This Saturday, some of our favorite players will be stepping on the field as collegiate athletes for one last time. All of their hard work and dedication will be paying off as they look to make it big in the NFL. The Senior Bowl is a very important game for these young men, as they are hoping to increase their draft stock. This is the last time that NFL front offices will be able to see these players in pads in a competitive setting. The teams from the North and South both have tremendous talent with high hopes, so here’s who you should watch for this weekend.
QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Is it really a Student Union article without a Baker shoutout? All jokes aside, Mayfield has a lot of haters to prove wrong. We all know he can win at the collegiate level, but he needs to show that he can do that in the pros. In my opinion, Mayfield needs to show a lot of poise in the pocket and not run right away when the pocket begins to collapse. He’s demonstrated his talent on the ground, so if he really wants to shy away from the “Johnny Football” comparisons, he’ll have to play like an NFL quarterback on Saturday.
QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
Projected to maybe be the top pick, Josh Allen has all the traits of an NFL quarterback. He’s tall, he’s athletic, he has a strong arm, and he’s tough. So what’s the issue? Allen has drawn comparisons to Carson Wentz, since they both have similar builds and come from small schools, which will always make people skeptical. In my opinion, if Allen has a good Senior Bowl and Combine workout, he’ll surely go top 3 in the draft.
DE Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Tyquan Lewis truly had an amazing career in Columbus. With 23.5 sacks, 36.5 tackles for loss, two Big Ten Championships, and one National Championship, Lewis stood out and will forever be remembered by Buckeye fans. But now, Lewis needs to make the NFL general managers and scouts remember him. CBS Sports has Tyquan Lewis rated as the #20 DE prospect, projected to go on day 3 of the draft. This is not just an all-star game for Lewis, instead, it is an opportunity to grow his draft stock and make an impression.
RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Everyone knows that Saquon Barkley is THE running back in this draft class. Personally, I don’t think drafting a running back in the top 10 is a good idea, but it has worked with Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette so far. There are many great running back names this year like Derrius Guice, Ronald Jones II, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. I think Rashaad Penny will be the sleeper of this draft class. Penny is a Swiss Army knife running back that can run, catch and return for the team that picks him up. The NCAA’s leading rusher is the perfect mix of size and speed, definitely someone you’ll want to see this weekend.
OLB Shaquem Griffin, Central Florida
Shaquem Griffin was one of the biggest stories coming from the Peach Bowl against Auburn. He accounted for 12 total tackles and 1.5 sacks to help complete the Knights’ perfect season. Griffin had his hand amputated at age 4 due to an illness he was born with. He’s determined to make scouts remember his name despite not receiving an invitation to the NFL Combine. I think that if he plays well, he will receive a combine invite. But, I think an NFL team that takes a chance on Griffin will receive a hard-working linebacker with a great motor.
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 24: Shaquem Griffin #18 of the UCF Knights reacts prior to a play against the South Florida Bulls in the first quarter at Spectrum Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)