NFL Draft: Standout defensive players from the 2017 Senior Bowl

*Ralph Mancini and Dan Dahlke both contributed to this article.

NFL general managers, scouts and coaches from all 32 teams were on hand in Mobile, AL this week for the Reese’s Senior Bowl to get a first-hand look at some of the nation’s top prospects in an effort to gauge both their raw physical tools along with their ability to pick up and execute plays and schemes drawn up by the staffs of the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.

What this annual showcase accomplishes above anything else is giving young men from small and/or mid-major colleges an opportunity to exhibit their skills in a spotlight setting that they’re seldom afforded.

This year’s crop of Senior Bowl athletes was a superb one with considerable talent at just about every position with the exceptions of quarterback and offensive tackle.

Some players were placed in the uncomfortable position of playing in a particular technique or coverage that they were accustomed to, but it helped the NFL representatives learn more about what each participant could or couldn’t do, as well as much development they would require overall at the next level.

Lombardiave.com staff writers, Ralph Mancini and Dan Dahlke, provide their list of outstanding performers on defense from Senior Bowl week.

Ralph’s Standout Defensive Linemen

Montravius Adams, Auburn: The 21-year-old SEC enforcer put in solid week of practice, but truly shined during Saturday’s competition, as evidenced by his quickness to shoot through an inside gap and get a hand on Hunt in the first quarter.

In the third quarter, Adams had a role in causing some disruption on a play that saw Beathard cough up the ball with Tyus Bowser coming off the edge.

The former Auburn Tiger went by center Kyle Fuller thanks to his superior quickness off the snap.

Adams showcased outstanding short-area acceleration in dropping his hips and meeting 220-pound straight-line runner De’Veon Smith head-on for the tackle.

The senior’s combination of quick hands, strong lower body and burst make him an intriguing prospect that has first-round talent.

Although he’s listed at 308-pounds, you would never know that with his natural agility to sidestep blockers, chase down plays and penetrate the opposing backfield.

While he played 4-3 nose tackle in college, his physical tools and style of play suggest that he is more of a one-gap defensive tackle than a 3-4 two-gapper.

Another plus with Adams is his durability considering that he ranks second all-time among Auburn Tigers in games played with 52. In addition, he finished his college career with 26 consecutive starts.

The only concerns with Adams are his occasional struggles with leverage and some bouts of overall laziness and/or fatigue when his jump off the ball isn’t as quick as it can be.

Carlos Watkins, Clemson: You won’t find many interior linemen that can match the power and versatility of the 305-pound Watkins, who registered 8.5 sacks for the ACC powerhouse Clemson Tigers.

In many ways, Watkins is still a ball of clay that’s needs to be molded and refined given his penchant for exposing his legs and opening up his chest to blockers that may not have his strength, but can beat him with technique.

The 23-year-old took well to coaching provided by NFL personnel on hand in Mobile and turned in a strong performance on Saturday by consistently staying low and firing off the ball, as he did on a first-quarter 2nd-and-2 run by Hunt.

Watkins knocked his man back with a stunning jolt which offered the ball carrier nowhere to run to on a play that lost four yards.

The defensive tackle later used his bull rush to force Peterman to step up into the pocket and throw.

Watkins’ raw power and agility to come around the edge on stunts are tools that can help him wreak havoc on an offense.

But for this to happen, he’ll need to continue building up his lower body and sharpen up his technique in terms of hand placement, leverage and his get-off.

The redshirt senior ideally projects as 4-3 defensive tackle that could sneak into the group of prospects selected in Day 2.

Jaleel Johnson, Iowa: The 6-foot-2, 310 pounds had his moments during Senior Bowl week and won most of his battles with quickness. The Big-Ten trenchman is, in fact, very fleet of foot for a man of his dimensions and was able to consistently get around his opponents.

During the game, Johnson applied some inside heat on Webb and really stood out on a pass play in which the former Hawkeye put himself in position to wrestle down the opposing quarterback, who was looking to escape the rush by scrambling upfield.

The Brooklyn, NY native excels as a one-gap penetrator that can get his man to turn sideways in pass-blocking situations especially when he initiates contact by aggressively putting his hands on the player in front of him.

Once he gains momentum, he can obliterate blockers with his powerful leg drive.

His issues are exposed when Johnson plays the run, as he tends to get hung up on blocks. This happens when the offensive lineman turns into the aggressor by getting his hands on the defender first.

When this happens, Johnson can totally disappear from games. There were some games during the 2016 season when the three-year starter looked like he was going through the motions.

Was this due to laziness or did his bouts of lackluster play happen as a result of him getting discouraged against certain opponents?

