2015 Senior Bowl Recap

This is Charlie Campbell’s 2015 Senior Bowl Recap. Charlie is reporting live from Mobile, Ala., and he’ll describe what he sees at practice and whom certain prospects talk to all week.

If you want to see other 2015 Senior Bowl Reports, click the link.

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2015 Senior Bowl: Recap

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis had a mixed Senior Bowl. On the field, he was superb, but he was equally awful in the team interviews. Davis gave a terrible impression, as he came across lazy and arrogant. During the actual game, it was similar to practice when he was living in the backfield. He had a tackle for a loss and was firing into the backfield constantly. Davis needs a complete 180 in his attitude and interview skills for the Combine and pre-draft visits.

The running backs really shined on Saturday. Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah, Yale’s Tyler Varga, and Minnesota’s David Cobb all ran well. After a 19-yard run, Abdullah ripped off a gain of 25 yards, showing speed and cutting ability. In the third quarter, Cobb powered into the end zone for a touchdown. Varga had two scores in the second half. Abdullah looks like a mid pick on day two and Cobb could have pushed himself into Friday night consideration after his Senior Bowl. Varga will to compete to make it as a backup and special teams contributor. All three backs handled themselves well.

The running backs on the South were impressive as well. Auburn’s Cameron Artis-Payne and Northern Iowa’s David Johnson ran well to move the ball for a score on the first drive. Artis-Payne had 52 yards on the drive including a 24-yard screen pass. Johnson finished it with a 19-yard touchdown run. Both runners looked good, and Johnson helped himself at the Senior Bowl.

Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson had a quality week. In the game, he had some well-thrown passes including a slant to Sammie Coates for a first down. He made a perfectly placed ball to Miami tight end Clive Walford for a good gain, but Walford dropped it. After a few good throws on a field drive, Grayson missed a wide open tight end for a touchdown.

Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion did what he did all week, as well as his senior year, when he played inconsistently. Mannion threw some beauties, but also missed some open receivers and held onto the ball too long. With his size and arm, Mannion has a skill set for the NFL but he needs to improve his accuracy and improve his field vision with working through progressions faster.

Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith had a strong week of practice, and he was superb in the game. He was opening holes in the ground game and happened to be rock solid as a pass protector. Smith showed the power to move defenders, and his strength allows him sustain his pass blocks. Smith really helped himself in Mobile.

Alabama guard Arie Kouandjio finished off a strong week of practice with an impressive performance in the game. He was opening holes at that point of attack, as the South had a lot of success running behind Kouandjio with Cameron Artis-Payne and David Johnson. Kouandjio also had some tough blocks against Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Teams sources say that Kouandjio has graded out as one of the top guards in the class and a second-round pick.

TCU cornerback Kevin White did a lot to improve his standing during the week of practice and that continued on Saturday. At the end of the first quarter, Bryce Petty missed a throw to Notre Dame tight end Ben Koycak, and White picked off the ball. Unfortunately for White, the referees blew the call and ruled him down to take away a return of about 40 yards, but it still was an excellent catch by White.

Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson showed well on Saturday. He had tight coverage on a throw to Sammie Coates and slapped the pass away. That repeated itself against Josh Harper later, but Nelson was mistakenly flagged for a pass interference. Nelson had excellent coverage on other throws and really handled his assignments well.

USC safety Josh Shaw had a long pass interference penalty as he ran over Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett after Lockett burned him running downfield. Shaw didn’t turn around and play the ball while running through Lockettt. In the second quarter, he came back to break up a pass to Sammie Coates. Shaw should move to safety in the NFL.

Pittsburgh right tackle T.J. Clemmings gave up a strip-sack to Mississippi State’s Preston Smith in the second quarter. The sack was more on Sean Mannion, as the quarterback held onto the ball too long, but Smith did bull Clemmings back into the pocket before breaking way for the strip sack. Clemmings has a lot of physical ability, but he needs a ton of development.

Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder looks like a future slot receiver and return weapon in the NFL. However, Crowder muffed a punt in the first half and didn’t make big plays through the air.

Quandre Diggs came out of the slot corner and jumped an outside route to pick off a pass late in the third quarter. Diggs took off down the field for about a 40-yard return. That led to a touchdown for the North team. Diggs is a gritty nickel corner for the next level.

Miami of Ohio’s Quinton Rollins made a leaping interception at the end of the third quarter. He tracked the deep ball beautifully to make a diving catch. He almost had an interception earlier, but the pass tipped off is hands into the arms of Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett. Rollins has ball skills, but needs a lot of development in his technique as he hasn’t been playing the position very long.

2015 Senior Bowl Home
2015 Senior Bowl Quarterbacks
2015 Senior Bowl Recap
Senior Bowl-Only NFL Mock Draft
Interview with Denzel Perryman at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Garrett Grayson at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Friday's Rumor Mill
Interview with Nate Orchard at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Jerry Reese at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Thursday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's South Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's North Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's South Team Prospect Meetings
Interview with Devin Smith at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Phillip Dorsett at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Wednesday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Wednesday's North Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Wednesday's South Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's South Practice Report
Interview with T.J. Clemmings at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Tuesday's Rumor Mill
Interview with Danny Shelton at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's South Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl: Monday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Quarterbacks
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Running Backs
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Wide Receivers
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Tight Ends
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Offensive Linemen
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Defensive Linemen
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Linebackers
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Defensive Backs