Senior Bowl 2018 – Game Day
Players to Watch – NFL Draft

The premier All-star game, the Senior Bowl is today with updated rosters for their 2018 games and the official Weigh-in and practices. This All-star game has been cornerstone during the postseason where hundreds of scouts evaluate the nation’s top pro prospects for the NFL Draft. Th Senior bowl roster annually dominates the NFL Draft seven rounds and has a long legacy of alumni with many of them having gone to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos have been selected to coach the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Texans, led by recently resigned fourth-year head coach Bill O’Brien, will guide the South team, while Vance Joseph who finished his first year as head coach of the Broncos, will guide the North.

Both the NFL Network and ESPN will televise the practices during the week and NFL Network will carry the game live on Saturday.

Senior Bowl 2018 – Sat, January 27, 2018 –
NFL Network – 2:30 pm EST

Senior Bowl Players to Watch – NFL Draft 2018
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma
Josh Allen – Wyoming
Luke Falk – Washington St
Mike White – Western Kentucky

Running Backs
Ito Smith – Southern Miss
Kevin Ballage – Arizona St
Rashaad Penny – San Diego St
Arum Wadley – Iowa

Wide Receivers
Michael Gallup – Colorado St
D.J. Chark – LSU
Allen Lazard – Iowa St
Jaleel Scott – New Mexico St
J’Mon Moore – Missouri
Tre’Quan Smith – Central Florida

Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki – Penn St
Ian Thomas – Indiana
Troy Fumagalli – Wisconsin
Adam Breneman – UMASS
Durham Smythe – Notre Dame

Offensive Linemen
Isaiah Wynn – Georgia
Will Hernandez – Texas-El Paso
Tyrell Crosby – Oregon
Brandon Parker – North Carolina A&T
Alex Cappa – Humboldt St
Cole Madison – Washington St

Defensive Ends
Emolo Turay – Rutgers
Marcus Davenport – Texas-San Antonio
Tyquan Lewis – Ohio St
Jalyn Holmes – Ohio St

Tackles
Harrison Phillips – Stanford
B.J. Hill – N. C. St
JUSTIN JONES – N. C. St
Poona Ford – Texas

Linebackers
Shaqem Griffin – Central Florida
Marquis Haynes – Ole Miss
Fred Warner – BYU
Darius Leonard – South Carolina St
Mike McCray – Michigan
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Oklahoma

Cornerbacks
Levi Wallace – Alabama
Michael Joseph – Dubuque
Danny Johnson – Southern
Duke Dawson – Florida
Siran Neal – Jacksonville St

Safeties
Marcus Allen – Penn St
Armani Watts – Texas A&M
Kameron Kelly – San Diego St
Quin Blanding – Virginia

Senior Bowl – Top QB Prospects, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield Looking To Shine This Week

The Senior Bowl 2018 in Mobile, Alabama is the setting for two highly regarded QBs, Josh Allen of Wyoming and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. Both players are ascending prospects and are considered potentially top 5-10 overall selections with strong postseasons. The two highest rated QB prospects currently are Sam Darnold of USC and Josh Rosen of UCLA, both underclassmen and not eligible for any All-Star postseason play.

Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield is coming off a Heisman Trophy season and a terrific performance in the Sooners’ semi-final loss to Georgia. He was a late arrival in Mobile that was delayed because of a family illness matter. He missed the official weigh-in session where scouts were hoping to finally find out how tall he actually is and if he measures in over 6’. After the Tuesday afternoon Senior Bowl practice, he measured in at 6-0 3/8” and 216 lbs. to finally put to rest this drama. He will practice this week and hopefully play in the Senior Bowl classic on Saturday.

Josh Allen of Wyoming checked in at 6047 at 237 lbs., 33.5″ arm length and 10 1/8″ hands. His hands were the biggest of the Senior Bowl group of eight. He is a fourth-year junior who qualified for the Senior Bowl by graduating fall 2017.

He made it clear at Senior Bowl Media Day on Tuesday that, if selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns, he would relish being the leader for the pathetic franchise.

“It’s a tough situation obviously to come in as a rookie and expect to be perfect right away. I know that I have a lot of flaws as a quarterback,” he explained. “Given an opportunity of being able to go to Cleveland and help change the culture there and be a part of a really good team. They’re a young team, so they’re going to be really good in the next coming years. They’re doing the right things with their new GM.”

