Five biggest NFL draft risers at Senior Bowl
— -- MOBILE, Ala. -- This was one of the better weeks of Senior Bowl practices in recent memory. Phil Savage and his team deserve a lot of credit for putting together two rosters with good talent from top to bottom.
Here are the players who helped their draft stocks the most in the three practices this week.
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Wentz's physical tools are obvious. He's a big, strong kid with an awesome arm and good mobility. He passed the test, showing he could make all the necessary throws. What's perhaps more impressive -- or more revelatory -- is the way he carried himself. When he wasn't getting physical reps, he made a point to listen to the call in the huddle so he could still get mental reps. You can tell Wentz just loves football. Within a QB class that doesn't really have a clear-cut top guy right now, Wentz made a strong case to be the No. 1 passer off the board. (And oh by the way, he did it while being coached by the staff of the Dallas Cowboys, who pick at No. 4 overall and could be in the market to draft Tony Romo's long-term successor.) It's hard to imagine this week going much better for Wentz.
Braxton Miller, WR/RS, Ohio State
Let's start with his size: As a wide receiver and return specialist, Miller's measurables (6-foot-1, 204 pounds) are exactly what NFL scouts are looking for. He has good length and he's lean, which enables him to move effortlessly on the field. Miller wowed with his change-of-direction ability in both individual drills and one-on-ones, looking the part of a polished wide receiver (check out the videos below). That's impressive stuff for a guy who has been playing the position for less than a year. This was an important week for Miller, who wasn't used a ton as a receiver in his final season at Ohio State (just 26 receptions) and needed to prove to NFL scouts that he was more than just a gadget player at the next level. If his tape from this week is any indication, Miller has the looks of someone who could really star at the combine next month.
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
We've been trying to tell you about this guy for a while. Rankins followed up his best season at Louisville with a standout performance in Mobile. On Wednesday, in particular, he was impossible for offensive linemen to handle in one-on-ones, using his violent hands, impressive first step and powerful lower-body to penetrate the backfield. In the process, he proved to any remaining doubters that he's more than just a gap-plugger. At 6-foot-2, 303 pounds, Rankins -- who tweaked his knee Thursday and will not play in Saturday's game -- displayed great movement ability for a guy his size. Combine Rankins' tape, which shows he has plenty of scheme versatility, with his performance this week, and he's starting to look more and more like a first-round talent.
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
Spence came to Mobile with a lot to prove after transferring from Ohio State due to two drug-related suspensions, and he was flat-out dominant the last two practices of the week. He showed terrific burst and explosiveness. You just don't find a lot of athletes who can dip and bend around the edge like him. Spence is a better pass-rusher than run defender, but on several occasions this week, he displayed the ability to stack and shed. There are obvious character concerns here -- and you can bet teams will dig into his past to see if he's worth the risk -- but solely in terms of on-field ability, Spence has top-15 talent. He might be the best pure edge rusher in this class.
Jason Spriggs, LT, Indiana
Spriggs was the best pure left tackle prospect in Mobile. He passed the first test of the week, with his arms measuring 34? inches. That gives Spriggs a lot of upside, when you factor in his quick feet and natural ability as a pass protector. He's not a road-grader in the run game -- and that's OK. NFL teams will be enticed by his athleticism after watching him hold his own in one-on-one drills against a good group of pass-rushers.
