Five Georgia Tech players named to Senior Bowl watchlist

The Senior Bowl is one of the premier events leading up to the NFL Draft

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Aug 23, 2023 12:55 PM EDT

In this story:

The Reeses Senior Bowl is perhaps the premier event when it comes to NFL Draft prep and several future NFL stars participate there every January in front of NFL coaches and front office people. Last year, Keion White went to Mobile (AL) and participated in the Senior Bowl practices, and was taken in the second round of the NFL draft by the New England Patriots.

This year, the Yellow Jackets could have as many as five players participate in Senior Bowl practices and the game. The 2024 Senior Bowl watchlist was released today and safety LaMiles Brooks, cornerback Kenyatta Watson, tight end Dylan Leonard, offensive lineman Jordan Williams, and defensive end Sylvain Yondjouen are among the Georgia Tech players being looked at to participate in next year's Senior Bowl.

I think that Brooks has a chance to be Georgia Tech's 1st first-round draft pick since 2010. PFF (Pro Football Focus) is also high on Brooks entering the 2023 season and had him as one of the five highest-graded returning safeties in the country this season.

Brooks finished as the highest-graded player on Georgia Tech last according to PFF (Pro Football Focus) and his coverage grade of 86.8 was good for 21st in the country and fourth in the ACC. He finished as the 23rd highest-graded safety in the country according to PFF last season.

Brooks finished the season with 52 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions.

Williams was a starter on the offensive line last year and showed his versatility by playing both right guard and right tackle. He spoke at this year's ACC media days about being the new leader on the line:

"It's definitely a newer feeling. Especially coming off of playing as a true freshman and having somebody tell me what to do for most of the plays my freshman year. Then looking at where I'm at now, I'm in a position to where I can hopefully give out some useful tips to the freshmen or anything, but really any tips I give out or something, it's either something Coach Key told me or something that sounds good enough that Coach Key told me. If he is around me, I look at him, and he will give me a little... That's really how it goes with the leadership. It's really for me watching film and giving them coaching tips on film."

Yondjouen has a chance to be the top pass rusher and defensive end on Georgia Tech this season. He was actually asked if he had an eye on the NFL yet, but Yondjouen said that was not his main focus going into 2023:

"I am focused on this season and getting better. Personally, watching myself growing up the past four years and in this camp also, I am coming back in the meetings and listen to what Coach (Marco) Coleman says, even if it is another position and making sure that I have those notes too. Perfecting my craft, I know that is what the biggest point of this camp, making sure that I do my job and I do it right. Coach Coleman and Coach (Andrew) Thacker want that for the defense and that is what we are focused on right now."

Leonard is back for his last season at Georgia Tech and is looking to lead the tight end room this year in Buster Faulkner's offenses.

Kenyatta Watson is currently competing for a starting role at cornerback opposite Myles Sims and was recently named to Bruce Feldman's Freaks List:

"The son of a former Boston College wide receiver by the same name who later played for the Dallas Cowboys, Kenyatta II began his college career at Texas and played two seasons at Texas, totaling nine tackles with two passes broken up. The 6-1 1/2, 195-pound corner has vertical-jumped 45 inches and done 11-2 in the broad jump. This year, he ran 22.94 MPH.

“He is a real athletic Freak,” says Georgia Tech strength coach A.J. Artis. “He can run a 4.2 (40) and he squats 500 pounds.”

The 2024 Senior Bowl will be played on February 3rd, 2024 in Mobile, AL.

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