• Georgia's Ladd McConkey shows off his route-running chops: It felt like no defensive back wanted to stand across the line from McConkey, knowing they’d likely be on the wrong end of a social media video.
• Florida State interior defender Braden Fiske's get-off is second to none: He is very explosive at his lower weight. Every team wants a three-technique defensive tackle who can get off the ball like Fiske did on Day 1.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Day 1 of 2024 Senior Bowl practices, highlighting one of the most talented All-Star rosters top-to-bottom in recent memory, made for some great moments and clips.
These were PFF’s most outstanding players from the first day of Senior Bowl practices.
WR LADD McCONKEY, GEORGIA
One of the top route runners in the class, McConkey is poised to be an easy winner at Senior Bowl practices, particularly in the one-on-one drills. One day in, and that’s exactly what happened. It felt like no defensive back wanted to stand across the line from McConkey, knowing they’d likely be on the wrong end of a social media video. McConkey placed in the 83rd percentile of separation created versus single coverage over the past two years.
Good luck guarding Ladd McConkey😮💨
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 30, 2024
WR RICKY PEARSALL, FLORIDA
Pearsall won on tape with quickness at a level where he was always an early standout candidate, and that proved correct. He is also a player who will win with toughness and football IQ. As shown below, not only can he create separation, but he can also come down with some tough catches through contact.
WR group standing out early here at @seniorbowl. @GatorsFB WR Ricky Pearsall is one of them.
Clean win off press and a nice contested catch for the touchdown in 1-on-1s pic.twitter.com/S8PaVtmbmu
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 30, 2024
WR JAMARI THRASH, LOUISVILLE
Thrash finished the 2023 season with 14 explosive plays of 15-plus yards and with 25.2% of his targets coming on deep routes. He translated that deep-ball production and experience into early success in Mobile with two deep touchdown passes in the one-on-one drills. He isn’t the fastest receiver here, but he has a ton of confidence to be a vertical threat.
Caught the end of this deep touchdown catch from @LouisvilleFB WR Jamari Thrash. This was his second long touchdown catch of 1-on-1s. Good long speed and tracking ability pic.twitter.com/Ze5lFqNn5v
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 30, 2024
WR ROMAN WILSON, MICHIGAN
One of the fastest wide receivers in mobile is Michigan's Roman Wilson, and he made sure everyone knew that in the first practice. He was consistently uncovered when asked to get vertical, either splitting coverages up the seam or just outrunning defensive backs. For teams that need a deep threat on Day 2 in this draft, Wilson should be on the list.
Roman Wilson cannot be stopped today💨
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 30, 2024
CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO
This is a big week for the two-year starter at Toledo. A good showing in Mobile would go a long way toward him making a case to be the first cornerback drafted in April. So far so good after Day 1, as Mitchell was a lockdown defender for most of the practice. He played a lot of off-coverage at Toledo and will likely get plenty of reps in press coverage at the Senior Bowl so scouts and coaches can gauge his comfortability there. As you can see in the clip below, he was up to the challenge.
Great rep by #Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell vs. speedy Jacob Cowing.
Love his patience/balance to transition with the WR and stay in his hip pocket all the way through the finish. pic.twitter.com/oJYbjPFYuZ
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 30, 2024
DI BRADEN FISKE, FLORIDA STATE
Fiske had a strong second half of the season for Florida State and carried that momentum into the first practice in Mobile. At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, he’s one of the lighter defensive tackles in this group and the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he’s not egregiously light to the point where he is a liability when holding up on the line. Instead, he is very explosive at that lower weight. Every team wants a three-technique defensive tackle who can get off the ball like Fiske did in the clip below.
How quick off the ball is @FSUFootball DT Braden Fiske?
Very. pic.twitter.com/ai5jofdNHI
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 30, 2024
OT CHRISTIAN JONES, TEXAS
Jones is an experienced player, seeing action in 61 games for Texas and starting 48 of them. That has yielded a calm and confident play style, which was on display in the first Senior Bowl practice. He’s not the most flexible offensive tackle, but he can move a good bit when asked to kick slide, and his hands are consistently in the right spots. He is also very experienced at keeping his feet moving to mirror and anchor as he is slowing down power pass-rush moves. It was a great day for him.
.@TexasFootball OT Christian Jones had a very impressive session in OL/DL 1-on-1s. Super experienced player with 48 starts in his career. Really impressive how poised and in control he was on his reps.
This was one of a few clear wins from him pic.twitter.com/Gzl0X6L96j
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 30, 2024
OT TYLER GUYTON, OKLAHOMA
Guyton is one of the most athletic players in the entire class, and he more than displayed that on Day 1 of Senior Bowl practices. His basketball and tight end background is evident in how quickly he can kick slide against speed and how well he can bend his hips and move his feet to stay in front of defenders. His hand placement is still a work in progress, but he is a highly competitive player who wants to be great. He wanted to go against the other team’s best pass rusher, Chris Braswell, as much as he could in one-on-ones. He took steps in the right direction to solidify a first-round status after Day 1.
.@OU_Football OT Tyler Guyton was one of the big winners today imo. Two reps where he was visibly pumped to compete (and win). His technique isn’t perfect (hand placement needs work), but he is so naturally explosive and strong pic.twitter.com/0xUJ6Mbv0p
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 30, 2024
PLAYERS WHO FLASHED ON DAY 1 TO WATCH FOR DAY 2:
- QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
- WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
- C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
- T Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
- CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
- DI Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
- EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
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