Devin Leary Impressing at Shrine Bowl
A pair of former Kentucky Wildcats are training with their peers at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Tayvion Robinson is catching passes from Devin Leary, who has opened a few eyes during practices at The Star in Frisco, TX.
“That guy can spin it” is a compliment Leary has received often that is now backed up by data. Technology in place at the Shrine Bowl measured one of Leary’s passes at 744.8 rotations per minute, the highest spin rate of any QB at the Shrine Bowl over the last three years. He threw the ball faster than any QB at the event (76.8 mph initial velocity, 49.0 average) and the second-longest pass (55.6 yards).
Outside of the drill work, Leary was flashing in 7-on-7. One pass in particular, thrown into a tight window between three defenders, will open the eyes of NFL scouts.
During his week in Texas, Leary said he’s met with officials from almost every NFL front office. Not only does the Shrine Bowl serve as an opportunity for Leary to showcase his skills, but it’s also a chance to improve them ahead of the biggest job interview of his life.
“What I’ve heard and what’s been reiterated from these coaches it’s that it’s the mental side of the game that will separate you,” Leary told reporters following practice earlier this week.
“It’s the way you process, how fast you can learn from your mistake that we’re being taught in the film room and not make it again on the field. Those small details will help you get to the next level, especially at quarterback.”
You can watch Leary and Robinson in the 99th East-West Shrine Game on Thursday night at 8 pm EST on the NFL Network.
Ray Davis getting attention at the Senior Bowl
It’s no surprise that Devin Leary is receiving a ton of attention. Handicapping and projecting quarterbacks is like astrology for men. Outside of assessing QB play in Mobile, sources on the ground at the Senior Bowl say Ray Davis will be one of the most closely watched prospects at the event.
Running backs are not valued the same way they were in the 90s. However, Jahmyr Gibbs proved he was worth the first round pick throughout the season. That is not to say Davis could be taken at the top of the first round this spring, but a solid pre-Draft process could launch Ray Davis up draft boards. Already projected by Mel Kiper as RB6 in this class, Davis proved he’s not a one-trick pony during his only season in Lexington. He caught more passing touchdowns than any other Power Five running back, a valuable skill for tailbacks on Sundays that could make a significant difference to his bank account.
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