What we learned from Shrine Day 1: RB catches Mayock's eyeBy Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer
Published: Jan. 16, 2017 at 08:26 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- De'Veon Smith became known for power more than speed and agility during his career at Michigan, but the former Wolverines running back has more to offer NFL clubs than broken tackles, and Smith showed it Monday as East-West Shrine Game practices began.
Smith and other Shrine Game players are looking to impress a gathering of NFL scouts this week in their first formal chance to enhance their draft status since the football season ended. The East-West Shrine Game will be played Saturday at Tropicana Field at 3 p.m. ET, and broadcast exclusively on NFL Network.
"I thought De'Veon Smith had a good first day. I was impressed with him that, in the passing game at 228 pounds, how quick-footed he was," said NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock. "He did a nice job against some linebackers in one-on-one drills. When they're in shorts and it's one-on-one pass drills, the running back should win on a linebacker. But you try to look at the skill set, the traits, and what I saw was quick feet and change of direction. And he has that at 228 pounds. He's got quick feet and showed soft hands."
Smith had his most productive college season for the Wolverines in 2016, rushing for 846 yards on 181 carries and 10 touchdowns, primarily in a between-the-tackles role for Michigan that featured his power.
A few other players who caught Mayock's eye on Monday, with commentary from Mayock:
Drake TE Eric Saubert: "I haven't watched his tape yet, but I thought he popped a little bit today. A big-bodied kid, and very athletic with good hands."
Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel: "He's got some zip on the ball."
Vanderbilt OL William Holden: "I liked him in pass protection. He was a tackle, and they kicked him inside to guard, and I liked him there."
Utah OT Sam Tevi: "He is a another kid who could kick inside. He's quick-footed and I liked the way he shot his hands. I liked him a lot."
Toledo TE Michael Roberts: "He's 6-5, almost 270, and he runs better than that. He's got surprising speed and hands. I liked him on tape and I liked him out here today."
Here are five other things we learned Monday from Shrine Game practices.
More than the Buckeyes? Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh predicted in the fall that the Wolverines would have 10-plus players selected in this year's draft. Michigan OL Erik Magnuson believes UM might even top Ohio State's total of 12 draftees from 2016, which was two short of matching a record Ohio State set in 2004 for most players drafted from one school in a single year.
"I think we should. We have a deep senior class, and with Jabrill (Peppers) going out early, I think 10 could get done pretty easily, and we can probably beat out Ohio State," Magnuson said.
There are seven Michigan players at the East-West Shrine game, the most of any school: Smith, Magnuson, OL Kyle Kalis, DB Dymonte Thomas, CB Channing Stribling, DB Lano Hill and DT Matthew Godin.
Quotable: "All those guys are so instinctive, and athletic, I'll be surprised if they're not all first-round draft picks. Foster, especially, he can run from sideline to sideline and he'll hit anyone." -- Alabama WR Gehrig Dieter on three of the Crimson Tide's top draft prospects, DE Jonathan Allen, LB Reuben Foster and CB Marlon Humphrey.
Johnson too handsy. Clemson DB Jadar Johnson was among the most athletic players on the field for the West in the afternoon practice, although an NFC scout said Johnson was putting his hands on receivers a bit too much downfield. Johnson is the only player from Clemson's national championship team participating in the East-West Shrine Game.
Who's talking to who? Much like at the Reese's Senior Bowl, NFL clubs interview East-West Shrine Game players on the field immediately following practices. They happen too quickly, too randomly and too far apart for a complete look at which clubs are talking to which players, but here are some of the conversations College Football 24/7 took note of following Monday's practices:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Colorado LB Jimmie Gilbert
Carolina Panthers: Toledo TE Michael Roberts
Los Angeles Chargers: Youngstown State DE Avery Moss
Minnesota Vikings: Florida DE Bryan Cox
Philadelphia Eagles: Penn QB Alek Torgesen
Buffalo Bills: Temple CB Nate Hairston
What we learned from Shrine Game Day 2: Penn star best of QBsBy Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer
Published: Jan. 17, 2017 at 07:23 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There are plenty of NFL scouts on hand this week for the East-West Shrine Game, and those looking for a quarterback might leave feeling disappointed. What is expected to be a weak talent pool at quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft has deposited six passers onto Shrine rosters, only one of whom -- a relative unknown in Penn QB Alek Torgersen -- has done much to impress NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, who was on hand for the second day of Shrine Game practices on Tuesday.
"Torgersen looked the part and threw the ball with some zip. He's clearly the most talented of the quarterbacks out here to me. Torgersen played a lower level of competition, but he has some size, some arm strength, some mobility. You can see he has some projectable talent," Zierlein said. "Out of these guys, Torgersen has the best shot to (increase his draft stock) here. The rest of these guys, I see too many physical deficiencies. Torgersen has a chance to go in the first five or six rounds."
Torgersen (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) completed 198 of 296 passes (67 percent) for 2,231 yards for the Quakers this season, with 17 TDs and four interceptions. He'll play for the East squad in Saturday's Shrine Game, which will be broadcast exclusively on NFL Network (3 p.m. ET).
