Five Ohio State footballers — and one former Buckeye — are preparing to don their scarlet and gray helmets one last time in a competitive arena.
Senior Bowl practices are well under way in Mobile, Alabama, beginning Tuesday and running the rest of the week ahead of Saturday's game (2:30 p.m., NFL Network). For many players, this represents close to the last chance they have to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts, general managers and analysts. College football programs hold pro days typically a month before the NFL Draft commences, but the Senior Bowl pits players opposite one another in full pads. Pro days often do not.
Five Buckeyes are working out with the hope of improving their stocks before the 2016 NFL Draft opens April 28 in Chicago. The five — Braxton Miller, Tyvis Powell, Joshua Perry, Adolphus Washington and Nick Vannett — weighed in Tuesday along with former Buckeye defensive end Noah Spence, who we'll also highlight here.
Ohio State's three-year starting tackle, Taylor Decker, opted out of the Senior Bowl but don't worry — he's still doing plenty to get ready at LeCharles Bentley's dojo in Arizona. Decker has been there since the Buckeyes' 44-28 victory against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Chase Farris played in the East-West Shrine Game this past Saturday, and is also spending time working with Bentley.
Here are what analysts are saying about each Buckeye — and Spence — as workouts begin in front of a national television audience. The North Team goes from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday while the South Team hits the field from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday. All are set to air on ESPNU.
Braxton Miller, WR – North Team
Having only played one college football season at wide receiver, it is not surprising the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year will have plenty of eyes on him in Mobile.
"The most intriguing prospect in Mobile this week, Miller made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver this past season and made the transition look easy due to his natural athleticism," CBSSports.com draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote. "He is well-built with game-changing speed, but is obviously still raw in several areas, including his route running."
If Tuesday was any indication, Miller's been working. He drew rave reviews on the first day of practices in Mobile.
Via.
Miller's pure athleticism is uncanny and unmatched, but as Brugler notes his lack of tape at wide receiver is what makes this week so valuable for him. Bleacher Report columnist Eric Galko points out that Miller has the potential to be a starting slot receiver in the league, but he must first prove his worth to scouts and NFL front offices.
If Miller can stay healthy and showcase the talent that made him an Ohio State legend and show an evident improvement in his route running, he could shoot up prospect lists. He proved he has solid hands to go with his blazing speed, but can Miller put it all together?
"Despite his lack of experience at wideout, Miller's athletic profile and upside should be on full display during practice," Brugler wrote, "which could cement him as a top-50 prospect in this class."
Tyvis Powell, S – North Team
Powell earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl despite not being a senior, because he graduated last spring. A redshirt junior, Powell elected to leave Ohio State with one year of eligibility remaining.
Vonn Bell's defensive backfield mate the last two seasons is projected as a fifth or sixth round pick, the sixth-rated safety in the draft class. Urban Meyer said he was a little surprised Powell decided to leave school early, but didn't blame him because he has his degree and is a Big Ten and national champion. Powell is one of four safeties on the north team, and it would go a long way for him to outplay the competition both on his team and the South squad. Former Buckeye turned Duke Blue Devil Jeremy Cash is regarded as the best safety at the position at the Senior Bowl (and in the draft), but if Powell can make an eye-popping play or two, his value could rise.
Powell also took bad angles at times during his Ohio State career which led to multiple missed tackles. Showing an improvement in that area will help his value in the eyes of scouts. Powell will likely kill the interview process with teams due to his ebullient personality, but he must show something between the lines.
Adolphus Washington, DT – North Team
Washington's Ohio State career ended in turmoil, with his Fiesta Bowl suspension for a solicitation citation and possession of a firearm putting a sour halt to a stellar senior season. He possesses terrific athleticism for his size, an attribute honed during his basketball career at Taft High School in Cincinnati. He put it all on display in 2015, even intercepting a screen pass and returning it for a touchdown against Western Michigan.
