MOBILE, Ala. -- The 2022 Senior Bowl will be held Saturday here at Hancock Whitney Stadium, and Steelers fans will definitely have an eye on what happens in the game.
But more important for the teams will be the practices from Tuesday through Thursday leading up the game.
The Steelers will obviously be keeping an eye on the six quarterbacks here, but there are prospects beyond those players. And with the team also still searching for a defensive coordinator, potentially other coaches and now a new general manager, what happens here this week takes on all new meaning.
A lot of interviews take place here each year when it comes to assistant coaches.
This is the best of the college all-star games. In 2020, a record 106 of the players who participated in the Senior Bowl were drafted, including 36 in the first three rounds. That accounted for 41 percent of all the players selected last year.
Who should fans keep an eye on if they're watching Senior Bowl practices or the game? Here's a short list:
THE QUARTERBACKS
Kenny Pickett, Pitt -- Many Steelers fans are already in love with Pickett. They know him and have seen him leading the Panthers the past four seasons. He made a big jump in 2021, leading the Panthers to an ACC championship and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting, as well. Measurement day will be big for Pickett. Is he as big as the 6-foot-3, 219 pounds he was listed at, or is he shorter and more slight? There's also a question about his hand size, which could affect his draft position.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati -- Another of the quarterbacks on the National Team along with Pickett, Ridder is tall (6-foot-4) and lanky at 215 pounds. But he's estimated to run a 4.55-second 40-yard dash. Ridder has a big arm, as well. But he was throwing to receivers who often were wide open in the Bearcats' games. His performance against Alabama in the college football semifinals when he had just 144 passing yards is fresh on everyone's mind, as well.
Carson Strong, Nevada -- The third quarterback on the National Team, Strong overcame a serious knee issue as a high school senior to have a productive career at Nevada. But he had eight biodegradable nails placed in his knee and he had another surgery in 2020 to have a piece of his hip bone inserted into the knee. He might be the best pure thrower of the football in this draft, but he doesn't have the mobility of some of the other top quarterbacks. It wouldn't surprise me to see him be the biggest riser up the board this week. The ball jumps out of his hands. But the medical tests at the NFL Scouting Combine will be his biggest test.
Sam Howell, North Carolina -- Howell's body type and dark hair lead many to compare him to Baker Mayfield. That's not fair, however. Howell was considered a can't-miss prospect before the college football season began, but with his top two receivers and both star running backs in the NFL, struggled in 2021, not unlike Josh Allen's final season at Wyoming. Despite his passing numbers falling off slightly, Howell displayed more juice as a runner in 2021, rushing for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, he's built more like a running back. And he's got a stronger arm than Mayfield, the top pick in the 2018 draft. He could wind up being a steal.
Malik Willis, Liberty -- A transfer from Auburn, Willis is the most athletic of the top quarterbacks. He threw for over 5,000 yards the past two seasons at Liberty while rushing for over 1,800 yards. Watch him play and you'll see some throws that make you say, "Wow." But then he'll also make some throws that make you wonder what in the world he was thinking. Some have blamed the Liberty offense for that. Willis can really help his stock with a good week of practice against top-level talent.
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky -- The one quarterback at the Senior Bowl who isn't getting any first-round buzz, Zappe can firmly position himself as the seventh-best quarterback in this draft or perhaps pass one or two of the others in this game -- Matt Corral of Ole Miss isn't here -- with a good week of practice. He was prolific at Western Kentucky but has a funky throwing motion. Can he make big-time throws? Most of the time at Western Kentucky, he was throwing to wide-open receivers.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zion Johnson, G, Boston College -- A real road grader. At 6-foot-3, 316 pounds, Johnson will look the part. His run blocking is solid. Can he hold up against top rated pass rushers? It was good enough in college that he also played some left tackle, but his size will limit that at the NFL level.
Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky -- At 6-foot-5, 345 pounds, Kinnard is a massive human being. Does he have the footwork to stick at offensive tackle in the NFL or will he have to move to guard? He won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC's top blocker.
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa -- At 6-foot-7, 313 pounds, Penning looks the part. But his level of competition is in question. He's got the tools. A good week of practice could solidify his spot as the fourth or fifth offensive tackle in this draft.
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan -- Raimann has many of the same questions that face Penning in regard to his level of competition. But he also has size (6-7, 305). He came to the U.S. from Austria, where he played a little football for the Vienna Vikings. Was originally recruited as a wide receiver to Central Michigan ala. Alejandro Villanueva at Army.
Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State -- If you're looking for a sleeper to gain some traction among the offensive tackles this week, this is the guy. Has size (6-7, 324), but he played on a horrible team, which masked how good he actually is.
Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota -- I saved the biggest offensive lineman for last. At 6-foot-9, 380 pounds, you need a plane ticket to get around Faalele. But does he move well? I don't expect him to be a great tester at the combine, so this week of practices is huge for the most massive human being in this year's draft and native of Melbourne, Austrailia.
LINEBACKER
Devin Lloyd, Utah -- At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Lloyd has excellent size to handle run-stopping duties in the NFL. But his coverage skills also are excellent. He also has shown some pass rush ability over the years, including recording eight sacks in 2020. Could he fall to the Steelers at 20? Perhaps. Even if he doesn't, Steelers fans can watch him this week and ponder what Devin Bush is supposed to be.
Chad Muma, Wyoming -- Muma looks like a throwback inside linebacker at 6-foot-3, 242 pounds. But his game isn't throwback at all. Muma had 104 tackles last season and had three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He's not in Lloyd's class as an athlete, but Muma could be a second-day steal.
Channing Tindall, Georgia -- Estimates had Tindall running a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash. If he does that at the NFL Scouting Combine, he'll solidify himself as a top prospect. But he was a one-year star at Georgia, so the Senior Bowl practices will be big for him, as well.
Quay Walker, Georgia -- Walker has better size than most at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds. But he can run and cover with the best of them. Think Tremaine Edmunds here. His athleticism should show up this week.
Christian Harris, Alabama -- Three Georgia linebackers? Sure. The Bulldogs had the No. 1 defense in college football last season and it was their front-7 that made that happen. Harris might be the best combination of Tindall and Walker. All should shine.
Troy Anderson, Montana State -- What can a linebacker from Montana State bring to the table? How about the fact that after being the Big Sky Freshman of the Year as a running back and linebacker -- he started games at both -- he moved to quarterback in 2018 because of injuries to others. Anderson moved back to defense his final two seasons -- not including a lost COVID year -- and was FCS Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Anderson has good size. He's expected to run well, as well. As a former quarterback, he has an understanding of offensive attacks and route running. Anderson is one of the more intriguing prospects in this game.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Haskell Garrett, Ohio State -- Haskell is more of a day-two pick, but at 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, he has a squatty, nose tackle-type build. Garrett wasn't much of a pass rusher at Ohio State, but when he tackled someone, they stayed tackled.
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama -- Like Haskell, Mathis is more of a day-two prospect. At 6-foot-4, 312 pounds, he also has more classic 3-4 defensive end size. He has pass rush skills, but is a solid run stuffer, as well. Also was a team captain at Alabama, which bodes well for his leadership skills.
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia -- Wyatt (6-3, 315) wasn't a big-time high school recruit but he blossomed in his final two seasons at Georgia, leading a talented defensive line in tackles among interior players the past two seasons. Another Day-2 guy who could prove to be a solid addition.
Travis Jones, Connecticut -- There hasn't been much to cheer about with the UConn football team, but Jones (6-4, 333) has been one player the team can boast about. He has experience playing on the nose and it will be interesting to see how he looks with more talent around him.
