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Today marks the official start of the Senior Bowl practice week and I, along with a herd of NFL scouts and fellow media members, all marched into a dimly lit auditorium to watch as each participating player walked across the main stage in their britches to get their height and weight measured prior to the week’s first practice.
It’s an easy, although shallow, way for scouts to get a quick idea of what physical attributes these players could possibly bring to their teams in the near future.
In my short preview I posted prior to my trek west from Georgia to Alabama, I highlighted three players at three positions of need for the Chargers and what they could bring to the 2019 version of the Bolts. All three of those guys, Wisconsin offensive tackle Michael Deiter, North Caroline State linebacker Germaine Pratt, and Arizona State defensive tackle Renell Wren, all measured out well and will continue to have my attention through the rest of the week.
Here are their measurements from this morning:
OG Michael Deiter - Wisconsin
- 6-foot-5 304 lbs.
- Hand: 11 1/8 in. (HUGE)
- Arm: 32 4/8 in.
- Wingspan: 78 1⁄2 in.
Deiter’s versatility should have the Chargers’ brass drooling as he has at least a dozen starts at center, guard, and tackle. As one of the highest-graded offensive linemen over the last two years, Deiter still isn’t gaining a ton of publicity compared to some of the other OL prospects. However, guys with experience (54 games started) and rock-solid fundamentals tend to excel in the NFL sooner than those with flashy athletic ability.
LB Germaine Pratt - North Caronlina State
- 6-foot-2 5/8 (Not 5-foot-11!!!) 240 lbs.
- 9 in.
- 31 5/8 in.
- 74 7/8 in.
Excellent size for the position as a former safety. Pratt has a knack for sifting through traffic and looks to be another excellent defensive prospect from that Wolfpack defense.
DT Renell Wren - Arizona State
- 6-foot-4 4/8 315 lbs. (Many thought he was under 300)
- 9 7/8 in.
- 33 6/8 in.
- 81 in.
Listed as a “freak” among college football players. Many thought Wren was a tad light as he supposedly played his final season somewhere in the 290’s. The fact that he weighed-in at 315 pounds is huge for him, especially if he continues to show that incredible first step off the line of scrimmage.
On top of those three, here is a list of other notable players at the same positions of need:
OT Chuma Edoga - USC
Chuma Edoga allowed just 6 total pressures last season pic.twitter.com/ocDZzI5hZu
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 10, 2018
- 6-foot-3 6/8 303 lbs. (Listed at 295 during his final season)
- 9 2/8 in.
- 34 7/8 in.
- 81 1/8 in.
Athletic tackle who still needs some reinforcement in the finer details of the tackle position. Moves well in space. Unusually narrow shoulders for the position.
OT Kaleb McGary - Washington
- 6-foot-6 7/8 321 lbs.
- 10 2/8 in.
- 33 5/8 in.
- 79 in.
Not the most fundamentally sound prospect but finds his success by giving 110% on every play. Was voted the Pac-12 Offensive Linemen of the Year.
OL Dalton Risner - Kansas State
“I don’t see him as a left tackle, but he could play four different spots. His intangibles are off the charts.”
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) January 21, 2019
- @JimNagy_SB on Dalton Risner #SeniorBowl
- 6-foot-4 5/8 308 lbs.
- 10 5/8 in.
- 34 2/8 in.
- 81 in.
Risner has been one of the highest-graded offensive linemen in all of college football over the past three years. Scouts believe his best place is inside, specifically at center due to his elite mental-processing and leadership traits.
OG Dru Samia - Oklahoma
- 6-foot-5 304 lbs.
- 10 in.
- 33 1/8 in.
- 80 in.
Member of offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s top unit. Athletic guard that was used as a puller quite often to pave the way for QB Kyler Murray and RBs Keith Brooks and Trey Sermon.
OT Andre Dillard - Wasihngton State
Andre Dillard's tape (MP4, really) vs. Oregon is the single best performance I have studied so far this draft cycle. He didn't lose a single rep -- not one. Light feet, great hands, can slide against speed or drop anchor against power. pic.twitter.com/LA6gt4I7c2
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) January 21, 2019
- 6-foot-4 7/8 310 lbs.
- 9 5/8 in.
- 34 in.
- 80 1/8 in.
One of the best pass protectors in the draft. Holds his 310 pounds very well on his frame. Would instantly sure-up the right tackle spot and give Philip Rivers a ton of security as he gets closer and closer to 40.
LB Deshaun Davis - Auburn
A TANK JUST WALKED UP TO THE PODIUM AND THEYRE CLAIMING IT’S A PERSON NAMED DESHAUN DAVIS
— The Draft Network (@DraftNetworkLLC) January 22, 2019
- 5-foot-11 3/8 231 lbs.
- 10 in. (BIG)
- 31 2/8 in.
- 76 2/8 in.
An absolute bowling ball out on the field. By far has the biggest hands for his position. One of the headliner players here at the Senior Bowl.
LB Te’Von Coney - Notre Dame
- 6-foot-0 7/8 244 lbs.
- 9 1/8 in.
- 32 6/8 in.
- 77 2/8 in.
A very compact linebacker who possesses some of the best run-fits among his position group here in Mobile. Didn’t measure that well but was the heart of the Notre Dame defense in 2018.
LB Cameron Smith - USC
- 6-foot-2 230 lbs.
- 10 1/8 in.
- 32 2/8 in.
- 76 4/8 in.
LB Drue Tranquill - Notre Dame
The @SeniorBowl can determine a prospect’s future, but it’s important to reflect on the path that the players had to take just to get there. Drue Tranquill’s collegiate career will end this week, a journey that includes overcoming from two ACL tears: https://t.co/r0gQqE4veQ
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) January 21, 2019
- 6-foot-2 228 lbs.
- 9 6/8 in.
- 31 in.
- 74 in.
Came back from two seperate ACL tears. Two-time team captain. Played 52 games for the Fighting Irish. Finished his career with 295 total tackles.
DT Dontavious Russell - Auburn
- 6-foot-3 1/8 319 lbs.
- 9 1/8 in.
- 32 in.
- 77 4/8 in.
A former 4-star recruit, Russell is one of the most versatile defensive tackles at the Senior Bowl as he’s capable of filling in at nose tackle or the three-technique. Has very active hands and shows strength at the point of attack.
DT Greg Gaines - Washington
- 6-foot-1 1/8 307 lbs.
- 9 3/8 in.
- 31 1/8 in.
- 75 5/8 in.
Almost joined former-teammate Vita Vea in going to the NFL after last season. Can be equally as disruptive. Excels at stopping the run and has the get-up-and-go to explode off the line and put pressure on the QB from anywhere along the interior.