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Senior Bowl week comes with massive NFL Draft implications, arguably even more than the combine for the players that are there. See which players performed best in practice, and during the game, thus boosting their draft stock the most. On the flip side, see the guys who hurt their stock here.
1. Mike Adams- OT Ohio State. Adams came into the Senior Bowl fully on everybody's radar as a Late First round prospect, but after a dominant week of practice and in the game itself, Adams shot up even higher on boards. At 6-8 310, with very long arms, he is a monstrous figure out there, and he's been showing that he has the athleticism and footwork to go with his size. Matched up against the South's dominant defensive line, Adams more then held his own, showing quick feet, polished footwork, not to mention his strength which he put on display during the game. Despite being such a deep OT class, Adams is now in the Top 15-20 pick range.
2. Isaiah Pead- RB Cincinnati. Running Back is really the only position during the Senior Bowl where the game itself may be more important than practice. With the full pads on, you can really see which RB's can break tackles, and make things happen. Following up a tremendous performance in Cincy's bowl Game, Pead looked every bit as good against the top competition in the land earning the game's MVP, breaking off punt returns of 68 and 30, showing off his speed and agility. He also looked good running between the tackles with a team-high 31 yards on 8 carries. All this following up a highly praised week of practice as well. Pead seems to be a 2nd round lock at this point.
3. Bobby Wagner- LB Utah State. Wagner was a guy who most casual fans didn't get the chance to see until this week. For Utah State during the season Wagner racked up a whopping 147 tackles, and 11.5 for loss, and showed everybody during Senior Bowl week it was no fluke. He had an excellent week of practice showing he was a fluid athlete, showed great strength and power, along with very sound technique. His week of practice was most important but during the game he was fantastic too. Making an acrobatic interception where he dropped into the perfect spot in his zone, and then another play where he leaped up to knock down a likely Touchdown pass. He also was impressive as a tackler in the game, showing great form, finishing with 7 for the game. Behind the elite names of Kuechly, Burfict, and Hightower, Wagner is now all by himself as the next ILB.
4. Kendall Reyes- DT/DE Connecticut. While watching Reyes during the season at UCONN, he never really stood out or produced that much, mainly because he was the only guy to fear on that defense and was getting double and triple teamed. However during Senior Bowl practices, Reyes was nearly unblockable all week. In 1-on-1's he bullied smaller offensive lineman, using his size and long arms to walk O-Lineman back into that little orange thing. He used his hands very well, looked light on his feet, and every bit the part of a starting caliber NFL Defensive Lineman in either a 4-3 or 3-4. He is now locked into the 2nd round range too.
5. Brandon Boykin- CB Georgia. I've been going on and on about Brandon Boykin for the past month or two about how underrated I think he is, but after a superb week of practice in Mobile, I think people are starting to jump on board with me. Boykin is only 5-9, but is an elite athlete, and fought all week against bigger wide receivers, and at no point looking overmatched. Unfortunately Boykin broke his leg in the actual game, but it is not a serious injury, and should be back in around a months time. He will be fine, and he too looks to be now a 2nd round prospect.
6. Cam Johnson- DE Virginia. Cam Johnson is a guy I have always been intruiged by. Watching him at Virginia he would have his moments where he looked like a 1st round caliber pass rusher, but never really put it together, and didn't produce much. During practice, Johnson looked like that 1st round caliber lineman all week. Blowing by O-Lineman all week. Whether it was the rip, the swim, or just pure speed, Johnson had his way. He looked very fluid as an athlete too, and he will get some looks at OLB too. He went from being a mid round pick to a 2nd-3rd round guy.
7. Dwight "Bill" Bentley- CB Louisiana Lafayette. After the Ragin Cajuns bowl game, and now Senior Bowl week, "Bill" Bentley has gone from being a guy very few knew about, to a guy who is now the hottest name around. A very physical corner, Bentley was not afraid to mix it up with the receivers. He never backed down all week, showed fluid hips, drove on the ball well, and good technique. Bentley has now vaulted himself to the 3rd-4th round range.
8. Harrison Smith- Safety Notre Dame. In a Safety class where it is pretty much Mark Barron, and then nobody, Harrison Smith made his case to be that #2 guy. He surprised everybody with how athletic he looked, showed fluid hips, good change of direction, and adequate speed. We already knew Smith could stop the run effectively, but now he looks like a guy who can do it all, and be relied upon in coverage.
9. Juron Criner- WR Arizona. Criner came into the season hot, but his stock flattened out as the Wildcats went into the tank as a team. Criner did his part though, finishing with 11 TD's, but still he didn't get much attention. In Mobile, Criner in my opinion, was the best receiver on either squad. He has the size you look for at 6-4, but was excellent as a sharp route runner, quick in and out of breaks, catching everything in sight, including a 1 handed grab that Calvin Johnson would have been proud of. He is in that 2nd tier of receiver, and is likely to go in the 3rd round range.
10. Jaye Howard- DT Florida. I'd never really been a big fan of Jaye Howard, but after his bowl game, and week at the Senior Bowl, he has won me over. Basically, Howard is a pure pass rusher, that grew to be 6-3 300. He is a fantastic athlete, possessing the quickness and explosion that many edge rusher don't have. I had been concerned about his ability to stop the run and maintain gap control, but all week in practice he played with good leverage and pad level. Also showing the strength to hold up his blocker, and maintain his gap. During the game he got off his blocks to make a number of plays on the ball carrier. I was no doubt not the only one who had concerns about Howard answered.
11. Joe Adams- WR Arkansas. Everybody knew Joe Adams for his gamebreaking ability as a Return Man, but last week he showed that he is more than just a return specialist. He ran great routes all week, creating seperation with ease, quickly getting in-and-out of his breaks, as the Defensive Backs could not handle his agility. During the game Adams had 8 catches for 133 yards, and looked like a guy who could play a lot of receiver at the next level