First TD Bets — Wild Card Monday Slate
Alex Christenson
With Senior Bowl week concluded, let’s take a moment to look at a few of the risers and fallers from the event. This year, with the addition of juniors to the pool, the group was star-studded, and it showed, as there were plenty of strong performances.
So, it can be hard to say that anyone was a significant loser this week, but a few players did fail to impress as much as we expected and allowed others to close the gap. Most of the players fell into a neutral category, displaying positives and negatives, while Devin Neal, Pat Bryant, and Riley Leonard failed to dominate as we hoped. Let’s find out which names we should or shouldn’t be excited about moving forward.
Risers
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
After an impressive week, it was a storybook ending for Jack Bech. Dawning his late brother’s No. 7 jersey, he hauled in 6 receptions for 68 yards and a walk-off touchdown and earned the Senior Bowl MVP. He measured in favorably at 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, so seeing him constantly dominate the one-on-ones while displaying strong hands sealed the deal. His ferocity in attacking the ball at the catch point popped off the screen and was capped off by an impressive “You Got Mossed” style catch in the game. Bech may have been the biggest riser this week, and rightfully so. Hopefully, he keeps this momentum up as we head toward the NFL Combine.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
In a class full of projected slot receivers, this week was crucial for many. While some fell short, Jaylin Noel did not. He measured in at 5-foot-10 and a solid 196 pounds – 10 pounds heavier than his listed weight, which is a positive sign. On the field, he dominated all week by consistently creating separation and making defenders look foolish. He excelled at tracking and attacking the ball at the catch point and showed off his playmaking ability. Noel was, without a doubt, the most consistent and impressive receiver this week. Given his standout performance and a down week from many others, it’s very likely Noel has put himself in the conversation for early Day 2 consideration.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
With a solid tight end class, we expected multiple to pop this week, and Elijah Arroyo was the belle of the ball. All week, he was constantly separating from defenders and making plays. His quickness and fluidity jumped off the film, especially for a player who measured in at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds. He was dominant in the red zone, where his physicality and size were a significant mismatch. This week, his performance helped ease concerns that this year’s explosion of 590 yards and 7 touchdowns was a one-year wonder. He ascended draft boards this week, and some teams may prefer his prototypical size to others on draft day.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
After sustaining an injury that sidelined him in the second half of the year, it was nice to see Jalen Royals back at it. Measuring in at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds was great news, considering he relies on his physicality more than others. We saw this a few times during the week, as he bullied some defenders. We also saw crisp routes and reliable hands. Royals already had an impressive tape reel, so this week was more about showing that the injury is not an issue moving forward, which he did with flying colors. It feels like he secured himself a spot in this wide receiver class and likely Day 2 draft capital.
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Like Arroyo, Mason Taylor made a strong impression this week in Mobile, tossing another strong name at the top of this tight end class. He measured in at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, showing he has the size to be a three-down tight end. On the field, he displayed the same fluidity and speed we saw at LSU. For tight ends, the one-on-one drills are crucial in showing whether they can consistently separate at the next level, and Taylor excelled in that area. The buzz around him grew throughout the week, so much so that he opted out of the game, a clear sign that his camp received positive feedback regarding his draft stock.
Fallers
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
It wasn’t overly surprising that Jalen Milroe struggled in Mobile – this format favors pure passers, something Milroe doesn’t excel at. This week was his opportunity to prove that his limitations as a passer had been overstated, and he didn’t do that. Milroe had an up-and-down week of practice, with many throws going off-target. He was less than impressive in the game and showed some of his exciting rushing ability but left plenty to be desired as a passer. Additionally, his measurables were concerning – standing only 6-foot-1 with hand size well below the NFL standard. While his raw physical traits as a runner will still attract NFL teams, the gap between him and other quarterbacks has widened, making it less certain that he’ll be the third QB selected in April.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Harold Fannin Jr. had a historic year at Bowling Green, which had many of us hoping he would dominate this week. That didn’t quite happen. While he wasn’t bad by any means – showing reliable hands, the ability to get open and some solid blocking skills – he failed to separate himself from the field. He looked a bit stiff and clunky in his movements for a player who is slightly undersized for the position. He did finish strong on Day 3 and had a solid few reps in the game, but it felt like not enough to overcome the lackluster week. With other strong performances from prospects in the class, Fannin’s separation from the group has diminished.
Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
Like many on this list, it was not all bad for Donovan Edwards, but he was relatively quiet this week. After a disappointing senior campaign, he could have used a strong week to help set himself apart from an impressively deep class. He excelled as a pass-catcher and lost defenders easily with his routes, but this was expected since this is his bread and butter. In the running game, he had a couple of nice plays, but the good did not outweigh the bad. Compounding this average performance were the performances of other running backs who made much bigger impressions this week and likely surpassed Edwards on many team’s boards.
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Many will crown Tez Johnson as a winner this week, but I would respectfully disagree. We saw some flashes, for sure – he’s a quick, twitchy athlete who excels at putting defensive backs in tough spots. Given this format, it should’ve been a perfect opportunity for him to shine. He had his moments, but overall, he wasn’t a dominant presence. Add in the concerning measurables – 5-foot-9, 156 pounds – and we have a real issue. At best, we’re looking at a player like Tank Dell, and we’ve seen the volatility of Dell early in his career. While Johnson will certainly be coveted by some NFL teams and could get decent draft capital, he didn’t do enough this week in Mobile to ease any concerns about his size.