Was he maybe saving himself for the NFL?

It’s hard to say, but Johnson certainly isn’t the first or the last defensive lineman accused of taking plays off.

JJ is probably well aware of the fact that he needs to get stronger in the upper body, as well as being more consistent with his hand usage.

But an athlete with his movement skills and balance has the kind of upside NFL teams covet. Look for Johnson to go somewhere in the middle rounds.

Dan’s Standout Defensive Linemen

Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA: The 6-foot-3, 320-pound defensive tackle was disruptive at the line of scrimmage thought the week. Vanderdoes continually won against his man and showed good power and quickness in both team periods and one-on-one drills.

In the Senior Bowl game, Vanderdoes continued his strong performance with three strong run strops and several other plays where he shed his man and forced the run in another direction.

Vanderdoes has a surprising explosive first step, and he has the size and strength to anchor the middle of the defensive line.

He does need to be more disciplined in holding the point of attack instead of always looking to make he play, but regardless, he has the skillset to be a good defensive lineman in the NFL.

Chris Wormley, Michigan: Wormley was the top-rated defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. His combination of size (6-5, 297) and athleticism make him a special talent.

Despite having a nondescript Senior Bowl performance, Wormley really stood out in practice throughout the week. He was only the defensive lineman who beat top guard Dan Feeney in one-on-one drills.

Wormley has the size, length, and upfield explosive ability to be a tremendous five-technique defensive end in the NFL. He’s stout against the run and can two-gap, as well as generate a pass rush on third downs.

Because of all the top-end talent that was on Michigan’s defense this past season, Wormley often gets overlooked when it came to draft hype. However, the versatile defensive lineman should go in the first two rounds this spring.

Ralph’s Standout Edge Rushers

Vince Biegel, Wisconsin: The fiery 3-4 pass rusher continually went to his trademark spin move during pass rush drills and was successful doing so in beating Julie’n Davenport and Dion Dawkins.

Biegel saved his best for Saturday by forcing a fumble in the first quarter by ramming Matt Dayes from behind.

He continued to impress in the second quarter by using his quick and violent hands to strike his blocker in the chest and turn him sideways. Although, the play resulted in a completed pass, Beigel’s effort was remarkable nevertheless.

The 242-pound linebacker victimized Davenport with yet another spin move in the third quarter forcing Webb to throw his incomplete pass earlier than he planned.

Two plays later, Biegel disengaged from his blocker and occupied Jamaal Williams’ running lane which forced the running back to redirect on a carry that went for no gain.

The two-time all-conference pick lacks elite burst, but has the moves and hand usage to beat bigger blockers off the edge.

But hands and technique with no power may limit him to being a special-teams player in the NFL.

Biegel in this writer’s opinion has more to offer at the next level than simply being a special-teams grunt. His ability to read plays and shoot the gaps can make him a force versus the run.

The former Badger has the heart and passion to maximize his physical tools and it remains to be seen what type of player he can become once he puts on a few pounds of good weight.

Extra size will surely help his ability to gain leverage on big tackles, which he already does now with technique.

Derek Rivers, Youngstown: The man with the big “Y” on his helmet had a lot to prove given the small-school status of Youngstown State, but the 250-pound rush end created quite a buzz during Senior Bowl week.

One concern he addressed was his ability to support the run by showing enough range and power to set the edge.

On game day, Rivers turned up the intensity starting at about the 3-minute mark of the first quarter by applying pressure on Josh Dobbs. Two plays later, he beat tackle Justin Senior with a power move that allowed the edge rusher to hit the quarterback and thus forcing him to uncork a bad pass that went for an interception.

Senior overset too far upfield that gave Rivers the opportunity to knock his man off balance using his explosive burst.

The disruptive force was at it again in the third quarter when he was able to get the outside shoulder of 6-foot-8 tackle Conor McDermott, who underset and gave the defender enough room to fly around him for the sack.

Rivers also demonstrated effort and range in tracking down Artavis Scott on a short pass in which the linebacker chased down the receiver inside out.

In addition to his natural power and burst, the rising prospect features the ability to bend and flatten once he penetrates the backfield.

Don’t be surprised to hear his name called on Day Two this April.

Tarrell Basham, Ohio: The MAC conference MVP delivered a scintillating three days of practice by continually winning his one-on-one battles against some of the biggest athletes on the college stage, such as USC’s Zach Banner, who checks in at 6-foot-8, 361 pounds.

During Day 2 practices, Basham skillfully beat Banner inside by working his way underneath the larger-than-life bookend.

