Pro Prospects to Watch in Senior Bowl Game 2008

Photo - CB/RS Leodis McKelvin - Troy University

The 59th annual Senior Bowl game on Saturday announced their 14th consecutive sellout for the All-Star classic. The week long event of practices leading up to the game has been completed and the final test remains this weekend. Here are a few of the over 100 players in attendance that impressed during the week of practices and are ready to shine in this premier All-star contest.

Frank Coyle is a scouting consultant annually for the Senior Bowl

QB Chad Henne of Michigan answered questions about his shoulder injury over his final season and had an impressive week of practice. He had the type of week a prospect needs to dispel injury concerns and showed well developed QB mechanics, a strong arm, decision making and fine preparation. He delivered the ball nicely with a quick compact release and fine velocity and accuracy. He is primed for a huge Senior Bowl game that could move him into the upper tier of passers.

QB John David Booty of Southern Cal had similar concerns as Henne and regained his status in the sees of most scouts. He had a fine week in all respects, displaying a fast set up and the ability to make the proper read consistently. He has a smooth delivery and quick release that combines with fine accuracy and timing. He has worked well with Eddie Royal, Lavelle Hawkins and Andre Caldwell.

RB Tashard Choice of Georgia Tech ran hard to run between the tackles and shows a quick burst to the outside. He is a powerful slashing type of runner who accelerates through the hole and combines both elusiveness and power. He looks to prove here he is a pro feature back and good outlet receiver to fill all the roles. He looks to split the workload with Jacob Hester and Rafael Little.

Senior Bowl Practices

Photo - WR Lavelle Hawkins - Cal

The Senior Bowl week of practices has progressed quickly with many strong performances by prospects that has helped improve their draft status significantly. WR Lavelle Hawkins of California has performed brilliantly, showing explosive quickness into his routes and fine run after the catch ability. He has fine hands with a good sense of the passing game and a well developed prospect who could excel in the game Saturday. He may have helped his cause as much as any player at the event. QB Chad Henne of Michigan had to answer questions about his injury riddled career and overall ability. He has had a strong week, showing fine QB mechanics, a strong arm and fine preparation. He delivered the ball nicely with a quick compact release and nice velocity and accuracy.

Senior Bowl 2008 Practices

Photo - OT Chris Williams - Vanderbilt

QB Joe Flacco of Delaware had a nice day of practice Tuesday throwing the ball well after being wild on day one, Monday. That is understandable for a first day especially from a small college kid. OT Chris Williams of Vanderbilt had a fine practice. He is a massive athlete with footwork, technique and great power. He comes off the ball with a strong punch and fine functional strength to get a consistently good push at the line of scrimmage. RB Matt Forte of Tulane ran hard and displayed good hands as an outlet receiver. Safety Quintin Demps of UTEP moves well and shows the instincts to get to the ball easily. He shows cornerback like skills in coverage, though he needs some technique development. OL Oniel Cousins of UTEP is a fine athlete with the footwork and physical tools to play several positions along the line. He played tackle in college and is lining up there in the practices and has done a fine job, especially from a footwork standpoint. He probably projects inside to center/guard early in his pro career. WR D.J Hall of Alabama looks sharp in his routes and catches everything. He is one of the fast rising prospects off the early practices.

Senior Bowl Week Features College's Premier Talent for All-Star Game’s 59th Annual Edition

Photo – LB Keith Rivers - Southern Cal
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Every January the best college senor players are invited to Mobile, Alabama for the annual Senior Bowl All-star game and week. The Senior Bowl’s 59th annual edition this year will once again feature many blue chip prospects for the NFL Draft. Senior Bowl President and Director Steve Hale and media director Vic Knight have done another excellent job in organizing the weeks' events which will be attended by over 800 NFL coaches, personnel directors and pro scouts. With over 100 pro prospects in attendance, this group of players will constitute most of the top 150 selections in the NFL Draft 2008. It has been a pleasure working again with the Senior Bowl staff for this event.

Football’s premier pre-draft event, the week-long practices leading up to the 59th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl game this Saturday will once again play a vital role in determining much of what happens in this year’s NFL Draft, annually making Senior Bowl Week one of the most important weeks in all of football each year.

Senior Bowl Week Features Hidden Gems for All-Star Game’s 59th Annual Edition

Photo – DL Jason Jones of Eastern Michigan

Every January the best college senor players are invited to Mobile, Alabama for the annual Senior Bowl All-star game and week. The Senior Bowl’s 59th annual edition this year will once again feature many blue chip prospects for the NFL Draft, in addition to many unheralded players who are invited to the game off in-depth scouting evaluations. Most are expected to be playing on Sundays next fall and possibly high draft choices this April. This year there are several obscure players who will get their moment in the Alabama sun to showcase their fine talent in front of two NFL coaching staffs – the 49ers and Raiders. One player, DL Jason Jones of Eastern Michigan will be one prospect that NFL scouts are anxiously waiting to see against top talent and at a new position. Jones played inside at tackle as a senior at EMU, more out of need than design.

Five From LSU's National Champs To Play In Senior Bowl
MOBILE, Ala.- The national champs are coming to Mobile.

Photo - WR Early Doucet - LSU

Five members of LSU’s 2007 college football national champions – wide receiver Early Doucet, running back Jacob Hester, linebacker Ali Highsmith and defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Craig Steltz – have accepted invitations to the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials have announced.

Two of the fastest and most explosive offensive players in college football in 2007 – East Carolina All-American running back Chris Johnson and New Mexico receiver Marcus Smith will play in the 2008 Senior Bowl contest.

Photo - East Carolina running back Chris Johnson

The Senior Bowl 2008 continues to announce new player additions weekly as they assemble the best college talent for the nation’s premier All-star game. Two of the nation’s fastest and most explosive offensive performers – East Carolina All-American running back/kick returner Chris Johnson and New Mexico’s All-MWC wide receiver Marcus Smith will attend the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials announced just prior to Christmas. Both players were highly recommended and on our list of top senior prospects for the NFL Draft ’08.
Chris Johnson ranks as the nation’s active leader in career all-purpose yardage and kickoff return yardage. He leads Conference USA in kickoff return average at 28.5 per game, and has set or tied 11 school records and two CUSA marks for kickoff returns and KOR yardage during the season. Johnson combines tremendous breakaway speed, quickness and elusiveness that has enabled him to become one of the top senior running back prospects in this year’s draft. He has rushed for 1,200 yards and 16 TDs, caught 34 passes for 496 yards and 5 more TDs, and returned 30 kickoffs for 856 yards and a TD to account for 2,552 all-purpose yards during the regular season. In the EC huge bowl win over Boise St., he was instrumental in their 41-38 victory over highly ranked Boise St. Johnson ran for 223 yards, caught three passes for 32 yards and returned six kickoffs for 153 yards. Over his senior season, he also had the top three all-purpose yardage performances in college football this season, topped by a 408 yard effort vs Memphis that saw him rush for 301 yards. The 5-11, 200 lb. athlete was a 1st team All-CUSA selection as both a running back and kick returner this season and completed his career with over 6,000 all-purpose yards. We scouted him since his junior season at EC and he has been one of our premier playmakers despite little national attention. We have ranked him in the top five running backs and his athleticism could move him up with a strong week at the Senior Bowl and an expected big workout at the NFL Combine.