The Senior Bowl wrapped up this week, and it was the last chance to see prospects for April's upcoming draft in a true game situation. The scouting combine is next on the schedule, where you get to see guys run around in their underoos, doing all sorts of activities that are supposed to indicate abilities that translate to the football field. We'll save that debate for a later date, but for now let's do a search around the web for some Senior Bowl wrap ups. And no, I'm not really in Mobile or you would have gotten much more in depth coverage!
--- Von Miller, OLB from Texas A&M, left the contest with Defensive Player of the Game honors. You can go here for my profile on Miller.
--- Cameron Jordan didn't display the same skills in the game that he had during the week of practice. Hat tip to FiTaT for the fanshot.
--- Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina, was named the North team's Most Outstanding Player. Texas DL Sam Acho won the honor for the South team.
--- Florida State QB Christian Ponder won the game's Most Valuable Player award, but we shouldn't be looking at QB's in the draft as we are three deep on the depth chart.
Follow the jump for more reviews.
Draftcountdown.com had the following end of game report on the offensive linemen:
On the offensive line Baylor OG Danny Watkins impressed like he has all week and appears to be a better pro prospect than former teammate J.D. Walton was a year ago. I also liked what I saw from Georgia’s Clint Boling, who appears to be moving up draft boards around the league. After a rough showing during the week, Auburn’s Lee Ziemba really stepped up in the game and played much, much better. On the other hand, DeMacus Love of Arkansas had a nightmare showing in the practices and didn’t look any better in the game. Love has definitely separated himself from the pack of other senior offensive tackles, but in the wrong direction.
Draftcountdown.com's game review for the defensive line:
There were a number of standout performances from the defensive end position but it was Sam Acho of Texas who took home Most Outstanding Player honors for the South. Acho, who finished with 1.0 sack, 2.0 tackles for a loss and 1 forced fumble, definitely went out with a bang. Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan had a great week in Mobile and showed the same pass rush ability in the game as he did in the practices. Then there was Brooks Reed, who was often a terror off the edge and tacked up 2.0 tackles for a loss and a big sack. On the interior, Iowa DT Christian Ballard wrapped up a great week with another nice performance in the game. Ballard should be a lock for the second round now and could even slip into the latter part of the first frame. Clemson’s Jarvis Jenkins also flashed on multiple occasions, especially in the backfield.
Perhaps no defensive lineman on either side was more impressive in the game than Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, who absolutely abused Arkansas right tackle DeMarcus Love for a sack and three tackles for loss. Kerrigan, who spent some practice time experimenting with zone drops in practice, should be of great interest to teams looking for game-breaking 3-4 ends. And the defensive star of practice week, Cal's Cameron Jordan, had five tackles of his own (and one for loss).
Drafttek.com lists Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan as the fourth rated 3-4 OLB in the draft and #17 overall. Remember, the Senior Bowl makes teams run a 4-3 defense so Kerrigan played with his hand down instead of being upright like he will mostly be in the pro's.
North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney, who was near the ball all through the week, showed great closing speed and finished with seven tackles for his trouble. He was named the North team's Most Outstanding Player for his efforts.
Burney is an interesting prospect and one that Dallas fans might want to get themselves familiar with. He's currently ranked the #14 cornerback prospect and #106 overall by drafttek.com, with a bullet. Remember at the beginning of the college football season when schools right and left were being named in NCAA investigations for improper benefits? Burney was one of the players involved and spent the first six games of the 2010 season suspended. He entered the 2010 season on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik awards. Burney started every game his first three years in Carolina. At 5'9" he is considered small to play on the outside in the pro's, but there have been others as diminutive that have had success. See Antoine Winfield and Bob Sanders. Due to the suspension and not being able to practice with the team, his five-game season didn't resemble what he had accomplished in Chapel Hill up to that point. The drop of his draft stock could mean a great mid-round steal for some NFL team, and it might just be Dallas.