For 61 years now, the annual Senior Bowl has been a vital scouting tool for NFL teams.  For the last 60 years, Mobile, Alabama has become the unofficial home of the NFL for this week.  Each year we have players who help their draft stock during this week, and then there are those who hurt their stock.  The Senior Bowl week is the first exposure these prospects have to NFL coaching and an NFL style practice week and game.  It is a very good way to evaluate these prospects against the highest level of competition they have ever seen.

Risers

Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati

Gilyard came into Mobile underrated and overlooked  by most in my opinion.  I already had him rated as a first round prospect, and as the #1 receiver in this  class.  Despite a solid career against quality opponents and a made for T.V. type of path to get where he now is, most had written Gilyard off.  You often hear people go straight  to talk about his size, his long speed, and the Brian Kelly "system."  Gilyard did a lot to silence those critics a bit.  He showed his quickness in and out of his breaks and his fluid route running ability.  He also made it clear his long speed isn't quite the issue many make it out to be.  He started his week slow by dropping some passes, but rebounded to have a solid practice week.  On game day, he showed scouts he's a gamer who can contribute in many ways.  He lined up all over the field and showed he ability to catch intermediate routes as well as his deep threat ability.  He showed he willing and able as a blocker, and is a good "team guy."  In addition to his play, I believe his story speaks volumes about his character, desire, and work ethic.  That should go a long way with NFL brass.  Gilyard was easily the most complete, most NFL ready receiver at the Senior Bowl.

Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

Brandon Graham was more than any offensive linemen could handle all week at practice and then during the game.  Graham came into the week thought of as a late 1st to early 2nd round prospect.  I believe he got on his plane to leave Mobile as a solid mid first round pick.  Graham was in the backfield all game long, but showed he can play the run just as well or better than the pass.  He displayed his relentless motor, and really created a buzz among scouts.  It didn't hurt any to have his name mentioned in the same sentence as LaMarr Woodley all week long.  Graham's career, his performance in the Senior Bowl, his pedigree, and his versatility all add up to a very valuable prospect who likely won't last 20 picks on draft day.

Jared Odrick, DT/DE, Penn State

Jared Odrick came to Mobile know by most and definitely on everyone's radar.  But he showed he's far more than a late 1st round prospect, he showed he a solid top 15 prospect who could even slip into the top 10.  Odrick was dominant all week during practice and really showed he's versatile.  While he is an ideal 3-4 DE, he showed he's certainly not limited and could play in any scheme.  Odrick battled all week in the trenches with good technique and great leverage.  In the game he needed to be double teamed much of the day and was a very disruptive force up front for the North squad.

Sean Weatherspoon, OLB/ILB, Missouri

Sean Weatherspoon was both heard and seen by all the scouts, and I think they liked what they heard and saw.  Weatherpoon got off the plane mouth first and never quit talking all week long.  He showed his ability as a vocal leader, which many scouts probably didn't know about from simply watching him play.  This is one of the great things about the up close look scouts can get all week long.  From an on the field standpoint, I think Weatherspoon appeared much more versatile than I though he was.  Coming into the week I viewed him strictly as a 4-3 outside linebacker.  I was a bit surprised by his weigh in, even though it wasn't too far off from his listed weight by Missouri.  He appeared thicker than he did in the past when I watched him.  I believe he is now fairly comparable to former USC linebacker, and current Bengal Keith Rivers.  I now believe Weatherspoon should attract attention from both 4-3 and 3-4 teams.

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Kyle Wilson was immediately impressive as soon as he touched the field for his first practice.  He showed good feet and smooth technique all week at practice.  He got his hands on a lot of ball and showed overall very good ball skills, even though he dropped an interception during the game.  Provided Wilson has a solid combine, he could flirt with the first round on draft day.  Coming into the week I had Wilson as my 4th cornerback, and 55th overall prospect.  When I edit my rankings he will likely be my 3rd corner, and will move up to around 40th overall.

Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

Coming into the season, Robinson was my top cornerback prospect.  After an up and down senior season, I soured on him a little due to his inconsistent play.  What was made clear all week at the Senior Bowl was Robinson's solid physical abilities.  He showed great feet and quickness, and blanketed receivers all week long.  He showed the ability to play the run much better than his past indicated, and showed solid ball skills all week long.  Robinson is definitely the front runner to post the best 40 among the defensive backs at the combine, and that could be the final key to raise his stock back to where it once was.  I'm a bit torn on how to rank the top cornerback prospects, but I don't think Robinson will be any lower than 6th, but could be as high as 3rd.  I have some more homework to do on all of them, except my top corner Joe Ha den.