“To get the opportunity to go there and kind of be the guy would be special, but like I said, they’re going to do what’s best for the franchise.” The Browns hold multiple early selections including two first round choices, the 1st and 4th overall picks. They hold four of the top 35 overall selections plus a few multiple middle round selections, giving the Browns leverage to move up and down within the early rounds.

Allen impressed scouts with his weigh-in on Tuesday not only measuring 6-4 7/8” and 237 lbs., but his huge hand size of 10 1/8” and strong arm. He needs to impress this week vs top competition and working with NFL coaching staffs to address issues related to his level of competition and a few lackluster 2017 performances.

For Complete Senior Bowl info including updates and roster changes
Go to https://www.seniorbowl.com/

Allen is Frank Coyle’s 3rd QB currently after Darnold and Rosen. He hopes to make a case for the first overall selection. The Browns have young veteran QBs in DeShone Kizer and Cody Kessler who have struggled in their short careers with zero wins and poor passing statistics. In addition to Cleveland, clubs like the Giants, Colts, Broncos and Jets, all in the top 6 choices are interested in a young QB. The two selections in the top 4 picks puts the Browns in an interesting position to addition two positions with possible impact performers.

Frank Coyle and staff of DraftInsiders.com is at the Senior Bowl for the week long practices. Scouting info including updates and in depth Senior Bowl Game and Practice evaluation will be in the early February Newsletter. January Newsletter (19 pages) available now.

WR Daurice Fountain Named Shrine Game Offensive MVP

University of Northern Iowa wide receiver Daurice Fountain was named the 93rd annual East-West Shrine Game Offensive MVP after his impressive performance against some of the nation’s best competition on Saturday.

The honor marks the first time that a player from UNI has earned the MVP distinction for the game. Fountain joins the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo (2014), Steve Smith (2001), Jeff Garcia (1994) and Brett Favre (1991) who have won the Shrine Game’s coveted Offensive MVP award.

WR Daurice Fountain – Northern Iowa“It was truly a blessing,” Fountain said about his MVP honor. “You could’ve never told me at the beginning of the week that I was going to have this kind of production. I’m thankful for the opportunity and happy that I met so many great people this week. This whole experience was just surreal.”

Daurice Fountain was Frank Coyle’s #1 Sleeper at the East-West Game – posted on this site Thursday

The former Panther wideout caught three passes for 61 yards, while also racking up 40 yards on punt returns for the afternoon. Fountain ripped off two huge plays on Saturday, the first being a 38-yard catch and run that set up the East squad with a field goal, while the second big play came on a 30-yard punt return in the third quarter to set up his team with another scoring opportunity.

The West won Saturday’s game by a narrow margin of 14-10. The West’s Natrell Jamerson of Wisconsin won Defensive MVP honors after retuning a fumble 68 yards for Saturday’s first touchdown of the game.
Fountain finished his Panther career as just the sixth player to rank in the Top 10 for catches (150), yards (2,077) and touchdowns (23) at UNI. In 2017, Fountain hauled in 66 catches, racking up 943 yards and 12 touchdowns.

For Complete East-West Shrine All-start Game info including Game stats and in depth Game and Practice evaluation – Go to http://www.shrinegame.com/

Frank Coyle and staff of DraftInsiders.com will proceed to the Senior Bowl for the Monday weigh-in and practices. Scouting info including updates and in depth Game and Practice evaluation will be in the early February Newsletter. January Newsletter (19 pgs) available now.

Senior Bowl Week Begins With Weigh-in and Practices
Updated 1/23

The premier All-star game, the Senior Bowl begins today with updated rosters for their 2018 games and the official Weigh-in and practices. This All-star game has been cornerstone during the postseason where hundreds of scouts evaluate the nation’s top pro prospects for the NFL Draft. Th Senior bowl roster annually dominates the NFL Draft seven rounds and has a long legacy of alumni with many of them having gone to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos have been selected to coach the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl, set for January 27 in Mobile, Ala.

“We are thrilled to have the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos as the two coaching staffs for our game,” said Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.

Photo – RB Royce Freeman – Oregon

The Texans, led by their fourth-year head coach Bill O’Brien, will guide the South team, while Vance Joseph, in his first year as head coach of the Broncos, will guide the North.

“Both organizations are well respected across the National Football League and it is our honor to welcome them to Mobile,” Savage said.

DraftInsiders.com – Free E-mail – Sign up today NFL Online Service

Houston has coached in the Senior Bowl one previous time, in 2003 under Dom Capers.

