LIVE: The Unofficial Guide to the Senior Bowl: Defense

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John Douglas Vogel
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Full Press Coverage will be providing Senior Bowl coverage this season! As exciting as that is for us here, the first steps are being made to put this event together. Prospects will be receiving invites over the next few weeks. Here in this article will be a full list of the prospects who have officially accepted, and a little bit of information about what we hope to see answered in Mobile. The NFL Draft starts in Mobile!

To see the offensive prospects, click here.

IDL Marlon Davidson, Auburn

Marlon Davidson has been a star at Auburn since he was a freshman. He’s one of these physical freaks at 6’3″ and 280 pounds, Davidson plays very well against the run, can work off of blocks and tackle. He’s a bit of a pass rusher too, not as much as his counter part, Derrick Brown, but Davidson has enough quickness to be a force up the interior. Davidson needs to show he has the lateral ability to attack the line of scrimmage, and he will have many opportunities to work against some talented offensive linemen in Mobile.

IDL Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma

One of the few defensive prospects on Oklahoma that has flourished in a new system, Neville Gallimore is a Canadian prospect that has moved into division one football through JUCO’s. The red-shirt senior is every bit of 6’3″ and 321 pounds. He shows extraordinary strength, and plays with extreme violence. NFL scouts are a little concerned with his motor, as it seems that he isn’t able to conserve energy.

IDL Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Javon Kinlaw is one of my favorite defensive prospects in this years class. He’s a dominant beast with a great story. Growing up, Kinlaw and his family battled with homelessness. He’s used that pain as fuel to become one of the top defensive players in the country. Kinlaw really doesn’t have to go to the Senior Bowl, but (as Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy pointed out) Kinlaw is making a big statement. He’s showing teams that he loves football, and wants every chance to compete. Go kill it, Javon.

IDL Larrell Murchison, North Carolina State

A JUCO transfer who has blossomed in his senior season, Larrell Murchison has been quite the prospect. He’s already recorded 7 sacks in just 8 games this season, almost doubling his sack total from last season. Murchison is a high effort player who doesn’t stop until the whistle. He needs to show NFL scouts that he can use his quickness and athleticism laterally and get past offensive linemen consistently play after play.

IDL Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina

Jason Strowbridge played defensive end in high school, and made the transition to the inside as a redshirt-sophomore. He’s flashed incredible ability inside as a powerful 6’4″ and 285 pound demon. However, he has really struggled to find his comfort zone since moving inside. He can use some great coaching to try and give him new perspective to find that ability to shed double teams and impact the backfield.

EDGE Carter Coughlin, Minnesota

A favorite among most NFL Draft circles, Carter Coughlin is a special kind of prospect. A very special EDGE talent, many scouts hoped he would go pro last season. Coughlin has been such an impact player that opposing offenses have structured their game-plans to avoid #45, who at 6’4″ and 245 pounds is a threat to both plug the run and destroy a bootleg. Coughlin will need to prove that he doesn’t just do it to the little guys, he does it to everyone.

EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Florida

A transfer from Louisville, Jonathan Greenard had to sit a season with a wrist injury before playing at Florida, and man he has been a force for the Gators this season… When he has played. Greenard has struggled with a nagging right ankle that has limited his snaps and production. Regardless, at 6’3″ and 260 pounds, Greenard is a force off the edge with incredible quickness and bend. The injuries are a concern for NFL teams, so hopefully Greenard will be healthy come January and be able to perform fully in Mobile.

EDGE Josh Uche, Michigan

Josh Uche is an intriguing EDGE prospect. Michigan uses him as a linebacker, and his size best fits a 3/4 defense, standing at 6’2″ and 250 pounds. Up until this season, he was a situational player who flashed extraordinary ability to pressure the quarterback off of the edge. However, his upper body has room to grow, as he has the length to put on more body mass. Scouts want to see him develop a better power rush, as he relies too much on his speed, and sometimes doesn’t have the speed needed to be a real impact.

EDGE DJ Wonnum, South Carolina

DJ Wonnum is a very intriguing prospect. At 6’5″ and 260 pounds, he has excellent size to play as either a defensive end or a 3/4 outside pass rusher. He’s quick when he wants to be, a master tactician. However, Wonnum has been a classic case of hot and then cold. When he’s hot, he’s very good. When he’s cold, he’s almost invisible. Wonnum will need to show he has the tools to be consistent. the 1v1’s and the 3v3’s will tell scouts a lot about his mechanics.

EDGE Jabari Zuniga, Florida

Jabari Zuniga has been considered a borderline top-five EDGE prospect in this class by most NFL Draft analysts. When he’s tuned in, his get-off on the line of scrimmage is excellent, maybe even the best in the class. He has great bend when working around the edge as well as the speed and quickness to be a nightmare for a tackle to handle. However, Zuniga has not been consistent his entire career. Zuniga will have to continue to flash the  brilliant stuff and sell scouts on his upside.

LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

Jordyn Brooks is a very intriguing prospect. At 6’1″ and 240 pounds, Brooks has a good body size to play in the NFL. He’s a tackle machine with a tremendous amount of experience as a four year starter for the Red Raiders. Entering into Matt Wells defensive system has been a huge boost, as he has collected more tackles for loss this season than he had his entire career. Brooks can show scouts at the Senior Bowl that he does have the speed to be a front end prospect.

LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota

Kamal Martin has been limited this season by a nagging injury, but it hasn’t stopped him from impacting in the five games he has played. Martin is a prototype linebacker with great quickness, good range and a whole lot of hit power. Yes, Madden fans, he’s a hit stick player. Martin has to prove to scouts that he is indeed healthy when Mobile swings around, and that no long term damage has been done.

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LB Davion Taylor, Colorado

Davion Taylor is arguably the most interesting story in the Senior Bowl. Taylor didn’t play high school football for religious reasons, walked on to a JUCO football team and almost got cut after making the squad. Taylor played football at Coahoma as well as ran track. He’s actually an All-PAC 12 100 meter runner as well. What teams want to see from Taylor, who has good size (6’2″, 225) and obvious athletic talent is him making smart decisions and showing good instinct. That’s rare from someone who hasn’t played as much as Taylor.

LB Evan Weaver, California

Evan Weaver is one of college football’s best linebackers, hands down. He’s been an absolute tackling machine the past two full seasons. That being said, Weavers impact behind the line of scrimmage has been noticeably absent, something that will concern NFL teams a little bit. Weaver has a great chance to show teams what he really is and step into the realm of elite draft prospects.

CB Jeff Gladney, TCU

Jeff Gladney made the Athletic’s Bruce Fieldman’s Freaks List in the preseason, as Gladney will have incredible measurables come NFL Combine time. The 6’0″ 183 pound cornerback really needs to put on a bit more weight if he wants to be an impact as a tackler, but he has the upside to develop into a shutdown cornerback in the league. He uses his speed well to position himself to break up passes, regardless of who he is covering, but he will struggle against more physical receivers until he can add more muscle to his frame.

CB AJ Green, Oklahoma State

AJ Green stands at 6’1″ and 190 pounds and is regarded as one of the better defensive backs in the Big 12. He’s produced well there, collecting 4 interceptions as a sophomore and now entering his third season as a starter. Teams feel as though he might be a beat too slow, but he is an excellent man coverage cornerback who wants to be put on an island.

CB Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern

There are some talented defensive players at Georgia Southern right now. Just last month, I highlighted Monquavion Brinson, who plays on the other side of Kindle Vildor. Now Vildor get’s the senior bowl invite, and he has something to prove. Sun Belt opponents have begun game-planning around Vildor, who was a ball hawk as a sophomore and a junior. His production has dipped because the ball is almost never on his side of the field. Vildor is a man guy, now we get to see him work against a group of very talented receivers.

S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois

Jeremy Chinn is a ball hawk. Overlooked because of where he plays, Chinn will be overlooked no longer. He’s that prototype safety prospect that defenses across the league are starting to crave, and he’s a man on a mission. With smaller school prospects, there is an element of doubt that creeps into NFL teams minds when scouting these players, so the Senior Bowl will allow Chinn to prove that he is on the same level as the other guys who are playing there.

S Brian Cole II, Mississippi State

A transfer from Michigan, Brian Cole has spent most of his college career waiting for an opportunity. Michigan recruited him as a wide receiver in 2015, and played him in just one game. He was deemed academically ineligible. He moved the JUCO route after accepting a red-shirt, to bolster his career. Getting his second chance at Mississippi State, he’s been nothing short of fantastic. He has a hard hitting style that the NFL loves, and a very deep understanding of offensive schemes.

S Ashtyn Davis, California

Ashtyn Davis is one of the top safety prospects in the class already, despite getting into Cal as a walk-on. As What’s On Draft founder and owner Mark Jarvis said, “There’s just so much he does right and so little he does wrong.” Davis can solidify himself as a top safety in this class and go before day three.

S Kyle Dugger, Lenior-Rhyne

Another small school guy, Kyle Dugger is a hard hitter. All 32 teams have been out to scout this man this season, and when you start to see what he can do, you understand why. Dugger has excellent range, fluid hips and looks like a man among boys on the field. This is a great opportunity to see how much he stands out with a group of prospects on his level.

S Brandon Jones, Texas

Brandon Jones is one hell of a prospect. Considered one of the better prospects in this year’s safety class, Jones is a hard hitting, prototype safety. At 6’1″ and 215 pounds, he hits like a linebacker and is a sturdy tackler. NFL scouts are concerned about his ball skills, as they seriously lack. 3 seasons of starting, he has 3 interceptions (2 this season) and 6 passes defended to show for it. Not impressive. Mobile will be a good stage for Jones to show out as a stud safety.

S Josh Mettellus, Michigan

Josh Mettellus was regarded as one of the best safety prospects in the game coming into the 2018 season. However, over-aggressive tendencies, struggling to tackle and clear mental errors drove him back down boards and out of the national conversation. That being said, Mettellus has a chance to come back into that spotlight, with a very solid Senior Bowl performance. His last several games have been much improved and Mettellus has been an impact player on the field. Can’t wait to see him in Mobile.

S K’Von Wallace, Clemson

K’Von is a little undersized, standing just 6’0″ and 195 pounds, but has a lot of talent regardless. He’s quick, fast, and shows good football IQ. Some scouts are seriously concerned about his size effecting his game because of his lack of effort to move up as run support and his trouble tackling downfield. That being said, Wallace has a good chance to put to bed some of those concerns.

To see the offensive prospects, click here.

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