The 259-pound disruptor was also seen getting by blockers with his exhilarating get-off which was unmatched among his fellow edge defenders.

But the other quality that makes Basham a potentially special player in the pros is the devastating power generated by his hands while engaging his blockers. He was, in fact, pushing bigger linemen back throughout the week.

What scouts also like about the University of Ohio product is his all-out effort. The game means something to him which may sound like a cliché, but it’s an important trait that often separates the ones that make it from the prospects that quickly fizzle out.

Dan’s Standout Edge Rushers

Jordan Willis, Kansas St: Willis had an impressive showing on Saturday, recording two sacks, two forced fumbles, four hurries, and a pass breakup. Willis possesses good first step quickness, which helps him win on the edge, and this was well on display all week.

In the middle of the second quarter Willis beat USC tackle Zach Banner around the edge to hit North quarterback C.J. Beathard and record his first strip-sack. On the final play of the first half, Willis sacked Beathard again, forcing a second fumble. This time it came against left tackle Adam Bisnowaty.

Willis possess good burst off the edge, and his long 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame helps him disengage from offensive lineman. He does need to develop more counter moves, but the physical tools are there to be a good edge defender in the NFL.

It will be interesting to see how he tests at the Combine next month. It’s still unclear at this point whether or not he can make the transformation to 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL and drop in coverage.

Carroll Phillips, Illinois: Similarly, Phillips is another college defensive end that may have to make the transition to outside linebacker in the NFL. At 6-foot-3 and 237 pounds, Phillips will certainly have to adjust to playing in space at the next level.

Despite leading Illinois with nine sacks, many viewed his teammate Dewuane Smoot as the better edge rusher prospect coming into this week.

However, Phillips made a strong case for himself with his performance down in Mobile. According to Pauline, “Phillips showed terrific speed, quickness and athleticism. He fired up the field rushing the passer, easily changed direction and was fast pursuing the action laterally. He also did a solid job dropping off the line of scrimmage in coverage drills and covered a lot of area.”

After a strong week of practice, Phillips flashed in the Senior Bowl game. He beat highly-tauted UCLA tackle Connor McDermott around the corner to sack South quarterback Antonio Pipkin for an eight yard loss. The play highlighted how explosive Phillips is out of his stance. It also demonstrated his ability to create pressure from a the outside linebacker position.

Phillips certainly helped his draft stock this past week. His ability as a pass rusher is already well documented with his game tape, but the fact he showed he can move well in space and hold up in pass coverage will make him a draft day target for 3-4 teams.

Ralph’s Standout Linebackers

Alex Anzalone, Florida: The high-motor defender is fun to watch and had himself quite a week in Mobile by doing a great job of reading the plays in front of him and finding the football.

What he showed on the practice field is exactly what fans and coaches saw in the actual game with Anzalone flashing the ability to get out in space and instantly meet the ball carrier, as he did on a third-quarter screen to fullback Sam Rogers.

At 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, the underclassman certainly fits the bill from a size perspective. But unlike most defenders his size, he is very capable in both man and zone coverage.

He is also big and versatile enough to blitz up the middle or off the edge, as well as play inside or outside linebacker.

This is due to the fact that Anzalone is a student of the game that uses his superior recognition skills to diagnose the offense.

Like most college prospects, the Pennsylvania-born NFL hopeful needs to get stronger in order to fight off blockers.

This would have been a bigger issue in 1977, but in 2017 speed trumps power for linebackers that play off the ball.

The only thing that will make general managers think long and hard before investing a high pick on this SEC stud is his history with shoulder injuries.

The medicals could be the difference between Anzalone going in the third round or falling all the way to the sixth round.

Haason Reddick, Temple: The converted college defensive end was far and away the player that saw his stock soar higher than anyone else among his peers in sunny Mobile.

In fact, one could have made a three-minute Youtube video of the plays he executed in his weekday practice sessions.

The 6-foot-1 ½”, 237-pound defender made a seamless transition to linebacker by flashing the traits to be a scheme-versatile Jack-of-all-trades that can cover kicks, drop into coverage and rush the passer both as an edge rusher and an off-the-ball blitzer.

In coverage drills, he made instant contact with Hunt off the line and thus negated giving up the two-way go to the running back.

Hunt was once again victimized in pass-rush drills when Reddick got the better of his opponent with an arm-over move to penetrate the pocket.

On another rush, he dipped under and around the 6-foot-8, 361-pound (Zach) Banner on a play that would have undoubtedly resulted in a sack in a real-life game.

The Temple Owls’ representative made another fine play in coverage by sniffing out a tunnel screen to Michigan wide receiver Amara Darboh, who had nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide.

