The Senior Bowl kicks off in one hour, and a number of prospects have used this week of practice to get their name on scout’s minds. Here are a handful of the players Vikings fans should be focusing on as the best college seniors in the country square off in the largest prospect showcase of draft season.
Offense
North Team
OL Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Most Vikings fans are aware of Risner already, and we profiled him in full yesterday. He will be the marquis name on the North Team line at right tackle, though he may ultimately end up at guard or center in the NFL.
iOL Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Lindstrom will be first team right guard for the North Team alongside Dalton Risner, and those two have moved a lot of bodies together this week. He is more of a pure guard than most of the top line prospects, so he may be at the front of the Vikings mind in today’s game.
iOL Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State
Bradbury is a little undersized at 6-foot-2, so most have him pegged as a center at the next level. That said, he creates a lot of movement due to his low base and has tremendous athleticism as a former tight end.
WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
While Deebo Samuel had the best overall performance of any receiver, McLaurin showed himself to be the best route runner on the field. Every route he ran created separation. Despite being a relative unknown at Ohio State, McLaurin is now making sure people are aware of him come draft day.
South Team
iOL Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
Probably the biggest leaper among linemen, Jenkins has made a lot of believers this week as he tries to join the ranks of day two prospects. He has taken snaps at both center and guard, excelling at both and creating movement against some of the best defensive tackles in the country.
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Bar none, Samuel was the best receiver at Senior Bowl practice this week. He is quick in and out of cuts, has excellent hands and attacks the ball at its high point. Samuel has established himself as a solid day two option.
Defense
North Team
DT Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois
Saunders found his internet fame as the 6-feet-tall, 320 pound tackle who can backflip. However, on the football field itself, Saunders has shown up, as well. He is a little short for the position, but Saunders has a leverage advantage against virtually any opponent, and even made Garrett Bradbury look foolish at times in one-on-ones. While likely a day three prospect, Saunders has made some waves this week.
Edge Charles Omenihu, Texas
Omenihu has all the length of Oshane Ximines and Montez Sweat with a little added girth. At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Omenihu is more of a prototypical 4-3 end prospect, possessing a good combination of speed and power off the edge.
South Team
DT Daylon Mack, Texas A&M
Mack flourished in the East-West Shrine Game last weekend, and has carried that rise into Senior Bowl action. He has a ton of power built into a low center-of-gravity, allowing him to create movement at will up front. He should be a valuable addition as a run-stuffing nose in the middle rounds.
Edge Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion
Ximines’ rise is beginning to resemble Marcus Davenport‘s a year ago. Like Davenport, Ximines is a long, athletic pass rusher from a small school who is looking like a late first round prospect. Given his build and preference to standing up on the edge, his future may be brighter as a 3-4 linebacker rather than a 4-3 end.
Edge Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech.
The mid-round prospect with a ton of college production under his belt. Ferguson was one of the top defensive play-makers in all of college football a year ago. While he likely will not measure all that well at the combine in terms of athleticism, Ferguson is a bona fide disruptor on the edge.
Edge Montez Sweat, Mississippi
Sweat has separated himself from most of the edge rushers in this year’s class and is now widely considered a mid-first round prospect. Sweat’s length and quickness are his main draws. That said, he also showed elite power as a bull rusher in practice this week.
–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Vikings and Deputy Editor for Full Press NFL. Like and Follow @samc_smith.
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