Every pre-Senior Bowl week, I do a preview scouting on each prospect attending. It’s a 30–60-minute review on each prospect (except OLs) of some of their background, looking over their college career outputs, and watching 15-20+ minutes of game tape and highlight reels, etc. It’s just the early stages of the scouting process. For many of the top names here we’ll preview again ahead of the NFL Combine and then do extensive work on many prospects after the Combine all the way through to August…on top of scouting them at the Senior Bowl week.
So, these positional preview scouting bytes…it’s a first reaction, a first handshake intro/greeting on them for us, so we can better watch/scout them all Senior Bowl week and beyond. After the Senior Bowl week, we’ll re-grade the group/update players who needed it coming out of the Mobile week, heading to the Combine week.
Here’s the post-event week grade reactions on these prospects (and some new ones added if they joined the Senior Bowl late/filled-in due to injury, etc.). The next scouting set of clues on these guys is in a few weeks at the NFL Combine.
LB Chad Muma, Wyoming (Post-SB scouting grade: A-/B+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B
Estimate = 6’2”/237
SB Measurements: 6’2.3”/241, 10.0” hands, 32.4” arms
Post-SB Note: One of the best players at the Senior Bowl week. He’s going to be a major steal in the 2nd-3rd-round. He was a day three draft guy until he showed off at the Senior Bowl week and game. An excellent, pure middle linebacker.
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Pre-SB Note: A really good-looking, classical middle linebacker. Great movement skills and instincts playing the run forward or dropping back to cover the pass. Has very good closing speed on tackles and is a nice form tackler. He may be 5+ pounds of muscle away from being a very good starting middle linebacker in the NFL quickly.
NFL Comp? = A combo of NFL (not college) Joe Schobert and Nick Vigil.
LB Devin Lloyd, Utah (Post-SB scouting grade: B+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B+
Estimate = 6’3”/235
SB Measurements: declined to attend
Post-SB Note: Declined to attend, which was smart. He already has good heat in the draft so there wasn’t much upside for him to go.
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Pre-SB Note: Just a solid all-around, classic ILB…plays the run well, OK against the pass, is smart and aggressive manning the middle and can nose his way into the backfield with good instincts for reading plays. He’s very strong…moves much bigger blockers backwards. He has the size, strength, instincts and look of a classic middle linebacker for this era. He’s going to be a 1st-round pick, instant NFL starter most likely.
NFL Comp? = Taller Shaq Thompson.
LB Sterling Weatherford, Miami, Ohio (Post-SB scouting grade: B-)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B-/C+
Estimate = 6’3”/225
SB Measurements: 6’3.5”/230, 8.6” hands, 31.8” arms
Post-SB Note: One of my favorite football players of the week. This guy is just always around the ball/in the right place at the right time. If/when he adds 5+ pounds of muscle, he could really be an impact/starter in the NFL.
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Pre-SB Note: Hard hitting safety in college but played DB like a linebacker and looks like he’s going to try to be labeled as a linebacker, likely a hybrid backer. He offers versatility. He’s a hard-nosed player and great form tackler. He could even be bulked up to a middle linebacker for the NFL.
NFL Comp? = Drue Tranquill…a college SAF primarily but has been a linebacker for the NFL.
LB Aaron Hansford, Texas A&M (Post-SB scouting grade: B-/C+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B-/C+
Estimate = 6’3”/240
SB Measurements: 6’2.1”/239, 10.4” hands, 32.2” arms
Post-SB Note: He flashed a bit using his speed/movement skills during the practice week. He looks like a nice OLB prospect…but needs work at the position. His better grades, upside is his athleticism is that of a 1st-rounder if he had more experience/technical skills as an OLB (he’s a former WR turned edge turning OLB for the NFL).
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Pre-SB Note: I’m a fan. Have been since previewing him some in 2021. A former WR turned linebacker. He’s developed over three years from random/athletic edge chaser to more knowledgeable OLB to playing a lot of interior linebacker in 2021. He’s one of the better sleeper names for NFL teams in 2021, I think.
NFL Comp? = Tyrus Bowser if he tried to play more edge/LB mix. Fred Warner if he hits his full upside?
