Inside the Senior Bowl Week 4 scouting notebook: Eight 2024 NFL draft prospects generating buzz
Each week during the season, On3 catches up with Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy to identify 2024 NFL draft prospects whose draft stock is on the rise.
Here are eight players generating buzz among Nagy and the Senior Bowl staff coming out of Week 4 (listed alphabetically):
Iowa TE Erick All
All, a transfer from Michigan, has 10 catches for 115 yards with one touchdown through four games at Iowa. All, who has verified measurements of 6-foot-4 4/8, 256 pounds, had three catches for 35 yards during the Hawkeyes’ loss to Michigan on Saturday.
“Senior Bowl had Day 2 grade on him last summer (similar to his teammate Luke Schoonmaker, who ended up being a Day 2 pick of the Dallas Cowboys), but he got hurt late in 2022 season and opted to go back to school,” Nagy said. “Followed former Michigan starting QB Cade McNamara to Iowa so there should be great built-in chemistry there. Makes some nice contested catches on tape and showed soft natural hands during pre-game exposure. Only has 10 catches for 116 yards and one TD so far for Hawkeyes. Has been used primarily in short passing game but has the athleticism to make plays down the seam, which he showed during his time at Michigan.
“Also flashed pull-away gear after the catch in Ann Arbor and we haven’t seen that yet this year because most of his catches have come on off-target throws that have forced him to adjust. Iowa has used him at fullback because he can adjust on the move as a blocker and he looks comfortable leaking out of the backfield in the passing game so most NFL teams will see him as a guy they can use at fullback. Hopefully his role in passing game will increase as we get into Big Ten play.”
Texas Tech EDGE Myles Cole
Cole has 12 tackles and two sacks through four games for Texas Tech. Cole, who has verified measurements of 6-foot-5 6/8, 279 pounds, had six tackles during the Red Raiders’ 20-13 loss to West Virginia on Saturday.
“Unique length and versatility,” Nagy said. “Arm length and wingspan are longest of any defensive player in the 2024 draft class. Texas Tech moved him up and down the front from standup 7-technique to hand-in-dirt 4i-tech. He does good things when he shoots his hands aggressively and locks people out. Makes some point-of-attack and recovery plays with his long reach that few guys can. Also doesn’t need to get to the QB to effect and alter throws. Quarterbacks feel his length even when he’s not right up on them. Flashed some fight and strain to holdup on run downs.”
Florida State DL Braden Fiske
Fiske, who was an all-conference player at Western Michigan before transferring to FSU, has 12 tackles through four games for the Seminoles. Fiske, who has verified measurements of 6-foot-3 5/8, 295 pounds), posted six tackles and a shared tackle for loss during FSU’s win over Clemson on Saturday.
“Stood out more consistently than any player in the FSU-Clemson game,” Nagy said. “Has more twitch than you think and love his motor. Was stout against the run all day. Showed excellent point of attack strength on run-downs and Clemson had trouble moving him. Occupied and split double-teams. Did his job with his hands to maintain block separation and get off blocks to make tackles. Playing more inside than he did on his junior tape for Western Michigan. We’ve spoken to director of player personnel types around college football who thought Fiske was best defensive lineman to enter the transfer portal this offseason. Ascending player for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.”
UConn OL Christian Haynes
Haynes is in his fourth-year as a starting guard for UConn. Haynes, who has verified measurements of 6-foot-2 7/8, 312 pounds, was a preseason All-American. The Senior Bowl had a scout watching him during the Huskies’ loss to Duke on Saturday after previously seeing him earlier in the year against NC State.
“Our second live look at UConn after seeing them in Week 1 vs. NC State,” Nagy said. “This exposure only confirmed how we saw Haynes. He’s an NFL starter. Some scouts are telling us that he ‘doesn’t look the part,’ and he’s not a physical specimen by any means, but the most important thing is he’s a good football player. Not saying they are the same player but former Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson also got knocked for his average-looking body, but you then you put on the Florida State tape and Rodney was just kicking people’s a**. Got some snapping work at center during pre-game and he looked good doing it, so he’ll have legitimate guard/center position flexibility. Like his toughness. Nastiness finishing people has shown up both times we’ve seen Haynes.