Reddick is every defensive coordinator’s dream in that he projects as a three-down playmaker who brings the added ingredient of toughness to the field.

Dan’s Standout Linebackers

Duke Riley, LSU: Riley was active throughout the game on Saturday, recording a team-high seven tackles, including one for loss. The former LSU linebacker may not have been the flashiest player on the field, but he was definitely one of the most consistent throughout the week.

Every day of practice he showcased his superb football instincts, swarming to the ball carrier in run defending drills, while also holding up well in pass coverage.

Riley stacks and sheds well for a linebacker of his size (6-1, 230), but he also possesses really good speed and athleticism. He’s a good run-and-chase linebacker with the ability to make a lot of stops in pursuit. In the first quarter of the game he even had a nice run stop where he ran down North halfback Kareem Hunt outside the tackle box to stop the run for no gain.

Riley’s quick read and reaction ability give him an edge as a run defender. With his strong performance in Mobile, he solidified himself as a mid-round pick in the draft.

Harvey Langi, BYU: Langi is another South linebacker that stood out in run defense drills throughout the week. At 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds, Langi is a former college defensive end who made his debut at linebacker in the Cougars’ final game of the 2016 season.

Langi is still relatively new to the position and feeling his way through the transition, but he shows a lot more promise. He has a knack for reading run progressions and flowing to the ball.

He also has the speed to track down ball carriers in pursuit. During the first quarter of Saturday’s game, Langi showed good lateral movement and quickness to hustle to the sideline and take down running back Kareem Hunt for a two-yard loss.

With a background as an edge rusher, Langi demonstrates good upfield explosiveness and ability to take-on and shed blocks. He also held up reasonably well in coverage drills, which shows promise that his transition to linebacker will work out nicely for him at the next level.

His high-motor, physical playing style translates well to the inside linebacker position.

Ralph’s Standout Defensive Backs

Lorenzo Jerome, St. Francis: The rangy safety from little ole Saint Francis University mixed it up with the big boys and earned the respect of several NFL representatives in attendance.

In practice drills, he showcased his coverage chops by staying tight with an opposing tight end and getting his hand in front of the pass catcher to slap the ball away.

On game day, he recorded two interceptions with the first occurring on a Josh Dobbs misthrow late in the first-quarter where Jerome exhibited great awareness along with the ability to track the ball in the air.

On his second pickoff, the small-school revelation read quarterback Antonio Pipkin’s eyes and put himself in position to register his second turnover by leaping up for the pass in the end zone.

However, his best play arguably took place on a Josh Reynolds end-around in which Jerome wasn’t fooled by the misdirection and closely pursued the wide receiver from behind and forced him to cough up the ball.

That particular sequence was proof that the 5-foot-11 safety has the ability to attack the line of scrimmage by coming downhill.

Jerome projects as a centerfielder type that can cover lots of ground, but also displays the toughness and overall competitive drive to make pass catchers fight for every ball that he can get to.

The one-time high school quarterback is also quite a weapon as a return man on kickoffs and punts. Over the years, he’s shown fearlessness and vision in that role.

But while Jerome has the speed to cover opponents deep, one has to wonder if his size will be a hindrance in terms of how he might match up versus NFL tight ends.

Expect the pride of Sunrise, FL to be selected anywhere from rounds three through five, although that projection might be conservative if he tears things up at the NFL Combine in March.

Cameron Sutton, Tennessee: The 5-foot-11, 186-pound defensive back lined up at corner and safety in Mobile and acquitted himself well at both positions.

For one, he looked very capable in man coverage by consistently being physical at the line and often putting himself in position to undercut the receiver which is a testament to his anticipatory skills.

As a safety, Sutton demonstrated his range to cover the field from sideline to sideline.

But while versatility is a valuable trait, there is more of a need for corners that can cancel out wideouts in man coverage—a definite area of strength for Sutton.

In addition to jabbing his man off the line in press coverage, the former three-star recruit from Jonesboro, GA possesses the ability to turn with receivers due to his fluid hips.

Moreover, Sutton is very adept at tracking deep passes and making plays on balls at their highest point.

His combination of confidence, athletic ability and attention to detail in the film room allow him to play with the awareness to turn his head when the ball is coming toward him which is great way to avoid pass-interference calls.

The 22-year-old cover man also boasts three touchdowns as a punt returner during his time in Knoxville.

So what’s preventing this multi-skilled defender from being a first-round pick?

