There were many impressive showings from the first practice of the Senior Bowl, but these prospects stood above the rest.
Mobile, AL — the home of the Senior Bowl. A light breeze flowed through Hancock Whitney Stadium as the National Team kicked off festivities early this morning. After a brief intermission that included media availability, the American Team concluded the first day of practice with a lively collective showing.
While there were plenty of great plays to go around, these prospects stood out above the rest of the competition. Those who will be briefly touched on following the list(s) in question will have their name(s) italicized.
National Team Standouts
- Virginia Tech iDL Aeneas Peebles
- Miami TE Elijah Arroyo
- Oregon WR Tez Johnson
- NDSU OL Grey Zabel
- Marshall EDGE Mike Green
- Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa
- WMU CB Bilhal Kone
American Team Standouts
- Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen
- UNC OL Willie Lampkin
- Ole Miss DB Trey Amos
- Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser
- Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr.
- LSU TE Mason Taylor
- Delaware RB Darnell Yarns
Aeneas Peebles, iDL, Virginia Tech
Peebles is off to a fast start in proving to all football heads that he is indeed a Top 50 in the class. A bit undersized in the interior at 6’0, Peebles is the definition of a disruptor at a smooth 290 lbs.
He wrecked shop today and flashed his Calijah Kancey-esque fight while doing so.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Arroyo is a fluid athlete who proved to be more than a seam specialist after just one practice. He was winning each of his 1-on-1 matchups regardless if a linebacker or defensive back was guarding him. There’s more to the film, which might make the same case after it’s all said and done, but Arroyo looked like the better player when compared to Harold Fannin Jr. and his day.
Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame
The Royal Center, Indiana product was the first player from the American Team to take the field for practice and he would not disappoint for the rest of the outing. Kiser’s natural leadership wasted no time in making the transition from National Championship to Senior Bowl, regularly checking in on his fellow LBs on the sideline and making sure everyone is on the same page pre-snap.
Kiser was especially impressive in the 1-on-1 section between LBs/RBs, a drill that, at its core, is meant to prop the running backs up given the typical mismatch between the positions. Kiser allowed just one completion throughout the day and even then was able to bring the runner down as soon as he got his hands on it.
Willie Lampkin, iOL, North Carolina
Lampkin was one of the prospects I was most excited to see live in person this week, mainly due to the fact that he is a 5’10”, 260 lb offensive lineman who is fresh off of an All-American selection.
Despite his build which is unheard of for an offensive lineman or the fact he played against ACC competition, Lampkin indeed drowned out the haters today. Leaning on his toughness, tenacity, and technique, Lampkin showed that he belongs and proved the addage to be true — low man wins.
Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon
The defensive back turned linebacker showed just how seamless of a transition his coverage ability is. A strong and commanding all day from the MIKE backer position, Bassa had numerous impressive reps in coverage to pair with his strong day as a run defender, diagnosing and closing gaps with confidence.
Be on the lookout for more Senior Bowl content as I will be here in Mobile throughout the week. Tomorrow continues the festivities with the second stint of practices which will be followed by the Senior Bowl Media Day.