However, Washington's suspension will hang over his head until draft day. Teams will assuredly ask him about the incident — for which he pled guilty Tuesday — looking for an explanation to pass judgement on his character before draft pick consideration. Still, the Senior Bowl presents an opportunity before the draft to show what he can do on the field — because he didn't get to do that against Notre Dame.
Washington was projected as a first round talent before his off-field issue. It's up to him to work back to that status.
Nick Vannett, TE – North Team
Vannett's senior season was a disappointment from a statistics standpoint. He snagged the same number of receptions (19), but saw his yardage production drop by nearly 60. He also failed to score a touchdown in 2015, after reaching the end zone five times in 2014.
However, Vannett was widely regarded as the better receiving option at the position opposite Jeff Heuerman during Ohio State's 2014 national title run. He has the athleticism, speed and size to cause matchup problems and improved as a run blocker, but his lack of numbers make it hard for talent evaluators to get a good feel of what he can do by just watching film.
The Senior Bowl provides a chance for Vannett to showcase his skills and if he can make it as a tight end in what is now a pass-first NFL.
"He certainly is more than solid in the run game and helping to open up some holes. When given opportunities, Vannett caught the ball well," wrote CBSSports.com's Jamie Newberg. "Despite limited touches as a receiver, Vannett looks like a good, well-rounded tight end who could be a mid-to-late round steal come draft day."
Joshua Perry, LB – North Team
Perry's size and tenure as Ohio State's leader in the linebacker room the past two seasons make him a welcome sight for scouts. One even said he has "the best frame" at the Senior Bowl this week.
Perry can thank Mickey Marotti for that, but his size (6-foot-4, 253 pounds) could lead some NFL brass to think he would be better suited as a pass-rushing defensive end in the NFL. The Senior Bowl provides Perry one last chance to display his non-stop motor and strong tackling skills, which had him at first and second at Ohio State in stops the last two seasons.
Perry projects as a second to third round pick according to CBS Sports, and could go a long way toward boosting that projection with a solid performance in Mobile.
Noah Spence, DE – South Team
Outside of Miller, it is hard to find a better pure athlete than Spence among the Senior Bowl rosters. He is a rare talent, with a quick-twitch ability to get past even the best offensive tackles in the college game. There was a reason he was a five-star recruit before recording 14 tackles for loss and a team-high 7.5 sacks in 2013 for the Buckeyes, when he was a first-team All-Big Ten performer.
Like Washington, Spence's off-field issues won't go away before the draft and probably not for the rest of his life. His multiple failed drug tests pushed him out of the Big Ten, but he found a home in Eastern Kentucky, an FCS program. Spence dominated the lesser competition in 2015, racking up 11.5 sacks in 11 games. He has the most to prove in Mobile this week, according to Brugler.
"A top-15 talent in the 2016 class, how Spence interviews and carries himself in Mobile will be an important step in his job interview for NFL teams," Brugler wrote.
Spence broke his silence about his drug use in an August interview with ESPN.com, but he must stay clean and out of trouble in the time leading up to the draft to ensure he gives himself the best chance at hearing his name called. The talent has always been there. It just needs to be put on display with his dark past behind him.
So far, it seems as if he's risen to the occasion.
Noah Spence is practicing like a volcano ready to explode. It's getting chippy between him and every OL he faces 1-on-1.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 26, 2016
Other tidbits on the 2016 Senior Bowl:
- Ohio State's five players account for the most of any Big Ten school represented. There are 22 players from Big Ten schools on Senior Bowl rosters.
- 18 of the Big Ten players are on the North Team. Michigan's Graham Glasgow, Northwestern's Dan Vitale, and Maryland's Sean Davis and Quinton Jefferson are on the South Team.
- The North Team will be coached by the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff all week. The South Team will be manned by the Jacksonville Jaguars staff.
- All Buckeyes are listed on the roster to be wearing the numbers they donned during their final seasons at Ohio State.
-
Ohio State and Alabama are tied for the most players from one program to play in the game. Baylor and
Stanford each have four. - The game is set to be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium (capacity 38,888)
- Tickets are $30, $20 and $10
