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Senior Bowl: Wednesday stock report

MOBILE, Ala. – The second day of practice was cold, windy and wet but there were still plenty of standouts here at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Here is a look at who performed (in alphabetical order) the best – and some who struggled - on Day 2.

Braxton Miller
Braxton Miller (USA TODAY Sports Images)
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STOCK UP

RB Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech

Dixon put up huge numbers in his college career and he not only proves he belongs at this level but he’s showing out well. Dixon has good vision in tight spaces to break off big runs and if he gets to the second level there aren’t many players who can track him down. The former three-star from Strong (Ark.) Strong Huttig has also shown the ability to catch passes out of the backfield.


OG Josh Garnett, Stanford

Garnett is a hard-nosed interior lineman who has shown through two days that he plays with tremendous leverage and power. The former four-star from Puyallup, Wash., can also get to the second level and block as plays develop. He seems to have a great understanding of what’s trying to be accomplished and then going out and getting it done.


DT Austin Johnson, Penn State

Johnson is a handful up the middle because even when blocked he’s pushing the pile into the pocket and making trouble for the offense. Plays that get strung to the outside, Johnson can chase those down. If the quarterback is sitting in the pocket, Johnson is in his face. Time and again, Johnson was making a play one way or another.


WR Jay Lee, Baylor

Lee continues to have a phenomenal week. His size is a major issue for smaller cornerbacks and he has the speed to be a downfield threat as well. It’s been the intermediate routes where he’s done his best work, though, and his nicest play came on a one-handed sideline grab that impressed everybody who saw it.


WR Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Miller is proving to be one of the best receivers here – and the scary part is he’s only played the position for one season. The former four-star quarterback has quickly learned his route running and he is such a tremendous athlete that defensive backs can’t keep up with him. As he refines his game, watch out. Any smart NFL franchise takes this guy earlier than expected because in a couple years he could be special.


DE Carl Nassib, Penn State

Nassib showed his speed to the edge during Tuesday’s practice. On Wednesday, it was his power to go right through offensive linemen or attack the inside. The former walk-on at Penn State has a wide repertoire of moves he can use and no offensive tackle has shown any semblance of an ability to slow him down.


DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky

Spence is an athletic, attacking defensive lineman who has the ability to blow by people but also to physically dominate the line of scrimmage to make things happen. The former five-star who originally signed with Ohio State has had two strong days. On Wednesday, he was even better as he took over at times and was a nuisance along the line of scrimmage.


S Darian Thompson, Boise State

Thompson is long and athletic, and he can run in coverage, make up a lot of ground and he’s consistently sticking his hand in there to break up passes. He can come downhill to make a big tackle or he can turn on the deep ball, catch up to receivers and do something that way. The former three-star from Lancaster (Calif.) Paraclete had an outstanding showing at Wednesday’s workout.


Nick Vannett
Nick Vannett (USA TODAY Sports Images)

TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State

A strong candidate to be on stock up after the first day of practice, Vannett had another solid showing as he uses his big body to shield defensive backs or linebackers and then he has really reliable hands. The former four-star from Westerville (Ohio) Westerville Central runs nice routes, can get separation but also catch passes when defenders are hanging all over him.


DE Jihad Ward, Illinois

Ward had a strong first day and continued it on Wednesday morning as the former three-star from New York (N.Y.) Globe Tech used his speed and power on the outside to get into the backfield and make plays. He doesn’t overrun plays often and Ward does a nice job of pushing the play inside so others can join in the tackle. Ward has nice speed off the edge and he also gets good leverage against offensive linemen.


OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State

Whitehair struggled a little on Day 1 and let defensive linemen shed his blocks a little but that was not the case on the second day of practice. He had great balance and feet, and once he engaged with a defensive lineman they were not going anywhere. That was the type of performance that could move him up some draft boards.


Tavon Young (right)
Tavon Young (right) (USA TODAY Sports Images)

CB Tavon Young, Temple

Young continues to be arguably the best cornerback here. He’s undersized but he locks up at the line of scrimmage, has tremendous footwork and can break on the pass once it’s thrown. Because he’s a little smaller, Young can get into receivers a little more, he uses his hands aggressively and he’s like a magnet to the WR as he goes through his route.

STOCK DOWN

Aaron Burbridge
Aaron Burbridge (USA TODAY Sports Images)

WR Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State

The major issue with Burbridge is a lack of suddenness. He doesn’t have incredibly quick feet at the start of his route which allows corners to get into him and stay with him as he goes through it. His hands are fine and he catches some tough passes but he doesn’t blow by anybody and the QB has to put it perfectly on him every time because the corner is always right there.

LB Kyler Fackrell, Utah State

Fackrell has excellent size at close to 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds and he has nice length. But he’s too stiff and can’t keep up with fast receivers in the slot or running backs coming out of the backfield at all times. That could be a major concern heading to the next level. There’s no doubt he can cover ground and plays well downhill but the lateral speed isn’t always there.

QB Kevin Hogan, Stanford

Hogan has some issues he needs to correct if he’s going to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has an elongated delivery that exposes the ball for too long, he doesn’t have an incredibly strong arm and on Wednesday he struggled with accuracy. The speed here is such that the ball needs to be zipped out in a split-second and Hogan hasn’t shown the ability to do that.

CB Cyrus Jones, Alabama

Jones measured in at under 5-foot-10 which is a concern and in practice he holds way too much. Everybody gets away with a little something but Jones is all over the receivers to the point where one had his shoulder pad pulled out of his jersey. He face guards and draws contact that way, too. In a real game, a lot of flags would be thrown if that’s the way Jones would play it.

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