Every year the Senior Bowl is one of the highlights of the draft process. It allows the top senior prospects from all over the country an opportunity to come together and compete for the eyes of the NFL's scouting departments. Like the rest of the NFL, the New York Giants will have a keen eye on all the practice drills as well as the game itself.
Last year it was the launching pad for Ali Marpet to leap from an interesting but obscure Division III player into the second round of the draft. This year, in addition to the game itself -- which will be aired on the NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 30, -- the NFL Network will be airing the week's practices in full. This is a tremendous opportunity to see the seniors in the same manner as the scouts and GMs in attendance.
The Senior Bowl players will likely be dominating the draft conversation over the coming week, so we'll start by taking a brief look at players who either have a lot to prove or could leap off your screen. This year in particularly the two rosters are loaded with talent (especially linebackers, Beezer Brigade!), so there will be plenty of players to watch.
North Roster
Offensive Line
- Jason Spriggs (OT, Indiana)
- Joe Haeg (OT, North Dakota State)
- Jack Allen (OC, Michigan State)
Running Back
- Kenneth Dixon (RB, Louisiana Tech)
Receiver
- Aaron Brubridge (WR, Michigan St.)
- Braxton Miller (WR, Ohio State)
- Leonte Caroo (WR, Rutgers)
- Nick Vannette (TE, Ohio State)
Defensive Line
- Vernon Butler (DT, Louisiana Tech)
- Adolphus Washington (DT, Ohio State)
- Austin Johnson (DT, Penn State)
- Sheldon Day (DT, Notre Dame)
- Carl Nassib (DE, Penn State)
Linebacker
- Joshua Perry (OLB, Ohio State)
- Kyler Fackrell (OLB, Utah State)
- Tyler Matakevich (ILB, Temple)
- Jared Norris (ILB, Utah)
Defensive Back
- Darian Thompson (FS, Boise St.)
- Miles Killbrew (SS, Southern Utah)
- Eric Murray (CB, Minnesota)
South Roster
Offensive Line
- Spencer Drango (OT, Baylor)
- Le'Raven Clark (OT, Texas Tech)
- Vadal Alexander (OT, LSU)
Running Back
- Kenyan Drake (RB, Alabama)
Receiver
- Charone Peake (WR, Clemson)
- Sterling Shepard (WR, Oklahoma)
- Glenn Gronkowski (TE, Kansas St.)
Defensive Line
- Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville)
- Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama)
- Noah Spence (EDGE, Eastern Kentucky)
- Dadi Nicholas (EDGE, Virginia Tech)
- Shawn Oakman (DE, Baylor)
- Charles Tapper (DE, Oklahoma)
Linebacker
- Deion Jones (ILB, LSU)
- Antonio Morrison (ILB, Florida)
- Kentrel Brothers (ILB, Missouri)
- Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama)
- Eric Striker (OLB, Oklahoma)
- Jordan Jenkins (OLB, Georgia)
Defensive Back
- Cyrus Jones (CB, Alabama)
- Jonathan Jones (CB, Auburn)
- Jalen Mills (FS, LSU)
- Jeremy Cash (S, Duke)