2024 Senior Bowl Notes: Wide Receivers Stand Out on Day 1
The 2024 Senior Bowl began Tuesday at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, kicking off the unofficial start of NFL draft season.
For some, it was a day of promise and potential being showcased in front of 32 teams and a hoard of media members. For others, it was a teaching moment, with prospects hoping to do better in the week’s second practice Wednesday.
Let’s dive into what I saw while in the stands.
WRs stand out on Day 1
If your team needs a receiver, this is a good year for it.
While the top receivers—Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers—weren’t in Mobile, there’s plenty of quality at the Senior Bowl.
For the National team, a trio stood out.
For starters, Brenden Rice—son of Jerry Rice—is a big, physical kid who showed the ability to make sharp cuts despite his 6'2", 212-pound frame. Watching him from the stands, he reminded me of Mike Evans in terms of body type and style, with strong hands to match.
Speaking with Rice after practice, the USC product said Evans is one of the receivers he likes to watch on video, and you can see why.
Rice boasts impressive size to pair with strong, sure hands.
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Then there was Florida’s Ricky Pearsall and Michigan’s Roman Wilson. Pearsall was the best route runner on the field for either team Tuesday, consistently shaking corners with a variety of juke moves on multiple routes. He was a force in the SEC, catching 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, and projects nicely as a Day 2 prospect.
As for Wilson, he’s diminutive at 5'10" and 186 pounds, but the former Wolverines star worked himself open repeatedly. Wilson showed nuance in his game, using leverage and quick footwork to create space before making catches. Much like Rice and Pearsall, he’s likely to be a Day 2 receiver.
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Cornerbacks had an uneven day, but there’s reason to look deeper
While the receivers stood out, the cornerbacks on the National team were also notable.
Penn State had a couple of corners on the field Tuesday with Kalen King and Johnny Dixon.
King, who could be a first-round pick depending on his testing, struggled at times during practice, being beaten on a few man-to-man routes in individual drills. However, it’s obvious why he’s highly regarded. King is 5'11" and 189 pounds, and has excellent speed with tight change-of-direction skills.
As for Dixon, he’s a project but one worth watching. Playing plenty against Rice in one-on-one drills, Dixon was repeatedly flagged for his physicality, but that trait is also what makes him interesting.
If an NFL coaching staff can refine him a bit, Dixon is a Day 3 talent with upside. Throughout the practice, the 189-pounder had his problems, but he has smooth footwork and good tools.
Finally, Notre Dame’s Cam Hart was omnipresent. He had an interception in drills and ran very well, blanketing receivers on an array of different routes with his speed. Hart also has exceptional size at 6'2" and 207 pounds.
A three-year starter with the Fighting Irish, Hart could be a nice Day 3 find.
Kansas State tight end shows some serious skills
At 6'4" and 254 pounds, Ben Sinnott has ideal size for a tight end. He also flashed the ability to run seam routes and catch the ball in traffic during team periods for the American side.
Sinnott dazzled with his versatility on Day 1 of practice with the American team.
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Sinnott started two years for Kansas State, catching 80 passes for 1,123 yards and 10 touchdowns while playing a variety of roles for the Wildcats. A willing blocker with good hands, Sinnott doesn’t have the athleticism to wow scouts, but he’s solid in a litany of other aspects.
Watching Sinnott, it’s clear that he has good wiggle in his routes with explosiveness at the top. If drafted into an offense that features a pass-catching tight end, there’s reason to believe Sinnott could start out playing in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) because of his varied skill set before becoming a permanent starter.
In a tight-end draft known for Georgia’s Brock Bowers, Sinnott projects as a top five project at the position in this class with the potential to be a late Day 2 pick, but the likelihood of going on Day 3.