It finished the 2017 season with a record of 4-12 and would have picked fourth in this year’s draft, however, that pick was traded to the Browns.

strong>Senior Bowl Teams – Practice Schedule

Tuesday, January 23
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm (South)
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm (North)

Wednesday, January 24
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm (North)
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (South)

Thursday, January 25
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm (North)
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (South)

* All Practices Open To Public at Ladd-Peebles Stadium

Denver was 5-11 this season and will pick fifth in the draft. The Broncos have coached in the Reese’s Senior Bowl six times, going 2-2-2 in those games.

“We jumped at the opportunity for the Broncos to work the Senior Bowl,” Broncos’ President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway said. “On both the coaching and personnel sides, the experience gives us a chance to meet these prospects and get to know them on and off the field. The Senior Bowl has a great tradition and we are excited to be a part of it.”

“The Senior Bowl provides our staff an up-close look at some of the top prospects in this year’s draft,” said Joseph, who in 13 years of coaching in the NFL has coached in the Senior Bowl three times, all as an assistant with the 49ers (2006-2008). “Having coached the Senior Bowl in the past, it’s a tremendous evaluation tool spending all week with these players in a variety of group and individual settings.

Joseph, 45, jumped into coaching after a brief NFL career, serving as an assistant at the University of Colorado, Wyoming and Bowling Green before moving up the NFL where he was a defensive backs coach for the 49ers, Texans and Bengals over a 10-year stretch. After one year as a defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, he earned his first head coaching job with the Broncos.

Senior Bowl Director Phil Savage and staff have assembled another talented group of pro prospects. Currently, the Senior Bowl staff has over 100 acceptances from the nation’s top prospects for their January week long event.
For Complete Senior Bowl info including updated Roster acceptances
Go to https://www.seniorbowl.com/

Players will arrive by Jan. 22 to begin practices the next day. The 69th Reese’s Senior Bowl is scheduled for January 27 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. CT.

Both the NFL Network and ESPN will televise the practices during the week and NFL Network will carry the game live on Saturday.

Frank Coyle and staff of DraftInsiders.com will attend the Senior Bowl for the Monday weigh-in and week long practices. Scouting info including updates and in depth Senior Bowl Game and Practice evaluation will be in the early February Newsletter. January Newsletter (19 pages) available now.

QB Josh Allen Accepts Invitation to Play in 2018 Senior Bowl

University of Wyoming QB Josh Allen accepted an invitation to play in this year’s Senior Bowl to be played in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game will be televised on NFL Network and is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m., Mountain Time. ESPNU and NFL Network will broadcast practices from the Senior Bowl week, which will run Jan. 23-27.

Photo – QB Josh Allen – Wyoming

Allen graduated in December 2017 after completing his junior season at Wyoming in 2017. He declared for the 2018 NFL Draft immediately after leading the Wyoming Cowboys to a 37-14 victory in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He is rated as one of this year’s top quarterback prospects by Frank Coyle of DraftInsiders.com. Allen is eligible to play in the Senior Bowl by virtue of completing his degree in social science from UW this past December.

Allen led the Cowboys to an 8-5 record in 2017 and a victory in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. As a redshirt sophomore in 2016, he guided the Cowboys to an 8-6 record, a spot in the 2016 Mountain West Conference Championship Game and a berth in the 2016 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. He also led the Cowboys to wins over two Top 25 teams in the 2016 season.

Allen was named to numerous college football award watch lists this past season, including the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List and Walter Camp Award Watch List. Allen was invited to and attended the Manning Passing Academy in the summer of 2017.

In his two seasons as Wyoming’s starting QB, Allen accounted for 5,833 yards of total offense and was responsible for 57 TDs passing, rushing and receiving. He ended his Wyoming career with 5,066 passing yards and 44 TD passes. He also rushed for 767 yards during his college career and scored 12 rushing touchdowns.
At the time of Allen’s acceptance of his invitation to this year’s Senior Bowl, he became the eighth and final quarterback on the 2018 Senior Bowl rosters. The other seven QBs who have accepted invitations are: Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, Mason Rudolph of Oklahoma St, Luke Falk of Washington St, Kurt Benkert of Virginia, Kyle Lauletta of Richmond, Brandon Silvers of Troy and Mike White of Western Kentucky. The coaching staffs of the Denver Broncos (North) and Houston Texans (South) will coach this year’s Senior Bowl teams.