“Our player comp is Raiders starter Dylan Parham, who got drafted in the third round in 2022 after a strong week at Senior Bowl.”
Houston Christian EDGE Jalyx Hunt
After spending three seasons at Cornell as a safety, Hunt transferred to Houston Christian last year and is now a defensive end/linebacker for the Huskies. The 6-foot-4, 248-pound Hunt ended up posting 87 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three forced fumbles last season. He has 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pick-six and a blocked kick through four games this year. That includes seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and the blocked kick during Houston Christian’s win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
“HCU moved him to OLB when he got there and it took him about half of last season to adjust to the new spot, but he got our attention over the summer in late 2022 junior tape,” Nagy said. “Played at 255 pounds last year but is down around ten pounds from that this year. Late-bloomer has put on 50 pounds since his freshman year at Cornell and has the frame to be 265 to 270 pounds after a full NFL offseason. Had the 1.5 sacks on Saturday night against Southeastern Louisiana and won more with pure athleticism than anything else. Outside linebacker skill-set is still very raw but he’s really long and the former DB movement gives NFL teams more to work with than the vast majority of outside linebacker prospects.
“Exactly the kind of toolsy player that NFL teams target in rounds 5-7. Will be active a year from now on Sundays because he’ll have a role on special teams. One of the top small-school players on the Reese’s Senior Bowl board one month into the 2023 season.”
USC RB Marshawn Lloyd
Lloyd, a South Carolina transfer, has run for at least 75 yards in each of USC’s last three games. During the Trojans’ win over Arizona State on Saturday, the 5-foot-9, 210-pound Lloyd ran for 154 yards on 14 carries. For the year, he’s averaging 8.9 yards per carry.
“It has been against lesser competition (San Jose State, Nevada, Stanford), but we’ve really liked his tape so far this year” Nagy said. “Impressive in this live exposure. The athlete really jumped out. Light-footed in the hole and very good lateral cutter. Can avoid and create when it’s not blocked for him. Good contact balance to bounce off tackles. Good acceleration to get to the corner on wide runs and burst to get away at the second-level inside. Shows natural hands as a receiver and working as returner during pre-game. Staff speaks highly of the South Carolina transfer’s football makeup.
“Not seeing his name being mentioned by any draft media but we expect that to change. He’ll make a name for himself in Mobile.”
Florida EDGE Princely Umanmielen
Umanmielen has eight tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks through Florida’s first four games. Umanmielen, who has verified measurements of 6-foot-3 6/8, 249 pounds, recorded a sack and four additional quarterback hurries during the Gators’ win over Charlotte on Saturday.
“Has made a jump on tape so far this year compared to his junior stuff we looked at over the summer,” Nagy said. “Made a couple nice chase plays in pursuit on Saturday against Charlotte and that was not part of his game in past years. Flashes elements of both speed and power to his rush game and had a sack against Charlotte. Bit of a tweener but came away from this live exposure thinking he’ll fit better as 3-4 outside linebacker than a 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Has improved his draft stock this first month of season and could see him working his way into Day 2 conversation if he continues on this trajectory.”
Oregon DB Evan Williams
Williams, who was an all-conference player at Fresno State before transferring to Oregon, has 11 tackles the last three weeks for the Ducks. Williams, who has verified measurements of 5-foot-11 3/8, 205 pounds, had four tackles and 1.5 sacks during Oregon’s win over Colorado on Saturday.
“Three-plus year starter, three-time captain and first-team All-Mountain West player at Fresno State,” Nagy said. “Spoke to Oregon staffers about Williams and they rave about his personal character and football makeup. Type of football dude who ‘checks all the boxes’ and that NFL coaches are going to fall in love with once they get him in the building. Very assignment aware in coverage. Good eye discipline and peripheral awareness as a split safety. Have been told he might not blow-up the Combine but his good instincts allow him to play fast and with plenty range.
“Doesn’t hesitate to trigger downhill and will throw his face in versus the run. Showed good blitz knack timing up a couple big sacks on Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. Probably more of a mid-to-late Day 3 draft pick but Williams is going to be on some team’s 53-man roster at this time next year because he’s just too good of a football player and culture guy.”