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North Tops South Behind Isaiah Pead's Strong Performance - Senior Bowl 2012

Photo - RB Isaiah Pead - Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Senior Bowl, Saturday after totaling 129 all-purpose yards.

“A win caps off the week," Pead said. "You want to go in and practice hard, interview well and meet fans, but going away with a loss – as a competitor – I wouldn’t like that. We’re all out here competing and for the North side to come in and get a win caps off everything. I got everything I wanted out of this week. I got good work done at practice and I got a win for this game."

It was a record-setting day for the reigning Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Pead surpassed J.D. Hill of Arizona State as the Senior Bowl’s all-time leader in punt return yardage with 98 on the day. The previous record of 73 had stood since 1971. He also added 31 rushing yards. Pead raised a few eveybrows when he measured in at just under 5'10" and 193 lbs. at the Monday morning weighti-in. He played at over 200 lbs over the 2011 season, but he was noticeably quicker at the Senior Bowl practices and during the game. He also showed big play ability as a punt returner after only marginal talent in that role as a collegian.

Pead adds to his list of accolades which include: 2011 Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big East running back and 2011 Liberty Bowl MVP. He led the conference with 1,259 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs.

Joining Pead in the post-game awards ceremony was his teammate this week, Utah St linebacker Bobby Wagner. Wagner was named the Most Outstanding Player on the North after leading the squad with seven total tackles, including one tackle for loss, one interception and one pass breakup. “It’s a pleasure. Just to be out here with everybody and to be looked at as one of the best players on the field, it’s a great thing for a small school guy,” Wagner said.

Despite the North’s victory, the South did enjoy some highlights Saturday as Joe Adams earned Most Outstanding Player of the South squad with 133 receiving yards on eight catches. “It feels good because there are so many great players on the South team and to be chosen as a standout is definitely a blessing only from God,” Adams said.

It was Adams’ fumble however that led to the game’s first points, a 27-yard field goal by Purdue’s Carson Wiggs. The second quarter belonged to the North as they outscored their opponent 10-3, thanks to an 8-yard scoring strike from Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson to Cal’s Marvin Jones and another Wiggs field goal—this time from 32 yards out. Bullock added his second field goal of the day in the second quarter too, but the South went into the locker room down 13-6.

Michigan St QB Kirk Cousins continued the North’s offensive success in the second half, hitting Arizona St receiver Gerell Robinson over the middle for a 41-yard touchdown to give the North a 20-6 lead. The South appeared to have life in the early going of the fourth quarter on Arizona QBNick Foles’ 20-yard touchdown toss to his former teammate in Tucson, Juron Criner, but Wiggs’ third field goal of the day—a 28-yarder—was all the North needed to hang on for the win.

The South still leads the all-time series with the North 30-27-3. The win improved the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff to 2-0 all-time in Senior Bowls, while the Washington Redskins fell to 3-4.

Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

Senior Bowl Players – Practices

Photo - QB Brandon Weeden - Oklahoma St

For Senior Bowl Players / Roster go www.Seniorbowl.com The Official site for the Senior Bowl - ‘The Premier All-star Classic of College Football’

Senior Bowl Practices
Thursday’s North morning practice was moved inside due to rain.

QBs Nick Foles of Arizona and Ryan Lindlay of San Diego St displayed strong arms over the week. They struggled with accuracy at times. They need good performances in the game Saturday to elevate their stock. Oklahoma St QB Brandon Weeden showed a very good arm and a very accurate touch. He took command of the offense quickly and is a prospect who helped his cause significantly over the practices. With a strong game performance, he may be able to overcome his one liability his age. A baseball career postponed his college football career and he is currently 28 years old.

Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson faced the tape on Monday and came in at just 5’10 5/8” that is too short for an NFL QB. He impressed with his mobility and accuracy on the move. He made a quick command of the offense, though his pocket passing was marginal with limited vision and passing lanes. QB Kellen Moore of Boise St has shown nice accuracy, though marginal arm strength. Both Wilson and Moore display very good intangibles and understanding of their offense. They need good performances in the game to elevate their stock and show they can play the position at the next level.