More information on this year’s Senior Bowl may be found at: https://www.seniorbowl.com/

NFL Draft 2018 – Underclassmen Pro Prospects
LB Roquan Smith Declares for the NFL Draft
RB Bryce Love Returns to Stanford

Underclassmen List Over 115 Pro Prospects – deadline Jan. 15th
Players have three days to rescind decision – NFL will post Official Underclassmen list 1/19/18 – Ranked alphabetically by position

Offensive Players 

Quarterbacks
Josh Allen – Wyoming
Kyle Allen – Houston
Sam Darnold – Southern Cal
Lamar Jackson – Louisville
Tanner Lee – Nebraska
Chase Litton – Marshall
Josh Rosen – UCLA

Running Backs
Josh Adams – Notre Dame
Ryquell Armstead – Temple
Saquon Barkley – PSU
Derrius Guice – LSU
Nyheim Hines – North Carolina State
Kerryon Johnson – Auburn
Ronald Jones II – Southern Cal
John Kelly – Tennessee
Ryan Nall – Oregon St
Kamryn Pettway – Auburn
Mark Walton – Miami(Fl)

Wide Receivers
Deon Cain – Clemson
Antonio Callaway – Florida
Simmie Cobbs Jr – Indiana
Keke Coutee – Texas Tech
Quadree Henderson – Pittsburgh
Richie James – Middle Tennessee St
Jon’Vea Johnson – Toledo
Christian Kirk – Texas A&M
Jordan Lasley – UCLA
Tavares Martin – Washington State
Ray-Ray McCloud – Clemson
DJ Moore – Maryland
Byron Pringle – KSU
Trey Quinn – SMU
Calvin Ridley – Alabama
Korey Robertson – Southern Mississippi
Tre’Quan Smith – Central Florida
Jaylen Smith – Louisville
Equanimeous St. Brown – Notre Dame
Courtland Sutton – SMU
Audon Tate – Florida State

Tight Ends
Jordan Akins – Central Florida
Mark Andrews – Oklahoma
Hayden Hurst – South Carolina
Ryan Izzo – FSU
Austin Roberts – UCLA
Dalton Schultz – Stanford

Offensive Linemen
Orlando Brown – Oklahoma
Geron Christian – Louisville
Will Clapp – LSU
James Daniels – Iowa
Nick Gates – Nebraska
Taylor Hearn – Clemson
Sam Jones – ASU
Kolteon Miller – UCLA
Brian O’Neill – Pittsburgh
Maea Teuhema – Southeastern Louisiana
Will Richardson – North Carolina State
Toby Weathserby – LSU
Connor Williams – Texas

Defensive Players

Linemen
Olasunkanmi Adeniyi – Toledo
Dorance Armstrong – Kansas
Taven Bryan – Florida
Rasheen Green – Southern Cal
Jeff Holland – Auburn
Sam Hubbard – Ohio St
DuVonta Lampkin – Oklahoma
R.J. McIntosh – Miami
Kahlil McKenzie – Tennessee
Kendrick Norton – Miami
Harrison Phillips – Stanford
Tim Settle – Virginia Tech
Breeland Speaks – Ole Miss
Josh Sweat – FSU
Larry Tharpe – Arizona
Trent Thompson – Georgia
Vita Vea – Washington
JoJo Wicker – Arizona St
Jalen Wilkerson – Florida St.
Eddy Wilson – Purdue

Linebackers
Jack Cichy – Wisconsin
Frank Ginda – San Jose St
Malik Jefferson – Texas
Hercules Mata’afa – Washington St
Kahlil McKenzie – Tennessee
Christian Sam – ASU
Roquan Smith – Georgia
Andre Smith – UNC
Leighton Vander Esch – Boise St
Joel Iyiegbuniwe – Western Kentucky

Cornerbacks
Jaire Alexander – Louisville
J.J. Dallas – Louisiana-Monroe
Carlton Davis – Auburn
Rashaan Gaulden – Tennessee
Holton Hill – Texas
Mike Hughes – Central Florida
Joshua Jackson – Iowa
Michael Jackson – Miami (Fl)
JC Jackson – Maryland
Donte Jackson – LSU
Tarvarus McFadden – FSU
Nick Nelson – Wisconsin
Isaiah Oliver – Colorado
DJ Reed – Kansas St
Denzel Ward – Ohio St.

