The 2020 Senior Bowl kicked off on Tuesday with the North and South teams starting their first day of practices.
Which players impressed? Which players disappointed?
Here are my picks for the the biggest winners and losers from Tuesday’s on-field action:
Winner – Javon Kinlaw | DT | South Carolina
Labeled as a projected top-20 going into the week, there was only so much to gain for Kinlaw. Many were wondering why he decided to still play this week despite being slotted to go high in the upcoming draft, and he said that he wanted to just come out and compete in his presser on Monday night.
Compete might be an understatement to describe Kinlaw’s showing on Tuesday afternoon, as he dominated some of the top interior offensive linemen. He used his power, length and explosive quickness to get into the backfield on every single.
Loser – John Simpson | OL | Clemson
One of Kinlaw’s victims was Simpson, who he routinely lined up across from during the one-on-one period. Simpson, who is being touted as a solid mid-round option in this year’s class, looked anything but solid going up against Kinlaw, and a couple other defensive linemen.
Simpson had contact balance and sustain issues, leading to many disappointing evaluators considering he was supposed to be one of the cream of the crop from the North Team after a polished tenure at Clemson. He will be eager to bounce back the next practices.
Winner – Lloyd Cushenberry III | C | LSU
It was complete domination for Kinlaw today, but there was one player that held his own against him in a small sample size. On that given rep, Cushenberry was technically and mentally advanced, showing the ability to anchor well against Kinlaw’s power rush.
Cushenberry is ranked as one of the top centers in this year’s class, and if he continues to showcase the type of performance that he put on display today for many NFL evaluators, he could very well be the first one selected come April.
Loser – Colton McKivitz | OT | West Virginia
McKivitz entered the day with solid measurements, coming in at 6-foot-6, 304 pounds with 33-inch arms and 10-inch hands. But that’s the only thing that the former Mountaineer had going for him on Day 1.
In the one-on-one period, McKivitz didn’t use his length or big hands to his advantage. He had no answer to wide speed and he also struggled to mirror and protect against inside moves, where Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes absolutely feasted on him.
Winner – Van Jefferson | WR | Florida
Jefferson was impossible not to notice today during the individual drills. He routinely beat opposing cornerbacks with a combination of getting in and out of his break, savvy route-running, and snagging everything thrown his way with soft hands. Should Jefferson keep the same kind of juice throughout the rest of the week, he could elevate his currently projected Day 3 stock.
Loser – Jalen Hurts | QB | Oklahoma
Hurts entered as one of the more intriguing quarterbacks from the group of six. Even though he’s being considered as a top-75 selection to him, there are still questions that he needs to answer when it comes to him as a passer, and he failed to do so on Day 1.
Hurts failed to throw with consistency or accuracy when targeting his wide receivers, where the ball either sailed over their heads or it hit the ground a few feet in front of them. We know Hurts can run, but can he change the narrative about him as a passer?
Winner – Darnay Holmes | CB | UCLA
Holmes entered this past season as a projected first-round selection, but injuries derailed his play and he had too many ugly reps that gave many scouts some pause. He graduated early and was invited to the Senior Bowl in hopes of rebuilding his draft stock.
In the one-on-one drills, Holmes played aggressive and fiesty where he got his hands on a few balls, and then proceeded to let his presence be known with his chirpiness. When receives went vertical, he remained on their hip the entire time, showcasing his blazing speed that he’s well known for.
Winner – Kyle Dugger | S | Lenoir-Rhyne
Everyone is always eager to see who the small-school standout will be at the Senior Bowl. Based on today’s performance, Dugger has the early advantage. It’s clear that adjusting to the speed of the game and bumping up in competition was not a problem for Dugger. During the one-on-ones, tight ends struggled to get open against him. Dugger is a safety in a linebacker’s body with a cornerback’s speed who should continue to raise eyebrows with his play-making ability.
