during the week on the interior offensive line.

Players to watch…

OT Alex Taylor: South Carolina State, 6'8, 308 pounds, (36 inch arms)

Taylor is one of the longest offensive linemen I have ever seen in person with hands hanging near his knees. From a small school, he is still has a lot of work to do in his technique, but the raw tools are very intriguing, to say the least.

OT Ben Bartch: St John's, 6'5, 308 pounds

From small Division Three St. John's in Minnesota, Bartch couldn't play in the game due to injury, but didn't look overmatched throughout the week. He certainly helped himself in Mobile.

Defensive Linemen

DT Marlon Davidson: Auburn, 6'3, 297 pounds

Davidson only practiced one day before suffering an injury, but in his one day of work he looked like the most dominant player on the field. His combination of quick get-off at the snap, agility, power, and hand usage made him nearly impossible to block in one on one drills. The question is whether his performance will get him into round one consideration?

DT Javon Kinlaw: South Carolina, 6'5, 315 pounds

He only practiced two days and showed more than enough. He was considered by many to be the top prospect at the Senior Bowl and he looked like exactly that. His size, power, and athleticism were impressive and he looked like a disruptive NFL defensive tackle. Analysts think he could be a top 15 pick on draft night.

DT Neville Gallimore: Oklahoma, 6'2, 304 pounds

Not as explosive as Davidson or Kinlaw, Gallimore impressed in his own right and looks like a potential day two pick for a team looking for a starting caliber defensive tackle. He was able to penetrate into the backfield and win often in one on ones.

DT Jason Strowbridge: North Carolina, 6'4, 267 pounds

Strowbridge flashed excellent athleticism and gave guards fits throughout practice last week, but at only 265 pounds can he play inside on a regular basis? Where he winds up landing in terms of position will be something to watch.

Edge Joshua Uche: Michigan, 6'1, 241 pounds

A linebacker at Michigan, he is likely destined to be 3-4 outside linebacker that will often find himself rushing the passer in the NFL. He showed the ability to win on the edge during week and he also played coverage in space. He closed the week with a dominant Senior Bowl game, constantly getting pressure on the quarterback.

DE Jonathan Greenard: Florida, 6'3, 262 pounds

He was the best traditional 4-3 defensive end in attendance, and showed enough athleticism to win more than most off the edge. He doesn't have the freakish athleticism of high first round edge players, but he has the potential to be a productive pro.

DE Bradlee Anae: Utah, 6'3 , 257 pounds

Anae did not draw my attention during practice but he looked unblockable in the game on Saturday. He was constantly beating opposing left tackles, showed good hand usage and was in the back field all game as a pass rusher.

Players to watch…

Edge Terrell Lewis: Alabama, 6'5, 258 pounds

An impressing looking player with a long reach (34 inch arms), Lewis has a long injury history, including completely missing 2018 with a knee injury. He split his time between an edge rusher and a stand-up linebacker. His pass rush moves were mostly centered around winning with his length and power. Medicals at the combine will be huge for him. More athleticism could return as he gets further away from his injuries.

Linebackers

In the modern NFL, all teams are looking for linebackers that can cover. There were plenty of thumpers in attendance like California's Evan Weaver and Ohio State's Malik Harrison, but I'll focus on the ones I think can become good cover players.

Zack Baun: Wisconsin, 6'2, 240 pounds

He was primarily used as an edge rusher by the Badgers in college, and his few pass rush reps last week he showed some impressive rush moves. In coverage, it was clear he has the athleticism to play in space, but there is still some learning to do. His predicament is similar to what Joe Schobert faced coming out of Wisconsin a few years ago. The potential is here and many think he could be a day two pick.

Akeem Davis-Gaither: Appalachian State University, 6'1, 219 pounds

Davis-Gaither certainly has the athleticism to do the physical things required of a linebacker in space in the NFL, but at only 219 pounds, there will be questions as to whether he can hold up at the line of scrimmage at that size. There's no doubt he will try to add some good weight before arriving in Indianapolis for the NFL combine.

Defensive Backs

A number of top cornerbacks that were invited to the Senior Bowl chose not to attend shortly before the event, which is why this list is so short.

CB Troy Pride Jr.: Notre Dame, 5'11, 193 pounds

Pride was sticking to receivers all week long, and he looks fast and quick enough to do the same at the NFL level. His skills might also lend themselves to being a slot cornerback in the NFL at some point.

CB/Safety Terrell Burgess: Utah, 5'11, 192 pounds

Whether Burgess got reps at safety or cornerback, he played both very well. He had a deflection covering a tight end on a potential touchdown pass in Saturday's game. He looked like a good football player all week.

Safety Jalen Elliott: Notre Dame, 6'0, 205 pounds

Elliott didn't do anything spectacular, but he just always seemed to be in the right place at the right time all week, For a safety, that's extremely important.

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