Dan Williams, DT/NT, Tennessee

Dan Williams helped his stock as soon as he stepped on the scale and weighed in at 329.  Williams was already considered a valuable 3-4 nose tackle prospect, but most felt he would need to add some weight.  Well now that his weight isn't an issue, the focus can be on his play.  On the field his play solidified him as a legitimate 3-4 nose tackle prospect.  Williams dominated would be blockers all week, and was a force during the game.  He even did some of the little things during the game, like batting down a pass at the line of scrimmage.  He also showed good ability for a big guy to make plays away from him.  I believe 3-4 teams will be split between Williams and Cody as the top nose tackle prospect.  Don't be mislead by the nose tackle talk, Williams isn't limited to just being a 3-4 nose tackle and could find a home in any scheme.

LaGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon

LaGarrette Blount wasted no time this year damaging his draft stock when he was suspended for punching a Boise State player after the first game of the season.  Blount who was thought of by most as a potential 2nd round pick coming into the season quickly became an after thought.  Blount weighed in at 246 pounds, and showed he can be a load in the short yardage and goaline situations.  He also showed he's a legitimate NFL starting running back.  His speed and quickness didn't match his frame.  He did struggle as a pass blocker, and will need work there.  I don't think he fully regained his preseason draft stock, but he did probably raise himself from a late rounder to a solid 4th round prospect. 

Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia

At first some might question Brown being on this list.  He didn't have an overly impressive game, and didn't show very good pocket awareness or accuracy.  What Brown did show was an NFL arm.  Brown came into his senior season as an unknown, untested quarterback.  Only a one year starter, Brown has a long way to go from a development standpoint.  Browns are strength really stood out from the other quarterbacks.  He's an athletic player and did make some nice plays with his legs.  He's still a late round developmental guy, but I think he assured him self to be drafted.

Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State

Any time a small school guy can hold his own against the "big boys" it's a feather in his cap.  Carrington didn't have what I would call a great week, and if he played for a bigger school he probably wouldn't get any mention on this list.  He did however show he belongs among the legitimate NFL prospects and really did a nice job displaying his abilities to the 3-4 teams.  Physically, Carrington look like a prototypical 3-4 DE.  I believe his value to be much higher to 3-4 teams than it does to some of the other schemes out there.  I won't go overboard like many in regards to his draft stock, but I believe he is now a 4th to 5th round prospect.  Coming into the week he was likely at best a late round prospect, or undrafted free agent.

Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Mississippi

I'm not sure if McCluster's play, or Mike Mayock's praises helped McCluster the most.  Regardless of what Mayock said, McCluster took care of things on the field.  He showed his versatility and how explosive he is.  He really created a buzz and got people talking.  It only takes one team, and I would be shocked if there's not several teams out there who "want that kid."  This will drive his stock up, and he now appears a top 100 lock.

Shay Hodge, WR, Mississippi

Much like his former teammate and current Steeler Mike Wallace, Hodge helped himself a lot at the Senior Bowl.  Hodge looked solid as a route runner, showed good speed, and caught the ball well.

Fallers

Taylor Mays, S, Southern California

I don't believe Mays did much to help or hurt his stock, but because the whole reason he was there was to help himself he's on this list.  Most scouts already knew the issues Mays has, but he may have amplified them.  He looked way to stiff an uncomfortable in coverage, and didn't appear to anything close to his rumored 4.3 speed.  In the game he made some plays, but continued to go for the knock out hit, didn't wrap, and missed some tackles.

Terrence Cody, DT/NT, Alabama

I hesitated to put Cody on this list, because I really don't think he hurt himself all that bad.  Everyone knew he was big, in fact he was listed at 365 and weighed in at 370.  The part that's bad about that is he weighed in over 20 pounds lighter just a few weeks ago at the National Championship game.  The one major glaring issue scouts have with Cody was increased.  Fortunately for Cody his on the field play was quite good.  For the week I almost consider Cody coming out with a push, but those images of him with no shirt will remain in scouts minds.

Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri

Danario Alexander's draft stock was sort of up in the air coming in to the Senior Bowl.  So it's hard to say how much he hurt himself.  Alexander looked stiff and not very fluid.  He dropped some passes, and wasn't very impressive as a route runner.  I would have a hard time believing Alexander will be drafted any sooner than the late 4th round.  He still needs to run a 40, and it that could further hurt his stock.

Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky

Lindley showed he had good feet, but seems to lack many other things.  He has sloppy inconsistent technique, and his small stature really stood out against some bigger receiver.  It's never good for a CB in an all star game to get picked on by opposing quarterbacks.

O'Brien Schofield, DE/OLB, Wisconsin

This is an unfortunate one to add to the list.  Schofield had a great East-West Shrine game, and was even the defensive MVP.  Unfortunately he tore his ACL in practice at the Senior Bowl.

Sam Young, OG/OT, Notre Dame

Young had an up and down week, but overall not a very good one.  Young pretty much showed he's a right tackle only, the worst classification for an offensive linemen.

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