Senior Bowl Day One: Alec Pierce Scorches and Myjai Sanders Makes an Impact

CINCINNATI — The first day of 2022 Senior Bowl practices kicked off on Tuesday, and a few Bearcats are turning heads. Alec Pierce, Myjai Sanders, Darrian Beavers, and Coby Bryant all stood out to evaluators on Day One.

Pierce is one of the most athletic big-target receivers in this class, and it showed in his first practice surrounded by his peers. No receiver was clocked at a faster speed in National Team practice.

WRs leading the way thus far in terms of top speeds.
Alec Pierce - 19.82 mph
Bo Melton - 18.41 mph
Romeo Doubs - 17.86 mph@ZebraTechnology #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/6LSAiwusst
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) February 1, 2022

#Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce with the nice route as 1on1s begin pic.twitter.com/2ALzOXHEZR
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) February 1, 2022

Alec Pierce is looking more fluid than expected so far @seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/eUsHNASXUS
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 1, 2022

Pierce's defensive teammates also showed out well in their first team practice reps since the Cotton Bowl. Sanders performed well on Tuesday, showing a nice bend around the edge and power on this rep against the 6-foot-9, 380-pound Daniel Faalele.

Short corner from Faalele. Sanders put him on his back the next rep with a bull-rush pic.twitter.com/SXzcD2pqpr
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 1, 2022

DL drill to show off bend and flexibility. Top 4 guys who stood out to me all in a row here.

Myjai Sanders (52), Logan Hall (92), Arnold Ebiketie (17) and Perrion Winfrey (98). pic.twitter.com/zTYq77h6jO
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) February 1, 2022

The athleticism from Sanders showed up in team drills as well on this blown-up toss play.

Toss play; Myjai Sanders whoops Jake Ferguson @draftrite_atb @ATB_network pic.twitter.com/fwop1hyDjQ
— Mitch Wolfe (@MitchellTWolfe) February 1, 2022

"Myjai Sanders," ESPN's Todd McShay said on this week's "First Draft" podcast. "Is another guy who is probably going to be in that early second-round range. His sack production was kind of head-scratching this year...But just do me a favor. If you want to know about one player in one game turn on the Alabama game. I know Cincinnati lost in the semifinal in the Cotton Bowl, but he had 10 pressures out of 27 pass-rush snaps in that game.

"He was such a big force in terms of Cincinnati, what they were trying to do with the pass rush. It didn't matter in the end result, but you got to see a lot of tape against a pretty good offensive line...Myjai Sanders had a really good game against Alabama in the semifinal, and I'm excited to see him against some really good offensive linemen."

Sanders is meeting those expectations in Mobile after Day One as he tries to build his draft profile into first-round material.

Next up on the highlighted players is Beavers, who showed sound play in the passing game, both in coverage and rushing a familiar passer.

Solid coverage by ⁦@GoBearcatsFB⁩ LB Darrian Beavers on this play. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/ascR3GKqbr
— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) February 1, 2022

Bearcat on Bearcat crime as LB Darrian Beavers had the sack on a scrambling Desmond Ridder. #SeniorBowl
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) February 1, 2022

Darrian Beavers (#Cincy LB) with the fantastic coverage rep on Trey McBride, really impressed with the quickness and physicality he put together here. pic.twitter.com/VZPfxdxAiR
— Ben Glassmire (@BenGlassmireNFL) February 2, 2022

Finally, reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant proved why he's a lock to hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Patient press coverage from Cincinnati CB Coby Bryant on this one-on-one rep versus Ole Miss WR Braylon Sanders. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/4NEdgp1gNt
— Cole Topham (@crtopham_) February 1, 2022

Coby Bryant has been playing really well. Great footing and keeps up with his assignment. #SeniorBowl
— Ali Ashraf (@loyalnyjetfans) February 1, 2022

First National Team (Jets) practice coming to a close at the @seniorbowl. Liked what I saw from Coby Bryant (Cincinnati DB), Rachaad White (ASU RB), and Christian Watson (NDSU WR). American Team (Lions) up next! pic.twitter.com/FvrZjIbTrI
— David Harrison (@DHarrison82) February 1, 2022

Those three weren't the only Bearcats showing off their skills on Tuesday. Check out this pretty deep ball from one Bearcat to another.

Desmond Ridder ➡️ Jerome Ford@seniorbowl

(🎥: @NickFaberNFL)pic.twitter.com/IwM2vjT2e0
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 1, 2022

Representing at the @seniorbowl. 😎#Bearcats | #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/PvG69h2Ao7
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) February 1, 2022

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