This is the Gridiron Review’s 2024 Senior Bowl Prospects to Watch. This does not mean they are the best at each position, but rather the players we are most interested to see either to validate our scouting for them (a la Frank Gore Jr in the East/West Shrine Game), or to prove us wrong if we do not see the talent.
Quarterbacks
Michael Pratt, Tulane
All eyes will be on Penix and Nix, but there are a couple QBs who will likely be day 2 picks in this draft as well. One I really like is Pratt. He returned to Tulane for another season and had a decent year throwing 22 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. There is a lot to his game I like and is one of the few quarterbacks in this class that could have the sleeper label attached to them.
Running Backs
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
Already a standout during the practice week, Laube could be the biggest winner from the senior bowl with a good game. He is a pass catching expert out of the backfield (and when lined up at WR), with enough to make people miss after the catch. He is likely a day 3 pick, but one that should have a role and impact immediately.
Wide Receivers
Xavier Legette, South Carolina
We seem to like him more than most, as we have a day 1 grade on him with some lofty potential attached. He is on the older side and only has 1 year of production, but the physical upside is there with a surprising level of development already in place. At 6’3, 227 he absolutely flies with track star speed and could really validate our thoughts on him with a good performance here.
Tight End
AJ Barner, Michigan
While doing mainly one for each position, our two biggest sleeper tight ends happen to be playing in this game. Even as the TE2 in Michigan’s offense, Barner shows an advanced development in his route running that you normally do not see with backups. Because he was TE2, he has excellent run blocking ability as well. He has starter potential and could be a day 3 steal if he lasts that long.
Jared Wiley, TCU
Wiley is one of our biggest sleepers in this whole draft. He is 6’7 but has the fluidness and athleticism of a wide receiver. On top of this, he is actually willing and able to block unlike most TEs with his level of athleticism. He could do a lot to get his ascension rolling that will surely continue at the combine with his testing.
Defensive Line
Byron Murphy II, Texas
Our favorite interior Defensive lineman, Murphy II could show off his impressive strength and pass rushing by pushing the pocket and picking up a sack in this game. We do have him graded higher than Newton from Illinois, mainly because Murphy II should be able to help in all facets of the game right away in a better capacity.
EDGE
Javon Solomon, Troy
Solomon had a whopping 16 sacks this year (his second season with 10 or more) and has a lot to show in this game. He could ascend to the next level of draft prospect with a strong showing in this game.
Linebacker
James Williams, Miami
James Williams is a safety from Miami, but the Senior Bowl roster has him listed as a linebacker. This was a note we made on his profile. We didn’t believe his safety tape looked that great, but that a conversion to like a sub package LB could absolutely be in the cards.
Cornerback
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Quinyon Mitchell is a prospect who’s tape we weren’t in love with in the slightest and has our lowest grade of the draft season so far. However, all week all we’ve heard is how he’s locking down WRs. Now that needs context because some of the clips people use are overthrows, but it could just be that Mitchell is more of a lockdown than ball hawk(which is how he plays on film). 1-on-1s also don’t show willingness in run support or tackling so he’s got a lot to prove to us tomorrow.
Max Melton, Rutgers
The only real tape we could find on Melton was against Michigan this year, and obviously Michigan doesn’t throw the ball a whole ton. On top of that Melton is now going up against some of the best receivers in the class. Melton can prove a lot in the game tomorrow.
Safety
Beau Brade, Maryland
Beau Brade is our S1, and one of the highest graded prospects we have. Brade has been all over the internet this week and not for the right reasons. He was on the one covering Georgia WR Ladd McConkey on his diving catch out-route. Personally we didn’t believe the coverage was all that bad, especially when you consider it was a safety going against one of the best route runners in this year’s class.
Javon Bullard, Georgia
Javon Bullard looks like he is having a tough week in the 1-on-1 portion of practices. We’ve seen clips of him getting beat by both Florida State WR Johnny Wilson and Georgia teammate Ladd McConkey. We believe that Bullard can play CB, but maybe this is showing that he will truly stick to safety at the next level. It feels like a lot of the mock drafts we’ve seen have him as a 3rd rounder, but we see him as a pretty clear 1st rounder. Bullard can prove a lot of the haters wrong in the game tomorrow.