Draft Insiders.com will have an extensive Senior Bowl and East-West report in early February Newsletter

Arizona WR Juron Criner has impressed in passing drills, showing excellent hands and good ball skills. He has moved up the charts significantly. WR T.J. Graham of NC St. came in at over 5' 11 and 182 lbs. He was quick off the line and had a burst to get by corners in the vertical game. He has good speed and a big NFL Combine could elevate him further. Arkansas WR Jo Adams was also very fast and quick while showing sure hands. Texas A&M’s Jeff Fuller has had a tough week catching the ball and separating in coverage. He needs a good performance in the game to recover some lost ground. California WR Marvin Jones was impressive in passing drills showing good movement skills and body control. WR Brian Quick of Appalachian St. has fit right in to a bigger stage. He moves fluidly and snatches the ball naturally and uses his great size well.

DE Quinton Coples of North Carolina combines rare triangle numbers. He showed good power and leverage on the edge. He lacks a great initial burst, but he gets penetration on power and his ability to separate when he uses sound technique. South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram is a versatile positional fit for both front sevens. He comes in at under 6’2” and 31” arm length. He shows very good leverage and power to separate with the instincts to get to the ball. DTs Kendall Reyes of UConn and DT Kheeston Randall of Texas flashed quickness and power from the inside. Reyes was very quick and gained consistent interior penetration. Washington DT Alameda Ta’amu was an inside force and held the point well, showing excellent lower body power. Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw is one of the top OLB prospects who came in at 273 lbs. He fits both the ILB and OLB spot in a 3-4 scheme and holds the point of attack very well.

North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins has been very impressive in coverage. He came in just under 5’10” and a solid 191 lbs. He is very strong and aggressive that allows him to jam consistently at the line. He broke up a number of passes showing the ability to open his hips and run with receivers. He did get beat deep a few times being overly aggressive. CBs Dwight Bentley of Louisiana-Lafayette, Brandon Boykin of Georgia and Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska has made strong showings in passing drills. Bentley is a smallish quick defender with excellent hips to run stride for stride with receivers. He has the ball skills to help a club in multiple sets. Boykin displayed a quick burst on the ball and oval good recognition skills. He matches up well and plays the ball nicely in coverage. Dennard shows a physical game in both run support and coverage. He has active hands and can push receivers off their route. Boston College CB Donnie Fletcher is a big agile corner who was physical at the line and capable of matchup up with bigger receivers. He has long arms to battle for the ball with good recognition skills. CB Josh Norman - 6'2" / 190 lbs. of Coastal Carolina was added to the game after a strong showing at the East-West game. He has excellent size with the ability to recognize and close on the ball. He plays the ball well relying on his long arms and fine leaping to deflect passes.

Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

Senior Bowl Week is Underway!.

Mobile, AL. - Senior Bowl Week 2012 is off and running with the arrival of the top senior college football players this weekend. Senior Bowl players underwent physicals, filled out questionnaires and then met with their respective coaching staffs. The Minnesota Vikings will be coaching the North squad this week, while the Washington Redskins will head up the South.

While the day was filled with anticipation and excitement for many of the nation’s top NFL draft prospects, a few Senior Bowlers had mixed emotions on Sunday. With the passing of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno dominating the news, former Nittany Lions Jack Crawford and D’Anton Lynn met with the media on Sunday to share their thoughts on the legendary coach.

The first official rosters were announced on Sunday. Among the new additions were Cincinnati defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, California wide receiver Marvin Jones and Texas A&M defensive lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie. Jerod-Eddie will line up alongside the likes of North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples on the South defensive line this week. Coples addressed the media Sunday at a kickoff press conference.

“Just go out and have fun,” Coples said. “It’s set up to be a fun bowl and have a great experience, and at the same time, it’s a business and you have to approach it as a business. But most important, you just have to go out and have fun and compete with the most elite college athletes in America.”

Senior Bowl Week continues today with the National Scouting Weigh-In in the morning followed by the first practice sessions of the week. Both teams will hit the field at 2:45pm (CT) Monday, with the South working out at Fairhope Municipal Stadium and the North practicing at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. All practices are free and open to the public.

Tickets for the 2012 Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.

About the Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl is college football’s premier senior showcase event, annually featuring the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. For more information on the 2012 Senior Bowl please visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.

Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

Vikings, Redskins to Coach 2012 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl 2012 Roster

The Senior Bowl is the nation’s most unique football game and football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South which are coached by the entire coaching staffs from two National Football League teams. Senior Bowl practices are also attended by over 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from the 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention.

The 2012 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012 in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The 2012 game will be nationally televised by NFL Network. Kickoff is 3pm (CST).

