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However, the week of practice leading up to the game yielded the bulk of the evaluations that scouts will fold into their evaluations for April’s draft.
This year’s event had its share of challenges, starting with a few unfortunate opt-outs, a handful of injuries that occurred during the week and rain that marred Wednesday’s practice and moved Thursday’s session to the indoor facility at University of South Alabama.
But overall, it was a strong group of talent at the Senior Bowl — especially including a group of defensive lineman that put its best feet forward.
Here are some of the big winners and unfortunate losers from the event. Thankfully for all parties, there is plenty of time to change decision makers’ minds. Next up: the 2022 NFL scouting combine at the start of March.
Winners
Liberty QB Malik Willis
We won’t spill too much more ink on Willis, whom we profiled on Wednesday following a strong showing that day — in spite of the rain.
Truthfully, Willis, like all of the quarterbacks at the event, was up and down throughout the week. But strong buzz in NFL circles indicates what we presumed coming into the week: that if teams are going to gamble on a quarterback in this class, they might as well do so on the one with the most physical upside.
A first-round landing spot now feels likely, even if the team that drafts Willis must have a clear plan for his development. He has alluring traits but is hardly a polished product. Whoever drafts him could end up with a star in time; it’s the Trey Lance debate all over again, in a sense.
American Team quarterback Malik Willis, of Liberty, throws a pass during the first half of the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Malik Willis, of Liberty, throws a pass during the first half of the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett
Very little flash this week, but overall it was a reinforcement of the kind of quarterback Pickett might end up becoming. He profiles as a quarterback somewhere on the Jimmy Garoppolo-Tua Tagovailoa spectrum — the solid middle class of starters, we believe. And for QB-needy teams, Pickett likely could be a Day 1 starter considering his vast college experience and solid showing in unfamiliar surroundings in Mobile.
Yes, the hand size (8 1/4 inches unofficially; he opted not to measure this week, waiting for the scouting combine) remains a storyline. But Pickett handled the ball pretty well in Wednesday’s rain, helping his cause after fumbling 38 times in 52 college games.
Teams that met with Pickett were impressed with his poise, temperament and preparedness, and Pickett’s teammates appeared to respond favorably to his on-field communication between plays during practice. He tacked on a nice first-quarter showing in the game (6-for-6 passing, 89 yards, TD, only one off-target pass) and did nothing at all to change the fact he’s a likely first-rounder.
Florida RB Dameon Pierce
The question I came away with from this week: Why didn’t Dan Mullen and the Gators feature Pierce more? The Senior Bowl is seldom a place where backs can impress significantly, but Pierce bucked that trend.
All week long, he looked assertive as a runner and pass blocker and facile as a receiver. Watching his burst, vision and yards-after-contact ability, Pierce looked more like a big fish in a small pond rather than someone who averaged fewer than 100 touches over his four seasons in Gainesville.
How the 5-9, 220-pound back never received more than 17 touches in his 48 college games feels like coaching malpractice.
Two other backs who stood out: Missouri’s Tyler Badie and Arizona State’s Rachaad White.
North Dakota State WR Christian Watson
Trey Lance’s deep threat in 2019 came in with relatively high expectations — or at the very least, some fascination.
Watson impressed in the weigh-in by measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds with good arm length (32 3/4 inches) and big hands (10 inches). Then he went out and stacked three impressive practices and set himself up as a possible top-50 selection.
What impressed us were his strong releases off the line and his body control. He toyed with most cornerbacks he faced in practice and looked far more developed than you’d expect from an FCS receiver coming from a school that features the run game.
Watson also made a nice diving snag in Saturday’s game and showed some recognition, getting up and gaining yards after the catch. The game uses NFL rules, and the cornerback appeared to give up on the play. Coaches and scouts will notice that stuff.
Other receivers who impressed included Memphis’ Calvin Austin III, Rutgers’ Bo Melton