LB Channing Tindall, Georgia (Post-SB scouting grade: C+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: D+
Estimate = 6’2”/230
SB Measurements: 6’1.5”/223, 10.3” hands, 32.4” arms
Post-SB Note: He showed a lot of speed this week…like he stood out among the traditional linebacker group as the speedster getting to ball carriers in the open field. Really showed on some of his special team’s work. He may run a 40-time at the Combine that really lights up his prospect rankings in the mainstream.
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Pre-SB Note: Georgia seemed like they had a never-ending supply of generic/athletic linebackers, and Tindall was one of them…one of the lesser ones. He has an NFL body and movement ability, but that seems to be about it…he wasn’t a high-quality producer, more just a joker/depth linebacker. He seems forgettable but could grind his way to an NFL roster and onto special teams.
NFL Comp? = Chase Hansen?
LB D’Marco Jackson, Appalachian St. (Post-SB scouting grade: C+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B/C
Estimate = 6’1”/230
SB Measurements: 6’0.1”/235, 9.2” hands, 32.2” arms
Post-SB Note: I expected more. He was fine during the Senior Bowl week, but he looks a little small and didn’t grab my attention in the game itself. All I noticed was – he is fine/solid.
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Pre-SB Note: An interesting, raw prospect with upside. Moves like lightning closing in on the backfield (as a middle linebacker in college) – 20.0 TFLs is pretty hot (#5 in the NCAA in 2021). He also had 6.0 sacks and 5 PDs. Really nice movement skills to get to things.
On the other hand, he often plays lazy when he’s not blasting off to the backfield. One play, he’ll make a ‘wow’ movement. The next play, he’s jogging around watching the play go away from him…no urgency to get involved.
There’s a possible ‘B’ prospect hiding here, but there’s also some signs of a ‘D’ guy too.
NFL Comp? = Has some Darius Leonard look to him.
LB Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma (Post-SB scouting grade: C+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: B-/C+
Estimate = 6’1”/230
SB Measurements: 6’0.0”/222, 9.7” hands, 33.4” arms
Post-SB Note: He’s a favorite of the media, but I continue to see a solid linebacker here…nothing ultra-special. Like, Chad Muma made me jump out of my chair. Asamoah made me sit on my Asamoah watching his preview tape and observing him in my previews. He came in much smaller than they/he tried to bill himself…so that isn’t helping his linebacker rankings. He’s been starting to slide since the Senior Bowl week.
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Pre-SB Note: A good-looking athlete for the NFL…well-built/muscular, moves well, good tackler, nice acceleration. A legit NFL linebacker. How good he is/his grade/rank will be determined by his NFL Combine numbers. He’s a ‘B’ or ‘C’ not an ‘A’ or ‘D’.
NFL Comp? = Has a little Roquan Smith to him, I think.
LB Mike Rose, Iowa State (Post-SB scouting grade: C)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: C+
Estimate = 6’3”/240
SB Measurements: Did not attend, injury
Post-SB Note: Did not attend, injury
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Pre-SB Note: A really good football player. A future at middle linebacker potentially, if he can add 10 pounds of muscle. He could get buried as a special teamer, or breakout to a legit starter-level interior LB. Good feet. Smart player. Good in coverage. Sound tackler. Just needs more size.
NFL Comp? = Drue Tranquill, Nick Vigil
LB Troy Anderson, Montana State (Post-SB scouting grade: C/C-)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: C+/C
Estimate = 6’3”/230
SB Measurements: 6’3.2”/242, 9.4” hands, 32.2” arms
Post-SB Note: Accounted for himself well this week. He was very smart, capable…not over his head for an FCSer. I was not overwhelmed, just noted all week he looked ‘fine’/solid.
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Pre-SB Note: OK, buckle up for this one… The 2021 FCS Defensive Player of the Year, but also the 2018 1st-team Big Sky QB. Yes…he’s a linebacker/quarterback. He’s a linebacker prospect for the Senior Bowl/NFL more than anything on offense. It’s all ‘cool’ except, I’m not sure he’s NFL good enough as a quarterback or linebacker. He might make it as a linebacker – a good football, an all-academic player. If he adds some bulk, perhaps he finds his way to a starting role in the NFL someday.