Safeties
Jessie Bates – Wake Forest
DeShon Elliott – Texas
Ronnie Harrison – Alabama
Derwin James – FSU
Justin Reid – Stanford
Van Smith – Clemson
Jordan Whitehead – Pittsburgh

Kickers
Michael Dickson – P – Texas
Eddy Pineiro – PK – Florida

NFL Draft 2018 – Two Round Mock Draft – January – * Underclassmen – Selection order prior to Championship games
Pre East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl Games
x – Division winner y – Wild card team z – coin flip at NFL Combine to determine order

1st Round 
1 Cleveland – 0-16 – * Saquon Barkley RB Penn State 5-11 225
2 NY Giants – 3-13 – * Sam Darnold QB Southern Cal 6-4 225
3 Indianapolis – 4-12 – Bradley Chubb DE NC State 6-4 275
4 Cleveland (Houston)- 4-12 – * Josh Rosen QB UCLA 6-4 220
5 Denver – 5-11 -* Minkah Fitzpatrick S Alabama 6-1 205
6 NY Jets – 5-11 – * Josh Allen QB Wyoming 6-5 235
7 Tampa Bay – 5-11 – * Arden Key DE LSU 6-6 240
8 Chicago – 5-11 – * Orlando Brown OT Oklahoma 6-8 360
9 z – San Francisco – 6-10 – * Roquan Smith LB Georgia 6-1 225
10 z – Oakland – 6-10 – * Connor Williams OT Texas 6-6 320
11 Miami – 6-9 – * Derwin James S Florida State 6-3 210
12 Cincinnati – 7-9 – Quenton Nelson OG Notre Dame 6-5 330
13 Washington – 7-9 – * Lamar Jackson QB Louisville 6-3 200
14 Green Bay – 7-9 – Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame 6-8 315
15 Arizona – 8-8 – Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma 6-0 215
16 Baltimore – 9-7 – * Courtland Sutton WR SMU 6-4 215
17 LA Chargers – 9-7 – * Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech 6-5 240
18 Seattle – 9-7 – * Joshua Jackson CB Iowa 6-1 195
19 Dallas – 9-7 – * Calvin Ridley WR Alabama 6-1 190
20 Detroit – 9-7 – * Derrius Guice RB LSU 5-11 215
21 y Buffalo – 9-7 – * Ronnie Harrison S Alabama 6-3 215
22 Buffalo (x Kan City) -10-6 – * Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama 6-2 310
23 x LA Rams – 11-5 – * Denzel Ward CB Ohio State 5-10 190
24 y Carolina – 11-5 – * Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado 6-1 190
25 y Tennessee – 9-7 – * Mark Andrews TE Oklahoma 6-5 255
26 y Atlanta – 10-6 – Vita Vea DT Washington 6-5 345
27 x New Orleans – 11-5 – Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma St 6-5 230
28 x Pittsburgh- 13-3 -* Equanimeous St. Brown WR Notre Dame 6-5 205
29 x Jacksonville – 10-6 – Martinas Rankin OT Mississippi St 6-5 305
30 x Philadelphia – 13-3 – * Carlton Davis CB Auburn 6-1 205
31 x New England – 13-3 – * Taven Bryan DT Florida 6-5 295
32 x Minnesota – 13-3 – * Audon Tate WR Florida State 6-5 220

