2020 Senior Bowl Recap

This is Charlie Campbell’s 2020 Senior Bowl Recap. Charlie reported live from Mobile, Ala., and he has described what he saw at practice and whom certain prospects talked to all week.

If you want to see other 2020 Senior Bowl Reports, click the link.

Follow me @walterfootball for updates, and stay tuned all week for tons of 2020 Senior Bowl coverage.

2020 Senior Bowl: Recap

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

North 34, South 17

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is highly likely to be the first Senior Bowl player drafted because is likely a future top-10 pick. Herbert seemed like he was on cruise control, moving the ball on his limited possessions. On the opening drive, Herbert went 4-for-4 for short completions and had a scramble up the middle for 19 yards. He finished the drive with a 16-yard screen pass to Lamical Perine for a score. Herbert completed 9-of-12 for 83 yards and a touchdown. Over the week, Herbert showed off his excellent skill set, but the all-star environment was not an adequate place for him to ease the concerns around his leadership and ability to make clutch plays in big games.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts did not impress in the Senior Bowl game. On his first throw, Hurts threw the ball late, which limited the yards after the catch for Tennessee wideout Jauan Jennings. A few plays later, Hurts took a sack when he held the ball too long. Hurts was sacked twice by Utah’s Bradley Anae later on the same drive, despite Hurts having chances on both plays to get rid of the ball, but he held on too long.

On the next drive, Anae beat Oregon’s Calvin Throckmorton to hit Hurts as he threw, and that led to a jump ball that Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison came down with for an interception. Hurts later moved the ball some to produce a field goal drive, but on that possession, he was fortunate not to have thrown another interception.

Hurts threw a short touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but overall his Senior Bowl tape won’t help change or improve his standing from a week of practice during which he illustrated he doesn’t see the field well.

Anae could have been the MVP of the Senior Bowl, houndeing the South quarterbacks like an animal. In the second quarter, Anae got off a block from Texas Tech’s Terrance Steele to sack of Hurts. Late in the third quarter, Anae notched a coverage sack after he kept fighting and eventually broke free from the right tackle to take down Colorado quarterback Steven Montez. There is no doubt Anae has some natural pass-rush skills, but he faces some physical limitations for the NFL. Therefore, he is more of a prospect for the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft.

TCU running back Darius Anderson had a good week of practice, which he carried over into the game. Anderson got open along the sideline for a completion from Shea Patterson at the start of the second quarter and bolted down the field for a 75-yard touchdown. Anderson stepped out of bounds a few yards in front of the end zone, but without reviews, the score was given to Anderson. He added a run of 16 yards early in the third quarter. Later on that drive, Anderson caught a checkdown and bolted downfield to convert a first down with a gain of 12 yards. On the next drive, he showed contact balance to break a tackle and rip off more yards.

Anderson totaled two receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown with 43 yards on the ground on only seven carries. The runner known as “Jet” lived up to the nickname, displaying a quick first-step, a burst to the second level, and agile moves in the open field. He could be a nice value pick in the mid-rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft who is able to contribute as a solid backup running back, third-down option, and change-of-pace behind the starter.

While Anderson played well, perhaps the most impressive runner in the Senior Bowl was UCLA’s Joshua Kelley. Kelley had a run of just under 20 yards in the first quarter, cutting up the middle and showing good vision to find a lane. Later on, he added a 29-yard run to help set up the North for more points. He ended up running for 105 yards on 15 carries in the Senior Bowl.

Kelley is talented back who went under the radar in 2019, although multiple team sources have said Kelley impressed them during the Senior Bowl. In Mobile, he showed he has a good build to him with quickness, cutting ability, and natural instincts. Kelley also could contribute on third downs, so he could develop into a three-down starter in the NFL. He had a really good week in Mobile and caught the attention of team staffers.

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson struggled in practice all week, and his issues carried into gametime. In the second quarter, Patterson threw a wobbling pass up for grabs in the middle of the field, and it was just a question of which defender was going to pick it off between Georgia Southern’s Kindle Vildor or Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kyle Dugger. Vildor came down with the turnover on a terrible pass from Patterson. Late in the first half, Patterson made a horrible throw while falling away off his back foot, and he was fortunate the cornerback was unable to win a contested catch.

In practice, Patterson had a number of balls batted, his placement was off at times, and he struggled to see the field. This week illustrated Patterson is probably more of a priority free agent rather than a future late-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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2020 Senior Bowl: Thursday's South Team Practice Report
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2020 Senior Bowl: Tuesday's North Team Practice Report
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2020 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Quarterbacks
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