The first practice of the East team in the East-West Shrine was held in St. Petersburg, Fla. inside Tropicana Field. The players practicing in shells: helmets, shoulder pads, and shorts.
Georgia wide receiver Terry Godwin was the most impressive wide receiver of the East squad on Monday. He ate up the cornerbacks in the one-on-ones, showing the speed to get separation with quality route-running. In the team period, he had a chunk gain on a slant working the middle of the field and getting open quickly at the second level of the secondary. Godwin is off to a fast start and he could really help himself this week after going under the radar at Georgia. In the NFL, he could be a good fit as a slot receiver and has the speed to be a scoring threat lining up on the outside. In some ways, Godwin reminds me of how John Brown looked at the East-West Shrine a few years ago.
One of the most impressive players in the offensive vs defensive line one-on-ones was Elon tackle Olisaemeka Udoh. He really impressed with his strong anchor, upper body strength and heavy hands. His heavy hands made it very tough for defensive linemen to shed his blocks. Udoh had his way with Tennessee defensive lineman Kyle Lawrence Phillips, pushing him around and locking him up with heavy hands. The 6-foot-5, 336-pound Udoh has good size for tackle or guard in the NFL. He will need to work on his feet and improve his ability to handle speed rushers, but he has the potential to be a pro offensive lineman with a NFL build. While he has played tackle, I think Udoh would be better off moving inside to guard. Udoh is off to a good start with a strong opening practice on Monday.
Kentucky guard Bunchy Stallings struggled on Monday. He had issues with speed getting upfield and was unable to stop rushers when they would finish him off with a spin or rip move. Bull rushes also got the better of him, as Stallings was rolled into the quarterback marker. Stallings had a quality career at Kentucky but he will need to play better in the practices to come.
Maryland linebacker Tre Watson had a good practice on Monday. He did well in the team scrimmage portion, filling run lanes and being physical at the point of attack. Watson led the Big 10 in tackles last year and his prowess as a run defender is obvious. He is quick to read his keys and get in position to make stops near the line of scrimmage. If Watson shows well in pass coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday, his stock could really rise as a potential three-down starter. Watson is a mid-round sleeper who could be a really nice value pick.
Virginia running back Jordan Ellis ran well in the team period. He was a slashing back who ripped off yards in chunks. Ellis is a quick runner with a low center of gravity, good balance and cutting ability. He runs smaller than his listed measurements (5-10, 225) and thrives when he gets into space. Ellis showed good reaction skills on a receiving route in the flat. A pass was not intended for him, but it got tipped in the air and he wisely chased it down to smack it into the ground with defenders close to getting an interception. Many running back prospects have really helped themselves at the East-West Shrine, and Ellis is off to a good start.
Oklahoma State defensive end Jordan Brailford also had a strong debut. He showed some quickness and athleticism on the edge. Brailford is not the biggest of edge defenders, so he would be better off going to a 3-4 team to give him some five-technique protection. Brailford has some pass-rushing skills to him and he could be a mid-rounder with a couple of more strong practices.
WalterFootball.com will have more recaps from the East-West Shrine practices on Tuesday and Wednesday along with a run-down of the post-practice team interviews. Follow @walterfootball for updates.