2nd Round 
33 Cleveland – * DeShon Elliott S Texas 6-2 205
34 NY Giants – * Kolton Miller OT UCLA 6-8 310
35 Indianapolis – Chukwuma Okorafor OT Western Michigan 6-6 330
36 Cleveland (Houston) – James Washington WR Oklahoma St 6-0 205
37 NY Jets – * Michael Jackson CB Miami(Fl) 6-1 190
38 Tampa Bay – Royce Freeman RB Oregon 6-0 235
39 Chicago – * Christian Kirk WR Texas A&M 5-11 200
40 Denver – Harold Landry LB Boston College 6-3 250
41 Oakland – Marcus Davenport DE UTSA 6-7 255
42 Miami – Tyrell Crosby OT Oregon 6-5 320
43 New England (San Fran) Rashaan Evans LB Alabama 6-3 235
44 Washington – Maurice Hurst DT Michigan 6-2 285
45 Green Bay – * Malik Jefferson LB Texas 6-3 240
46 Cincinnati – Braden Smith OG Auburn 6-6 305
47 Arizona – Billy Price C Ohio State 6-4 310
48 LA Chargers – Derrick Nnadi DT Florida State 6-1 315
49 NY Jets (Seattle) – Uchenna Nwosu LB USC 6-2 240
50 Dallas – * Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise St 6-4 240
51 Detroit – Anthony Miller WR Memphis 5-11 190
52 Baltimore – * Harrison Phillips DL Stanford 6-4 295
53 Tennessee – Lorenzo Carter LB Georgia 6-6 245
54 Buffalo – * Dorance Armstrong DE Kansas 6-4 245
55 Kansas City – * Justin Reid S Stanford 6-1 205
56 Atlanta – Will Hernandez OG Texas-El Paso 6-3 330
57 Jacksonville – Mike Gesicki TE Penn State 6-6 255
58 Carolina – Duke Ejiofor DE Wake Forest 6-4 270
59 San Fran (New Orleans) – * Kevin Toliver CB LSU 6-3 205
60 Buffalo (LA Rams) – * Ronald Jones II RB Southern Cal 6-1 195
61 Pittsburgh – Ogbonnia Okoronkwo LB Oklahoma 6-1 240
62 Cleveland (Phil) – * Kerryon Johnson RB Auburn 6-0 215
63 New England – Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota St 6-4 260
64 Minnesota – * Jaire Alexander CB Louisville 5-11 190

Daurice Fountain Receiver of Northern Iowa Heads Gems at East-West Shrine Week Practices

Daurice Fountain #10 – 6015, 210 lbs. – Northern Iowa 
Athletic senior has been one of the hidden gems from the small college level over his three starting seasons. He has had an excellent week of practice at the East-West Shrine practices that is vital for a small college performer to impress NFL scouts. Fountain hit the ground running this week and showed a business like approach to the oldest All-star game on the NFL agenda. He displayed good athleticism and the refined receiving skills to come off the line quickly and eat up NFL caliber cover men. He showed good footwork and the ability to separate at the breakpoint to get open consistently and provide his passer and sound target. His ability to go up and adjust to the throws drew attention from NFL scouts early in the week and he was one of the hot prospects through the week.

As a senior, he had 66 receptions for 943 yards and 12 TDs despite double coverage. That earned him an invitation to the East-West Shrine game. He comes in just under 6’2” and a solid 210 lbs. He entered 2017 with 82 catches for over 1100 yards and 11 TDs on 24 starts. He played in all 14 games as a true freshman and has made nice progress annually.
Strong frame with good movement skills to come off the line quickly. He benefits from a high profile sprinter running in the huddles in national meets. He adjusts nicely to the ball with the ability to snatch it easily and secure it consistently. He is one of our Players to Watch at the East-West Shrine game Saturday, Jan 20th. We will have a special list of Pro Prospects to Watch for the Shrine game to full subscribers prior to this Saturday’s contest.
For Complete East-West Shrine All-star Game info including updated practice info
Go to http://www.shrinegame.com/

East-West Director Harold Richardson and staff has assembled another strong group of pro prospects. The East-West Shrine Game has accepted over 100 invitations for this classic game.

#3 Georgia (13-1) vs #4 Alabama (13-1)
CFP National Championship
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Ga 8 pm – ESPN

The CFP national championship game tonight in Atlanta will feature two SEC teams, Alabama and Georgia. It is only the second time two teams from the same conference will play for the national title. Alabama is going for its 5th national title under HC Nick Saban since 2009 and third in a row. They won in 2016 vs Clemson only to lose to the Tigers last year. Georgia under former Saban assistant Kirby Smart will be attempting to win the national title for the first time since 1980.

The two SEC powers did not play during the 2017 or 2016 seasons or postseason. The last meeting between the SEC powers was early 2015 with Alabama prevailing with a 38-10 victory.

This game will feature strong running back tandems, in Alabama juniors Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough vs the Georgia Bulldog dynamic senior duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Both clubs like to run the ball to set up their young QBs. Bama soph QB Jalen Hurts has been a veteran of big games starting two years in the SEC and playing in his second national title clash. His two-year record of 26-2 rivals any young leader in recent years. His ability to run and make plays with his feet has been a difference maker in many big games. He ran for 808 yards in 2017 and 8 TDs, complimenting the Tide tandem of Scarbrough and Harris. Hurts has thrown for 17 TD passes and just 1 interception. The Bulldog tandem of Chubb and Michel has rushed for an FBS career record of 8259 yards, a remarkable achievement despite some key injuries. This game also features two top ten defenses who have peaked over the late 2017 season except for a select subpar efforts, Alabama vs Auburn and Georgia vs Oklahoma in the semi finals.

