3) Deep D-line class exhibits out. Popping out of the Senior Bowl practices, it grew to become clear that the defensive position expertise was the actual bumper crop on the occasion — and Saturday was no exception. A number of of the large names who confirmed out in the course of the week bowed out previous to Saturday’s recreation, however the subsequent wave of expertise stepped up in a giant means.
LSU’s Sai’vion Jones (6-5, 289) made a number of performs within the backfield early within the recreation, together with two large tackles for loss. He additionally pressured Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel on a close to decide by Georgia’s Smael Mondon Jr. late within the first quarter. Then Jones simply missed a sack within the third quarter, beating Texas Tech’s Caleb Rogers off the snap, with Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen cleansing it up.
Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, who had a tricky first day of observe however rallied all through the week, completed robust with a great outing. His strip sack late within the first half, going proper round Alabama A&M’s Carson Vinson to knock the ball away from Dart, gave the ball again to the Nationwide Crew.
Central Arkansas’ David Walker, who had 39 sacks in 45 school video games, opened eyes in the course of the week along with his brief, thick body, persistently working his means into the backfield. That carried over within the recreation, batting down a Dart cross proper earlier than the half and sacking Milroe for a 7-yard loss on third down.
Utah’s Junior Tafuna (two sacks, recovered fumble) and Oluwafemi Oladejo (two sacks) additionally stood out.
4) Gordon, Harvey lead RB group — together with with their arms. It is usually onerous for operating backs to face out in Senior Bowl practices, particularly the larger backs. It is simply the character of the occasion, the place they do not actually go along with full contact in the course of the week.
The sport, nevertheless, is a distinct story. And Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II and UCF’s RJ Harvey weren’t about to be denied their moments. Every again threw for a landing within the recreation, in addition to standing out in different methods.
The 6-1, 233-pound Gordon was one of many early offensive stars for the Nationwide Crew, with some good runs on the opening drive. Then he unleashed a surprising halfback cross to Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins for a 32-yard TD.
All-star recreation guidelines are a bit of completely different, and gimmicky stuff is not normally allowed. However the throw was a magnificence, and nobody was taking it away from Gordon. He completed with 9 rushes for 33 yards, even with a 4-yard loss the place he had no shot of creating something out of it. He added a 3-yard catch within the purple zone and ran onerous in his restricted possibilities, placing a constructive end on his week.
Harvey was the shortest again at this 12 months’s Senior Bowl at a shade beneath 5-8, however his 207-pound construct permits him to run by means of contact. He authored the longest run within the recreation at 15 yards within the third quarter, and he matched Gordon’s passing brilliance with a 25-yard TD cross to Maryland’s Tai Felton, reducing the Nationwide result in 19-16 within the fourth quarter. Harvey completed with 4 rushes for twenty-four yards.
The sport’s different backs have been largely held in verify. However Gordon and Harvey each confirmed out in sudden methods.
