For Tuesday’s practice recap, click here.
For Wednesday’s practice recap, click here.
Links
The Move the Sticks crew has their list of Day 3 practice standouts. In the non Cooper Kupp named receiver division, WKU's Taywan Taylor and ECU's Zay Jones have made names for themselves this week.
Mike Mayock reveals his list of prospects who are stars of Bowl practices this week.
Charlie Campbell has notes on the South team practice on Day 3. Florida LB Alex Anzalone has made some money this week after a curious decision to go pro early. Auburn DT Montravious Adams. I'm a fan.
Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting has reports of North practice standouts. It's still Cooper Kupp's world, apparently.
Which teams are meeting prospects from both teams? The Titans may be Rowing the Boat with a Wolverine while fishing for a long snapper.
Walterfootball has a list of interesting rumors that will keep the Rumor Mill churning for awhile yet.
MMQB's Emily Kaplan shares her thoughts on several prospects throughout the week. It's a great read. Lots of fun and interesting nuggets in there.
Twittersphere
WATCH: #Alabama DL @DalvinTomlinson blows through Miami OG Danny Isidora during a 1-on-1 pass rushing drill at Wed.'s @seniorbowl practice. pic.twitter.com/98mv5wfKS3
— Alex Byington (@abyingtonTD) January 25, 2017
Cooper Kupp is making himself a lot of at the #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/9uY5kmNzIF
— Jared Tokarz (@NFLDraftInsider) January 26, 2017
Rasul Douglas/DB/West Virginia showing a nice closing burst to break up this pass to Zay Jones. Great day for Douglas so far. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/1yZJiOCywv
— Draft Analyst (@DraftAnalyst1) January 26, 2017
East Carolina WR Zay Jones has Desmond King questioning the meaning of life after that double move. #SeniorBowlpic.twitter.com/2vj8zKRrBp
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) January 26, 2017
WR Taywan Taylor #WKU 5110/198
— Matt Caraccio (@Matty_OS) January 26, 2017
VG Acc displaying a nice mid-stem move to create outstanding seperation on this route. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/xrVxGdoH3C
#WKU WR Taywan Taylor is getting tons of buzz here, meeting with #Titans now
— Cole Thompson (@ColeThompson32) January 26, 2017
Cameron Sutton/DB/Tennessee still working at safety due to injuries, showing good hand technique, coverage skills and reactions #Senior Bowl
— Draft Analyst (@DraftAnalyst1) January 26, 2017
#SeniorBowl Day 3 North Practice Winners: WRs #EWU Cooper Kupp/#ECU Zay Jones, #UConn SAF Obi Melifonwu, + #Temple LB Haason Reddick (again)
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) January 26, 2017
Couple of #ShrineGame TEs added to #SeniorBowl roster:
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 26, 2017
Eric Saubert, @DrakeBulldogsFB
Blake Jarwin, @CowboyFB
.@HoosierFootball OG Dan Feeney is finishing blocks out here. This victim: Lindenwood LB Connor Harris.#seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/S1QFnMrSIP
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 26, 2017
Marquez White/DB/Florida State staying with receivers downfield, reacting well with his back to the ball and closing nicely #SeniorBowl
— Draft Analyst (@DraftAnalyst1) January 26, 2017
Stand-Out Players
Today, I want to highlight some players that I haven’t mentioned in either of my previous write-ups this week, because for the most part, the guys you were expecting to have good weeks have had good weeks. So here are a few guys I haven’t really talked about yet:
Offense
- WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M - Reynolds built off of two good days to have an outstanding Thursday practice. Though his thin frame is a concern at 6’2”, 197, he showed the ability to beat press coverage and use his hands well to keep defensive backs off of him and haul in a number of impressive catches on Thursday. He wins best high-pointing the ball (though he also has the speed to get behind a defense), and he snagged a beautiful touchdown catch in a red zone team period, able to extend for the ball and get both feet down in bounds. Is he good enough to be the Titans #1 WR? Probably not as a rookie, but over time, it could be possible.
- WR Zay Jones, East Carolina - Okay, I mentioned Zay Jones already this week, but he is worth bringing up again. He looked much better than many expected and seemed to improve every day this week. Alex Flanagan of NFL Network interviewed him after practice, and he has that team-first, humble attitude emulated by the 2016 Titans draft class. I don’t know if he fits with the Titans, because to be honest, I think he’s a slightly better version of Tajae Sharpe, but he has much better quickness and therefore could be an effective slot receiver, at least as a rookie.
- TE Michael Roberts, Toledo - I wrote about Michael Roberts in my Shrine Game recap, and he is worth including again here. He runs good routes and catches the ball well with his hands. He is a block-first tight end who knows how to catch, similar to Anthony Fasano, but bigger and faster. I think he will be on the Titans radar as a possible #2 tight end that could come at a bit of a discount.
- OG Kyle Kalis, Michigan - Another candidate for potentially upgrading the Titans guard depth includes Michigan’s Kyle Kalis, also a Shrine Game promotion. Kalis has held up well against a good group of defensive linemen this week.
Defense
- nCB Brendan Langley, Lamar - We all know the Titans are in the market for a cornerback or two, and Brendan Langley is a small-school guy who could be one the Titans take a long look at. He had a solid if not spectacular week overall, though he did struggle a bit with drops in the individual catching drills (that’s why he’s not a WR?). Langley is the only player on the North squad that has been able to cover Cooper Kupp. That says something about his abilities.
- CB Cordn Elder, Miami - Did you know Corn Elder was from Tennessee? (Just kidding). This local product is quickly become a fan-favorite underdog, and his role with the Titans could be as the nickel corner. Elder is a tough, physical player with great blitzing ability from the slot. Could the Titans target him in the 4th or 5th round?
- S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut - Melifonwu has improved his stock this week. With his size, he could excel as an in-the-box big hitter. But this week, he showed impressive versatility. For a large portion of Thursday’s practice, Melifonwu was stuck as the lone deep safety and showed off better flexibility with his hips than one would expect from the 6’4” prospect, as well as above-average range. Melifonwu is working his way into the first round conversation, so I don’t know if he’s going to be in range for the Titans.
And as a bonus, I want to make a quick case for Haason Reddick again today, because I think he would be a great fit with the Titans. At Temple, he played outside linebacker, recording 10.5 sacks in 2016. He was one of a select few players allowed to wear a single-digit jersey number, an honor awarded by a team vote for the toughest players. He embodies many traits that Jon Robinson values: He’s willing to play whatever position a team asks (team-first), was voted one of the toughest players at Temple (toughness), and he played in every game last year (dependable). He was productive (10.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss in 2016), and he brings an element the Titans desperately need on defense with his versatility, speed, and athleticism.
The saddest news of the day for me was Tre’Davious White’s injury. He won’t play in the Senior Bowl on Saturday after turning his ankle on Thursday.
Bonus Noles' Thoughts
First off, I'd like to thank Justin Graver for bringing the heat with some excellent work this week. It appears that MCM will soon be the draft / college football capital of SB Nation and the internets as a result.
This week wouldn't have been as fun to do if the masses of this great site didn't click, share, comment, and read the posts. We appreciate everyone who took the time out of their busy days to give these articles a look.
I will have a mock draft post at some point next week and also re-up on the mailbag style posts shortly (feel free to leave some names for these posts, folks).
Stay tuned for more draft related stuff as this sure to be interesting offseason continues!