The team headed down to Mobile, AL for the Reese’s Senior Bowl and now we will break down the best of the best at each position. Jarod Gray (@JarodGray) covered the LBs and those that stood out to them.
NATIONAL TEAM
Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
Daiyan Henley already had people interested in him after he earned First Team All PAC-12 honors. Henley, who transferred from Nevada and converted from WR to LB, has a great story and peaked my interest. Daiyans coverage ability was something people had wondered about heading into Senior Bowl week. Henley looked great all week in coverage and basically all other facets of the game. Henley has to be one of the biggest movers at the Senior Bowl because I believe he could have jumped into the conversation for early 2nd round draft capital. If you are a fan of how Eric Kendricks plays then you are like me, and I believe Henley has a lot of the same traits and is a pro bowl LB who should be coveted as such.
Cam Jones, LB, Indiana
First things first, if you want to talk about potential… Cam Jones has it! Jones’s tackle rate in just 5 games tells you all you need to know about him as a player. He has a nose for the football and that didn’t change during his time in mobile, Cam capped off the week with seven tackles (five solo), a tackle for loss and a pass break up during the game. If Jones can put up good numbers during the combine and pro day workouts he will shoot up draft boards. Jones had a season ending foot injury, for a player that has not put on pads since week 5, he looked very impressive. Seeing Cam not take a step back after his injury should tell you that he came to work. I think Cam will be drafted by the 3rd round, especially in a LB class that isn’t stacked.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB. Cincinnati
Ivan Pace is a player who for some reason didn’t get a lot of love coming into Senior Bowl week. Pace was an All American but teams were worried he couldn’t cover due to the fact he blitzed so much in college. Well, Ivan shut that down on day one with 3 pass break ups and a near interception. Pace earned the Defensive MVP with 10 tackles at the Senior Bowl and if he was prototypical size(around 6’) then I have no doubt he would be drafted in the first round. People get scared of Ivan’s height and that will likely make him a day two pick but don’t let that fool you. Ivan Pace will be a starting LB before you know it.
DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
Coming into Senior Bowl week, Overshown was projected as a 7th round draft pick. Scouts quickly changed their minds as Overshown overly impressed after the first day of practices. DeMarvion ran down hill and had some of the best hits of the week. At times, Overshown was stiff and didn’t have great hips and other times he looked like a pro bowl caliber LB. In my personal opinion I think DeMarvion raised his draft stock significantly at the Senior bowl. I still think Overshown is very raw and needs to work on coverage but he could be a good pick on day 2. DeMarvion should be proud of the work he put in this week.
Carlton Martial, LB. Troy
Carlton Martial or, as we like to say, the wrecking ball of the FCS, is always around the football. Martial had a strong showing at the Senior bowl and even though some of the analysts were wondering if he was someone’s little brother when he wasn’t dressed for practice, he showed up and showed out. Martial definitely isn’t your prototypical LB because of his stature but he is all heart. I think Martial did enough this week to be a day 3 pick and will be fun to watch at the next level.
Nick Hampton, LB, Appalachian State
Nick Hampton showed early on at the Senior Bowl that he’s got position flexibility by hopping back and forth from LB to EDGE. I would say he just had a solid week. He wasn’t popping off the charts but was consistent in his rush. Nick is fluid and he’s willing to work. I think he will be a UDFA with a chance to make an NFL roster his rookie season.
AMERICAN TEAM
Dee Winters, LB, TCU
WINTERS is coming! I have said from the beginning that Dee Winters would have a good week and he did. Winters had an outstanding playoff game versus Michigan and provided tape for scouts to rave about that showcased his high tackle rate and excellent coverage skills. Winters had 2 interceptions during Senior Bowl week and one of them he returned for a touchdown. Winters earned Defensive Practice player of the week for his efforts. Winters is someone to keep an eye on during the draft because even though I think he is a day 2 pick he is well on his way to being an NFL starting LB.
SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
Dennis had a very productive week and looked very good in coverage. He also had an interception in one on one coverage vs. Tyjae Spears which is very impressive considering Spears put several players on skates all week. The problem for SirVocea was that Spears returned the favor 2 days later by putting Dennis on skates and Dennis injured his foot in the process which held him out of the game on Saturday. That was the only bad play Dennis had all week as he dominated most one on one’s and was a tackle machine. Dennis showed he is ready for the big time and I think he will be a day 3 selection
Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
Dorian Williams came into the Senior Bowl with an UDFA grade and that changed as soon as he hit someone. Dorian’s Tulane teammate Tyjae Spears said that if there is one player that people need to keep an eye on it is Dorian Williams because he is about putting in work, and put in work he did! Dorian’s motor didn’t stop all week long. Williams is a consistent tackler and he should be a day 3 pick.
Isaiah Land, LB, Florida A&M
Isaiah Land is one of the more intriguing prospects at the Senior Bowl because he was actually almost drafted last year and decided to return to Florida A&M. Land is a monster of a man and was asked to move to Inside LB prior to showing up to the Senior Bowl because of all the injuries that were piling up from accepted invites. Land had a very solid season and an even better week at the Senior Bowl. Isaiah capped the week off with a sack during Saturday’s game. He is a monster of a man and is raw at the ILB spot but I believe with his leadership ability and his drive to succeed he will be selected day 2.
Aubrey Miller Jr., LB. Jackson St.
Aubrey Miller doesn’t have eye popping college stats but he definitely changed his mindset when Coach Prime came to campus. Miller became a leader and it showed on the field. Miller had a solid week but was more impressive as a special teams player than anything else. He was strong on a lot of assignments and is projected to be an UDFA.
Eku Leota, LB, Auburn
Leota was hampered by injury most of his career at Auburn. Eku looked very good this week and helped his draft stock and should be a late round selection.