NFL Comp? = Nick Vigil…which I’ve used 3-4x for the LB comp group -- but Vigil was an athletic linebacker who was also a legit, very good college RB. I’m seeing more LB prospects that have RB backgrounds…which is smart because the NFL snubs RBs, by and large, in pay at the next level. You’d rather be a good linebacker than a good RB.
LB Quay Walker, Georgia (Post-SB scouting grade: C-)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: C-
Estimate = 6’3”/235
SB Measurements: Ultimately chose to skip the event
Post-SB Note: Ultimately chose to skip the event
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Pre-SB Note: Good looking athlete. Has ‘the look’ of a good 4-3 OLB. Moves like an NFL linebacker. However, he had disappointing production in college. Played some ILB and OLB and some edge. Is a jack of all trades, master of none good athlete. Feels like an NFL player, but more rotational and special teams guy, but has upside for more on athleticism displayed. Senior Bowl week will be a good test.
NFL Comp? = Davion Taylor
LB Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati (Post-SB scouting grade: C-/D+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: C
Estimate = 6’2”/240
SB Measurements: 6’4.0”/252, 9.6” hands, 32.6” arms
Post-SB Note: Not bad, just didn’t stick out and too many other LBs looked better. He’s not doomed, just not a ‘wow’ prospect.
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Pre-SB Note: A jack of all trades OLB…has the heart of an ILB but moves around well to be a 4-3 OLB. He’s decent in pass coverage and rushes the pass solidly. He definitely offers something to the NFL. Not sure that it is high impact play that he offers, but maybe. He’s got some promise/hope.
NFL Comp? = Kenny Young
LB Jesse Luketa, Penn State (Post-SB scouting grade: D)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: D+
Estimate = 6’3”/245
SB Measurements: 6’2.3”/261, 10.3” hands, 33.0” arms
Post-SB Note: Don’t remember anything about his week at the Senior Bowl, if that tells you anything.
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Pre-SB Note: Not impressed with my first viewing. I think he’s getting an unfair bump for ‘being a linebacker at Penn State’. Looks like he needs to fill his frame out more…skinnier arms than you’d like for an interior LB for the NFL. Doesn’t move all the quick. Plays with good energy. My first instinct here is = not excited.
NFL Comp? = Jordan Evans
LB Jeremiah Moon, Florida (Post-SB scouting grade: D-)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: D
Estimate = 6’2”/230
SB Measurements: Did not attend, no reason found
Post-SB Note: Did not attend, no reason found
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Pre-SB Note: Interesting prospect...where to begin? Six-year player…that’s a problem. A redshirt 2016 + an injury in 2020. Was starting to flash a bit in 2019 and 2020, but then returned from injury in 2021 and was ‘meh’…could be he wasn’t 100%. Has moments where he looks like an NFL player…rapid acceleration after things, but I didn’t see any consistent play. He’s worth a cheap flier for an NFL team.
NFL Comp? = Has some Leonard Floyd look about him.
LB JoJo Domann, Nebraska (Post-SB scouting grade: D-)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: D-
Estimate = 6’1”/230
SB Measurements: 6’0.7”/226, 9.4” hands, 30.3” arms
Post-SB Note: He tries hard, gives the effort but I don’t think he has enough to make any impact in the NFL.
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Pre-SB Note: Scrappy, undersized linebacker. The tape I had showed him as more of an edge rusher…there’s no way he’s going to be that in the NFL. If he has a chance at the NFL, it would be adding 10-15 pounds of muscle and going to middle linebacker. I don’t see it happening.
NFL Comp? = Jordan Glasgow
LB Terrel Bernard, Baylor (Post-SB scouting grade: F+)
*Pre-Senior Bowl scouting grade: F+
Estimate = 5’11/220
SB Measurements: 6’0.4”/220, 9.2” hands, 30.6” arms
Post-SB Note: I still don’t see it with him. Even a move to safety may not make any sense.
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Pre-SB Note: Very He’s listed as 6’1/220 but I don’t see it. I think his Senior Bowl weigh in will tank him, in that respect. He’s really a safety sized prospect, but I don’t see NFL speed/quicks here. I’m totally turned off in my preview. We’ll see if the week in Mobile changes my mind.
NFL Comp? = ‘no thanks’