Georgia features true freshman Jake Fromm who is coming off a great comeback victory over Oklahoma 54-48 in double OT. He is the first true freshman to start in the national title game in over 30 years. The OT win over the Sooners was the worst game of the season for the Bulldogs defense who had not allowed more than 28 points in any game prior to the semi-finals. Georgia defense is led by junior OLBs Roquan Smith and Lorenzo Carter who must make big plays for the Bulldogs to be successful.

The Bama defense has allowed over 20 points a game only three times this season and is coming off a pounding of Clemson 24-6 where they dominated the line of scrimmage for 60 minutes. Their front seven has been dominant and will fully challenge the Bulldog line. Bama looks to stop the run first and will load the box to stuff the Georgia duo of Chubb and Michel. They hope to force the young QB Fromm to win the game from the pocket. DT Da’Ron Payne is an anchor in the middle that allows the endless group of Bama linebackers to flow to the ball. The defensive group is young, but has matured nicely over the 2017 season with over half the unit underclassmen. Saban rotates as many as 15-18 defenders to play his multiple packages that have been instrumental in his blitz packages and base defense.

Saban looks to get an early lead, similar to this recent Clemson victory behind a strong ground game and mobile QB that dictates field position with good ball security. His defense rules the line of scrimmage while his zone coverage schemes takes away big plays. Look to Saban to force Georgia freshman QB Fromm to win from the pocket operating from behind a power Tide ground game. It has been a prescription for the Tide to win numerous big games. Bama wins its fifth national title since 2009 under Nick Saban.

Alabama 27 Georgia 10

Alabama Wins National Title on Dramatic Overtime TD – Final Top 25 Teams

Alabama’s HC Nick Saban wins his fifth national championship at Alabama (6th overall – LSU) in a dramatic OT win over Georgia. Nick Saban beat his former assistant coach, Kirby Smart, as Alabama overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to beat Georgia 26-23 in the College Football Playoff National Championship. It will ranked among the best national title games in recent history with two freshman QBs leading their teams

Players of the National Title Game – Jan. 8
Offense – QB Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama
Defense – LB Roquan Smith – Georgia

Team of the Week – Alabama

Photo – LB Roquan Smith – Georgia

DraftInsiders.com Poll – Jan. 8
Frank Coyle – Head Scout
Rank/ Team/ Record
1 Alabama 13-1
2 Georgia 13-2
3 Oklahoma 12-2
4 Clemson 12-2
5 UCF 13-0
6 Ohio State 12-2
7 Wisconsin 13-1
8 Penn State 10-2
9 TCU 11-2
10 Notre Dame 10-3
11 Auburn 10-4
12 Washington 10-3
13 USC 11-3
14 Oklahoma State 10-3
15 Miami 10-3
16 LSU 9-4
17 Northwestern 10-3
18 South Florida 10-2
19 Michigan St 10-3
20 Virginia Tech 9-4
21 Mississippi St 9-4
22 Stanford 9-5
23 Fresno State 9-3
24 NC State 9-4
25 Memphis 10-3

AP Football Poll 
Rank/ Team/ 1st Place Votes/ Rec/ Points
AP Top 25
Rank/ Team / Rec / Pts
1 Alabama (57) 13-1 1521
2 Georgia 13-2 1454
3 Oklahoma 12-2 1374
4 Clemson 12-2 1292
5 Ohio State 12-2 1286
6 UCF (4) 13-0 1248
7 Wisconsin 13-1 1194
8 Penn State 11-2 1120
9 TCU 11-3 974
10 Auburn 10-4 917
11 Notre Dame 10-3 857
12 USC 11-3 839
13 Miami 10-3 769
14 Oklahoma State 10-3 758
15 Michigan State 10-3 705
16 Washington 10-3 668
17 Northwestern 10-3 528
18 LSU 9-4 368
19 Mississippi State 9-4 359
20 Stanford 9-5 336
21 South Florida 10-2 267
22 Boise State 11-3 251
23 NC State 9-4 232
24 Virginia Tech 9-4 126
25 Memphis 10-3 119

Dropped from rankings: Washington State 21

Others receiving votes: Washington State 84, South Carolina 46, Iowa State 36, Army 33, Florida Atlantic 32, Troy 14, Fresno State 13, San Diego State 3, Iowa 2