Mainly his size given the fact that that he isn’t very sturdy at a weight that’s well under 200 pounds. Furthermore, the preseason All-SEC selection missed time in 2016 with a fractured ankle.

Sutton can also improve in run support, as he’ll occasionally miss tackles by dropping his head and leading with his shoulder.

Tre’ Davious White, LSU: While those covering the Senior Bowl on the NFL Network often proclaimed O.J. Howard as the first player to be selected in this year’s draft, the truth is there is a higher demand for lockdown corners than there are for pass-catching tight ends—no matter how big and talented he may be.

White has long been projected as a first-round pick and did nothing but confirm his standing in Mobile.

During practice sessions, No. 18 applied tight coverage throughout, including on one rep where he stuck with Ryan Switzer all the way through his route and even turned his head around before the ball’s arrival.

Scouts surely made note of White’s length, quick feet and overall confidence in playing his position.

From a technique standpoint, the four-year starter maintains a low and balanced backpedal with the ability to turn with his man down the field.

White can also be physical at the line of scrimmage by disrupting the man facing him.

Those that doubt his ability to lock up quality receivers may want to look up the job he did on Amari Cooper in an SEC showdown versus Alabama in 2014.

Success didn’t come easy to the first-team All-SEC pick in that he struggled mightily as a freshman in Baton Rouge before he ascended to being one of the top cover corners in the nation.

White doesn’t have elite speed, but his sharp instincts allow him to achieve proper positioning.

The 22-year-old’s aggressive nature can make him a little too grabby at times which is the one area of concern with this potential star-in-the-making.

Rasul Douglas, West Virginia: If you want to watch an entertaining highlight reel, go look up Douglas, who is among the most aggressive corners in pass coverage and gets his hands on lots of balls as a result.

Blessed with great length at 6-foot-2 with 32 1/8” arms, the former West Virginia Mountaineer finished his week of practices with a bang by putting some of his best attributes on grand display on Day 3.

In a one-on-one drill, Douglas did a tremendous job in staying with an opponent in his route and using his instincts to break on the ball and dive in front of his man to break up the pass.

His physical coverage against Darboh by getting his hands on the Big-Ten receiver was also a welcome sight given the fact that press coverage isn’t his best quality.

The New Jersey native is more of a bail technique defender that specializes in reading the quarterback’s movements and breaking on slants as well as sideline routes.

In terms of ball skills, Douglas not only gets to a lot of balls, but he tucks them away for interceptions. He, in fact, led the nation in that category with eight in his senior year.

He has a receiver’s mentality when the ball is in the air and believes it’s just as much his property and as it is the offensive player’s. That style of play makes him very effective in defending jump balls.

Douglas’ technique needs a bit of refinement since he tends to stay high in his backpedal which often leads to balance issues for many cornerbacks.

Some teams will look at this prospect’s size and disruptive gambler’s approach and envision the next Richard Sherman.

Douglas’ performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in March may tell the tale of how high he will go in the draft.

There are lots of GMs that want to see him test well.

Dan’s Standout Defensive Backs

John Johnson, Boston College: Both of my standout defensive backs for the week come at the safety position. Admittedly, Johnson wasn’t on my draft radar prior to Senior Bowl week, and I thought every little of it when I saw him on the accepted invites list.

However, the former Boston College defensive back looked really impressive in one-on-one drills and team periods. He moved like a cornerback in space, while showcasing top tier cover ability.

Johnson really helped his draft stock in Mobile. He made several plays in coverage throughout the week and showed excellent range and ball skills defending the back end. He also made a nice tackle in punt coverage in Saturday’s game, showing his versatility.

Teams will also like his size (6-1, 205) and ability to move smoothly in space, as well as his ability to hold up in man coverage. He should make a strong case for the middle rounds of the draft.

Obi Melifonwu, UConn: From a physical standpoint, there may have not been a more impressive player in Mobile than safety Melifonwu. Weighing in at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, the former Husky defensive back was the talk of Mobile throughout the week.

Repeatedly during team periods in practice Melifonwu stormed downhill and met backs at the line of scrimmage in run support. He shows an assertiveness against the run that makes him an excellent box safety. In Saturday’s game, he recorded three tackles and a forced fumble.

Melifonwu also did well in coverage drills during practice. While he’s not best in man coverage, he does have the field awareness and ball skills to make plays dropping in zone.

His height and length also help him when defending tight ends down the seam or bigger receivers on the boundary.

The UConn product certainly got the attention of scouts with his week down in Mobile. Considering his rare measurables and athleticism, he could rise up draft boards in the coming months, especially if he tests well at the Combine.

Check out our Standout Offensive Players from the Senior Bowl