Senior Bowl Journal: Day 3 Standouts

Cell, AL — An overcast last day of practices capped off an eventful week for the Senior Bowlers. In the present day will probably be an off day for everybody down right here, with festivities concluding with the Senior Bowl sport on Saturday at 2:30 PM EST.

There was a robust exhibiting from a number of place teams that the Indianapolis Colts will inevitably covet within the present draft cycle. Who will find yourself in Indy stays to be seen, however this week served as a promising begin in dwindling prospects right down to who will match what the Colts want.

Whereas there have been loads of nice performs to go round, these prospects stood out above the remainder of the competitors on Thursday. Those that will probably be briefly touched on following the record(s) in query could have their title(s) italicized. A number of-day standouts will probably be bolded.

Nationwide Group Standouts

• Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas
• Toledo iDL Darius Alexander
• BGSU TE Harold Fannin Jr.
• Miami TE Elijah Arroyo
• Central Arkansas EDGE David Walker
• USC OL Jonah Monheim
• Virginia Tech iDL Aeneas Peebles
• Miami RB Damien Martinez

American Group Standouts

• Florida LB Shemar James
• LSU TE Mason Taylor
• Western Kentucky DB Upton Stout
• Kansas RB Devin Neal
• TCU WR Jack Bech
• Minnesota EDGE Danny Striggow
• LSU OT Emery Jones Jr.

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

The 20-year-old underclassman’s week of observe featured an upward trajectory. Thomas is among the greater exterior nook prospects within the class — standing at 6’1”, weighing 191 lbs, and sporting prolonged 32.5-inch arms — and his matchups towards smaller, shiftier wideouts proved to be a tricky task for Thomas, particularly early on within the week.

Thomas struggled to showcase his vaunted press protection means towards mentioned slot guys, although it actually confirmed up in matchups towards the bigger X-type huge receivers. To be honest, matching up towards guys who’ll inevitably align within the slot within the NFL isn’t a sensible projection for who Thomas will go towards as a professional. Regardless, Thomas welcomed the problem and grew stronger with every observe.

The third and last observe of the week culminated in a day that noticed Thomas haul in an INT in 1-on-1s, in addition to a number of sturdy reps of press protection which resulted in incomplete passes. Thomas could have began a bit gradual, however his confidence and aggressive spirit by no means wavered all through the week, showcasing precisely why he’s one of many high cornerback prospects within the draft class.

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Inexperienced

After struggling in his first two days of the week, Fannin Jr. rebounded massive within the last observe. He was extra assured with every rep all through the week, profitable his matchups with an increasing number of ease after being bottled as much as kick off his Senior Bowl.

Fannin Jr. dominated within the purple zone 1-on-1 interval towards numerous cornerbacks to cap off his week of observe, a exhibiting which adopted his finest run-blocking rep of any observe of his. Relating to his professional projection, Fannin Jr. may be suited as an H-back or move-type of tight finish who is never aligned as the normal in-line tight finish who stands on the road subsequent to an offensive sort out.

So far as his match with the Indianapolis Colts, Fannin Jr. may actually slot within the Shane Steichen offense as an improved Kylen Granson-type of participant, although his worth in that occasion would counsel a later-round choice versus going on the high of Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Even with all of the considerations that encompass him, whether or not it’s his weight, his unpolished blocking means, or his fluidity as an athlete, Fannin Jr. is a sure-handed cross catcher and needs to be propped up as such.

Shemar James, LB, Florida

After a quiet first two practices, Florida’s Shemar James completely confirmed out to cap off the week. James was in all places on Thursday, from flying downhill within the run sport in crew durations, or locking down well-regarded passcatching working backs in 1-on-1s — extra particularly, a 1-on-1 interval that primarily units up the backs to embarrass opposing linebackers.

James, nonetheless, had the final giggle on Thursday. In crew, James sniffed out a WR display screen on one play and met a working again within the backfield for an enormous sort out for loss on one other. Then, in 1-on-1s, it was James who bested among the better-receiving backs in SMU’s Brashard Smith (the 3-year WR convert) and Georgia’s Trevor Etienne.

At 6’1”, 226 lbs, James actually matches the extra trendy fashion of off-ball backer, although he performs 5-10 lbs greater than his dimension. What he lacks in dimension, he makes up for in athleticism, play recognition, and endurance in each protection and run protection. James is among the few underclassmen who attended the Senior Bowl, and he made his presence identified regardless of the age hole. The 20-year-old, 2.5-year starter took a step again on the tackling entrance in 2024, although a season-ending knee damage could have contributed to his general inconsistencies.

Upton Stout, DB, Western Kentucky

Stout completely ought to’ve been a multiple-day standout in my journal collection. With either side of the sector being utilized always — one aspect that includes the trenches with the opposite showcasing the ability positions — gamers and moments can get misplaced within the combine, and Stout was that case for me.

I had seen a few play per day by means of every of the primary two practices, although after reviewing the observe movie after a robust Day 3 exhibiting, Stout was not solely a standout within the final observe however probably the most constant defensive again all through the week.

At 5’9”, 185 lbs, Stout will greater than doubtless slot in as a nickel cornerback within the NFL, however he greater than proved himself as a competitor on the skin — oftentimes towards greater and sooner cross catchers. Stout is extremely affected person by means of the early levels of any given route, and makes use of his footwork and short-area quickness to remain in section, whether or not that be from a press or delicate pre-snap alignment.

David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

Walker (6’0”, 267 lbs), a former D2 standout at Southern Arkansas (2019-2021), transferred up a stage whereas remaining in-state to FCS Central Arkansas. As an alternative of opting to chase greenback indicators and different perks of Energy 4 soccer after totaling 20.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss in back-to-back All-American seasons (2022-2023), Walker determined to stay at Central Arkansas to cement his legacy.

Right here’s what Walker needed to say when requested about his choice to remain in an interview with The Draft Community: “It was all about that loyalty. I knew this program had my finest curiosity at coronary heart. Positive, I may have gone someplace and made a bit NIL cash, possibly choose up a few sacks and enhance my draft inventory a bit bit, however I used to be constructing a legacy right here at Central Arkansas.

Like that of practically half of the Colts’ present line of defense, Walker too is skilled by cross rush guru and Sacramento State DL Coach Ed McGilvra. After a robust week in Cell, Walker solidified himself because the participant that Energy 4 packages throughout the nation have coveted in latest switch portal cycles.