Shrine Bowl Stock Report: Risers, Fallers & Notes from Falcons’ East Team
LAS VEGAS – The Atlanta Falcons coaching staff has spent the last week overseeing the East team at the annual East-West Shrine Bowl, one of the premiere draft showcase events for the best seniors in college football.
Along with the New England Patriots, who are leading the West team, the Falcons have been working hands-on with prospects from around the country. General manager Terry Fontenot noted the scenario gives Atlanta a chance to see how players carry themselves in meetings, take notes, carry that onto the field and adjust throughout the week – “subtle things” that make a big difference in the evaluation process.
While Fontenot naturally declined the invitation to single out players who stood out, he made sure to stress the importance of being able to coach the East team while assessing the week from his perspective.
“It's been great,” Fontenot said. “I really appreciate the league giving us this opportunity. And it's really twofold, the opportunity to do some different things with the staff and people have different roles. And so the opportunity for us to grow and develop, and also having access to these players, and a lot of good football players out here gets us to get a different level of access than the other 30 teams are getting.”
There were several scouts, agents and decision makers from around the league in attendance, but only the Patriots can truly match the knowledge Atlanta’s been able to gain this week – making it a truly “great” opportunity.
And even though Fontenot didn’t name standouts, the on-field play at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Las Vegas Raiders practice facility spoke for itself.
Here’s a position-by-position rundown of the players who helped – and hurt – their stock the most on the Falcons-led East team.
Quarterback
Stock Up: Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan
Entering the week with little outside buzz, Morgan impressed with his arm talent and straight-line speed. Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell also had a good week, though he was viewed as the top signal caller on either side; his stock remains pointing upwards.
Stock Down: Fordham’s Tim DeMorat
While DeMorat improved throughout the week, his arm wasn’t as strong as the other passers on the East team and he had more turnover-worthy throws than either.
Running Back
Stock Up: Tulsa’s Deneric Prince
From the start of the first practice, Prince was the best runner on the East – and may have been the best overall back regardless of team. He was consistently stout in pass catching drills, held his own as a blocker and broke big runs in the team portion.
Stock Down: Utah’s Tavion Thomas
At 247 pounds, Thomas is a big back who moves well for his size … but really struggled finishing at the catch point, dropping several balls throughout the week. He was solid as expected as a blocker but seems to lack the pass catching skill set needed to be a three-down runner.
Receiver
Stock Up: Fresno State’s Jalen Cropper, North Carolina’s Antoine Green, Maryland’s Jacob Copeland
The East team’s receivers were consistently strong; Cropper impressed with his burst and fluidity regardless of the drill, Green hauled in multiple catches beyond his frame and Copeland showed nuance and hands in addition to his already-present versatility.
Wake Forest’s A.T. Perry was the best wideout on the East and was outstanding in interviews, but like O’Connell, he entered the week with that expectation and only cemented it rather than uplifting it like the others.
Stock Down: Clemson’s Joseph Ngata
After being elevated from the NFLPA game, Ngata seemed to struggle creating space; it’s certainly possible his legs were a bit dead from the week before.
Arkansas wideout Jadon Haselwood isn’t trending negatively, but he had several drops that are cause for concern. Haselwood showed explosiveness and was consistently open but the inability to finish was frustrating.
Tight End
Stock Up: All four – Wake Forest’s Blake Whiteheart, Central Michigan’s Joel Wilson, Cincinnati’s Leonard Taylor and Michigan State’s Daniel Barker.
It’s difficult to find faults with this group. Whiteheart was consistently one of the better players in attendance and may have helped his stock the most, but the others were also very good.
Wilson showed athleticism, separation and made an impressive concentration catch on the last day, Taylor dropped one pass all week and often created space from safeties and Barker wowed with his athleticism and quickness as a route runner.
As the Falcons enter the offseason looking for a No. 2 tight end, each of these four should be considered prime candidates come April.
Offensive Line
Stock Up: Maryland’s Spencer Anderson, Penn State’s Juice Scruggs
Anderson played all five offensive line spots in college, is undefeated in press, was a good interview and consistently performed the best of all East offensive lineman. Scruggs was not far behind, showing lateral quickness and the ability to hold up against bigger, more powerful nose tackles.
Anderson singled out UCLA guard/center Jon Gaines, who was added on the second day, as the most impressive teammate he played with.
Stock Down: Oregon’s Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Kansas’ Earl Bostick Jr.
Both Aumavae-Laulu and Bostick Jr. had good reps at times as run blockers but neither consistently showed up in pass protection drills.
Defensive Line
Stock Up: Texas’ Moro Ojomo, West Virginia’s Dante Stills, Campbell’s Brevin Allen
Ojomo and Stills won seemingly every rep they took all week, be it team or one-on-ones. Allen was one of a host of small-school players who stood out, joining Stephen F. Austin’s BJ Thompson and Ferris State’s Caleb Murphy.
Stock Down: Brodric Martin, Western Kentucky
A 330-pound nose tackle, Martin entered with the reputation of being a run-first player who needed to show the ability to rush the passer, but he largely struggled in the one-on-ones.
Linebacker
Stock Up: Michigan State’s Ben VanSumeren
A steady tackler inside, VanSumeren showed stout coverage ability and foot quickness, especially on the final day of practices.
Stock Down: Tennessee’s Jeremy Banks
Perhaps the most talented player in the East’s linebacker room, Banks had a few difficult reps in coverage drills and was on the receiving end of an effort-based quip from Falcons linebackers coach Frank Bush.
Cornerback
Stock Up: Texas’ D’Shawn Jamison, Louisville’s Kei’Trel Clark
Two East team receivers mentioned Jamison as the best corner they faced during the week, while one threw Clark’s name into the mix. Undersized but quick and feisty, the duo stayed in phase more times than not.
Coastal Carolina’s Lance Boykin had an up-and-down few days and struggled matching vertical speed but had a stellar final session, breaking up one pass and intercepting another.
Western Kentucky’s Kahlef Hailassie was another player who entered with little hype but consistently showed up on the positive end of plays.
Missed Opportunities: LSU’s Mekhi Garner and San Jose State’s Nehemiah Shelton
Neither Garner nor Shelton were bad – and their stocks are largely around the same as when they entered – but both players entered with a chance to catapult their stocks due to their build and college production and largely remained neutral.
Safety
Stock Up: Houston’s Gervarrius Owens
From start to finish, Owens was largely the best safety on the East team, winning reps in both man and zone coverage regardless of one-on-ones or team drills.
A.J. Finley of Ole Miss had a stellar second day with three interceptions but he was a bit more up-and-down in coverage; nonetheless, Finley certainly stood out.
Stock Down: Houston’s Art Green, Boise State’s Tyreque Jones
Green and Jones seemed to have the hardest time sticking with receivers in drills as neither seemed particularly fluid or explosive.
Final Notes:
Eastern Michigan outside linebacker Jose Ramirez is considered to be a late-fourth to early-sixth round draft pick by teams, per source.
Grand Valley State offensive tackle Quinton Barrrow told Falcon Report that teams have him as a Day 3 prospect (rounds four to seven) with the result largely depending on how the week went; there were flashes of promise and other spurts that showed great need of development, so he’ll likely wind up in the latter part of Day 3.
The East team was decimated by injuries, as nine players - including Georgia receiver Kearis Jackson - were out by the third day of practice.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
Get your HOTlanta Falcons game tickets from SI Tickets ... here!
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.
Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.
Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the Si.com team page here