Some thoughts from Zierlein on the other quarterbacks in attendance:
Illinois' Wes Lunt: "He's is going to look the part in a uniform, and he'll make some beautiful throws in drills, and he can throw the deep ball with some touch, but when you speed things up, he's inconsistent."
Western Michigan's Zach Terrell: "He struggled, and he's even smaller than I thought he was. His arm isn't the best, and he got picked a couple times."
Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel: "If you ask him to dink and dunk and do some quick, snap-and-throw stuff, he can do that. But when he's throwing past the first level, into more challenging windows downfield, that's where he struggles on tape and that's where he struggled (Tuesday)."
Central Michigan's Cooper Rush: "This setting isn't going to be very good for Cooper Rush, because he's a timing-based quarterback who reads defenses and is highly intelligent. He can manipulate the field. But an all-star week isn't the kind of environment for that because he doesn't know the receivers and he doesn't have a big arm. He'll struggle out here, but I think he has some really good intangibles."
Here are six other things we learned Tuesday at East-West Shrine Game practices:
2. Garrett the Great. The freakish athleticism of Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett is readily apparent in the weight room or on the football field. But according to Shrine Game East OT Avery Gennesy, who blocked Garrett plenty in practice at Texas A&M, his prowess on the basketball court is something to behold as well. Garrett has announced he intends to enter the 2017 NFL Draft as a junior, and NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks him the No. 1 prospect in the draft.
"When he goes to the (NFL Scouting Combine in February), you'll see. He can run in the 4.4s," Gennesy said of Garrett (6-5, 262). "Maybe 4.5. And he's so twitchy, I've seen him dunk a basketball putting the ball between his legs on a standing jump before. With no running or anything, just stand there, jump, switch hands between his legs and jam it. It's unreal."
3. No more neck roll. When Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Bryan Cox played for the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, the neck roll pad protruding from the top of his shoulder pads was signature equipment for the former Pro Bowler. His son of the same name wore one in tribute when he was a Gators freshman, but don't look for him to bring it back again when he enters the NFL.
"I tried to bring it back in style for a period of time, but that didn't work out," Cox said with a laugh. "I didn't like it too much. It was very restrictive."
4. Owls sleeper. Florida Atlantic DE Trey Hendrickson (6-4, 265) has wreaked havoc on Shrine East offensive linemen for two days, showing a combination of quickness and power that has impressed East coach Brentson Buckner, a defensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
"He has a motor. I don't like to name guys, but he has a motor and you can tell the game is not too big for him," Buckner said. "He has some power. Speed equals power if you learn how to use it, and you don't want to be a one-trick pony. He's had great coaching, and he has a belief in himself. Some guys from smaller schools think 'Uh oh, I'm out here with Alabama and Auburn guys,' but he stepped out and said 'Hey, these pads are an equalizer. They have the same pads I have,' and he's gone to work. He's making a name for himself."
Hendrickson ran through Arkansas OT Dan Skipper on a bull rush in one-on-one drills, beat Vanderbilt's William Holden with his quickness, and disrupted the pocket during team drills, as well.
5. Myrick flashing. An NFC scout told CFB 24/7 that Minnesota CB Jalen Myrick shows NFL potential playing "off" coverage, noting his speed is pro-caliber, but questioned if he'll be big enough to consistently jam NFL receivers in a press coverage role. "He's 195 (pounds) and that can be enough, but he doesn't always play big," the scout said.
6. Notable: FSU WR Kermit Whitfield and Auburn WR Tony Stevens took turns fielding punts Tuesday, but look for Whitfield to handle the role on Saturday. He looked the more comfortable of the two and has the kind of explosive speed scouts would like to see in an all-star setting. ... Arkansas DL Deatrich Wise showed a lot of hustle Tuesday in pursuing ball carriers downfield and to the opposite side, even chasing a receiver until the whistle blew on one particular play. ... Air Force WR Jalen Robinette's size (6-4, 220) has been a big problem for West cornerbacks the last two days. He knows how to shield defenders from the ball to make catches in traffic, and has surprising quickness to gain some separation out of his breaks.
7. Who's talking to who? NFL clubs don't wait around to interview potential draft choices at the NFL Scouting Combine when they can begin that process at the East-West Shrine Game and, next week, at the Reese's Senior Bowl. Here are just of few of the conversations between clubs and players that College Football 24/7 took note of following Tuesday's practices:
Kansas City Chiefs: Air Force WR Jalen Robinette
Los Angeles Chargers: USC TE Taylor McNamara
Carolina Panthers: Utah OT Sam Tevi
Atlanta Falcons: Baylor DB Orion Stewart
Washington Redskins: Michigan CB Channing Stribling
Green Bay Packers: Virginia Tech OT Jonathan McLaughlin
Los Angeles Chargers: Laval TE Antony Auclair
Atlanta Falcons: Purdue WR Deangelo Yancey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jackson State LB Javancy Jones
Philadelphia Eagles: Villanova LB Austin Calitro
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