Vikings, Redskins to Coach 2012 Senior Bowl

The 2012 Senior Bowl will feature a pair of NFL head coaches making their Senior Bowl head coaching debuts. Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins staff will face Leslie Frazier and the Minnesota Vikings staff in the senior showcase event later this month, it was announced today. Shanahan and his staff will lead the South squad in Mobile, while Frazier’s Vikings staff will coach the North. The 2012 Senior Bowl is scheduled Saturday, January 28th. The game and all practices will be televised by NFL Network.

Both head coaches are no strangers to the event, having served as coordinators under different staffs in Mobile—Frazier with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004 and Shanahan with the Denver Broncos in 1986.

“We’re really excited about having both of these staffs here in Mobile working with the future stars of the National Football League,” Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. “With the amount of experience that both Coach Shanahan and Coach Frazier bring to the table, our players will receive the very best instruction as they prepare for the next level.”

This will mark the first time since 1998 and seventh time overall that the Redskins have been selected to coach the senior showcase event. Washington has gone 3-3 in their six previous trips to Mobile, coaching the North squad four times and leading the South twice. Shanahan’s Redskins went 5 and 11 this season—his second in Washington—and own the sixth overall pick in April’s draft. Prior to Washington, Shanahan led the Denver Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998. He began his NFL head coaching career with the Los Angeles Raiders and in 18 NFL seasons he’s 162 and 113 overall.

“The Senior Bowl provides us a great opportunity to get to know some of the young players who will be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft,” Shanahan said. The Redskins were clearly impressed with last year’s Senior Bowl roster, drafting a league-leading six players from the 2011 game—including Ryan Kerrigan with the 16th overall pick. The Redskins currently have 16 Senior Bowl alums on their roster.

This will be only the second time the Vikings staff has coached the Senior Bowl and first since 1980. That year, with Bud Grant at the helm, the Vikings staff led the North squad to a resounding 57-3 victory. “The Vikings coaching staff and I are very excited to be a part of a great tradition and have the opportunity to coach in the 2012 Senior Bowl. It gives us the chance to work with some of the most talented football players in the country as they prepare to enter the NFL,” Frazier said.

Frazier recently completed his first season as head coach in Minnesota, having worn the interim tag for six games in 2010. The Vikings went 3-13 this season and own the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. “We are looking forward to working with and getting to know all of the players we’ll have the opportunity to coach. We are excited to go into a great environment in Mobile and work with some incredible prospects,” Frazier added.

Like the Redskins, the Vikings also used their first round pick on a Senior Bowl player last year. Minnesota selected 2011 Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick and went on to choose four more Senior Bowlers in the draft. The Vikings currently have 19 former Senior Bowl players on their roster.

Tickets for the 2012 Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), all area Food For Less locations, select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.

Senior Bowl 2012 Roster
No. Name Position HT/WT School
TBA Adams, Joe WR 5-11 / 190 Arkansas
TBA Adams, Mike OL 6-8 / 320 Ohio State
TBA Allen, Antonio DB 6-2 / 202 South Carolina
TBA Ballard, Vick RB 5-11 / 220 Mississippi St.
TBA Bequette, Jake DL 6-5 / 271 Arkansas
TBA Blake, Philip OL 6-3 / 320 Baylor
TBA Boykin, Brandon DB 5-10 / 183 Georgia
TBA Brewster, Mike OL 6-5 / 315 Ohio State
TBA Bullock, Randy PK 5-9 / 212 Texas A&M
TBA Butler, Drew P 6-2 / 214 Georgia
TBA Crawford, Jack DL 6-5 / 265 Penn State
TBA Daniels, Mike DL 6-1 / 280 Iowa
TBA Ewing, Bradie RB 6-0 / 245 Wisconsin
TBA Fuller, Jeff WR 6-4 / 220 Texas A&M
TBA Ganoway, Terrance RB 6-0 / 240 Baylor
TBA Glenn, Cordy OL 6-5 / 348 Georgia
TBA Gray, Cyrus RB 5-10 / 200 Texas A&M
TBA Harris, Josh DS 6-1 / 224 Auburn
TBA Hayward, Casey DB 5-11 / 188 Vanderbilt
TBA Herron, Dan RB 5-10 / 205 Ohio State
TBA Howard, Jaye DL 6-3 / 303 Florida
TBA Iloka, George DB 6-3 / 216 Boise State
TBA Ingram, Melvin DL 6-2 / 276 South Carolina
TBA Jones, Ben OL 6-3 / 316 Georgia
TBA Lynn, D'Anton DB 6-1 / 210 Penn State
TBA Martin, Doug RB 5-9 / 215 Boise State
TBA McCants, Matt OL 6-7 / 295 UAB
TBA McNutt, Marvin WR 6-4 / 215 Iowa
TBA Moore, Kellen QB 6-0 / 191 Boise State
TBA Mosley, Brandon OL 6-6 / 310 Auburn
TBA Nortman, Brad P 6-3 / 210 Wisconsin
TBA Posey, DeVier WR 6-2 / 210 Ohio State
TBA Rainey, Chris RB 5-9 / 174 Florida
TBA Still, Devon DL 6-5 / 305 Penn State
TBA Tannehill, Ryan QB 6-4 / 222 Texas A&M
TBA Toon, Nick WR 6-3 / 220 Wisconsin
TBA Troutman, Johnnie OL 6-4 / 323 Penn State
TBA Wilson, Russell QB 5-11 / 210 Wisconsin
TBA Winn, Billy DL 6-4 / 295 Boise State
TBA Wojta, Kyle DS 6-2 / 230 Wisconsin
TBA Wright, Kendall WR 5-10 / 190 Baylor
TBA Zeitler, Kevin OL 6-4 / 315 Wisconsin

Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

All-Star Games 2011-2012 Postseason

The postseason 2011-2012 All-star game schedule begins on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia as the HBCU Senior Bowl game for small college prospects gets a chance to showcase their pro potential first in front of NFL scouts. Draft Insiders.com will have complete reports from every All-star game in our monthly Newsletters and exclusive emails to subscribers. Our December Newsletter 2011 will be out next week with new Top 150 Senior Pro Prospects, Mock Draft, Underclassmen Report and NFL Draft 2012 Buzz.

Photo - WR Michael Floyd - Notre Dame

All-Star Games 2011-2012 Postseason

* Dec. 18 - HBCU Senior Bowl - Atlanta, Ga

January Schedule - 2012
* Jan. 7 - Cactus Bowl - Division II - Kingsville, Tx
* Jan 16 - Casino del Sol All-star game – Tucson, Arizona
* Jan. 21 - East-West Shrine Classic – St. Petersburg, Florida
* Jan 21 - AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl - Los Angeles, Ca.
* Jan. 23 - Eastham Energy All-Star - Tempe, Arizona
* Jan. 28 - Senior Bowl - Mobile, Alabama
* Feb. 5 - Dixie Gridiron Classic - St. George, Utah

Frank Coyle writes ‘College Football Monday’ weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards

Christian Ponder Wins MVP of Senior Bowl

Photo - QB Christian Ponder - Florida St

Florida State QB Christian Ponder came to the 2011 Senior Bowl determined to show NFL that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Saturday he capped a week-long audition with an MVP performance, directing the South to a 24-10 victory over the North at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. He was the best QB in Mobile and helped his draft status significantly with a strong showing.

Ponder was high on our list of Pro Prospects that needed strong performances in the All-star classic. He missed his college finale in the ACC title game with an elbow injury that left key questions about his current health. He answered many of those questions with a strong week and fine game performances that reestablished him as a highly rated QB prospect. Draft Insiders graded him a first/second round grade to start the 2010 season, but a series of elbow and shoulder injuries left critical questions. With a month off prior to the Senior Bowl, he recovered nicely to prepare for the premier postseason game.

Complete Senior Bowl 2011 scouting report and other All-star games in the February Newsletter out next week. January Monthly Newsletter - 17 pgs. Available Now - Three Round Mock Draft, Top 150 Pro Prospects, East-West Game, Underclassmen and Small College Pro Prospects Reports - Order Today

Ponder earned the starting nod for the South squad directed by Chan Gailey and the Buffalo Bills’ staff. He completed 7-of-13 pass attempts for 132 yards and two TD passes that were the only scoring tosses of the day. “It was good week,” Ponder said. “I’m very proud. I got better and better each day, which was important. The biggest thing for me was to go out and prove that I was healthy and could still play. I threw the ball well and accomplished what I set out to do.”

With FSU consensus All-American guard Rodney Hudson also in the starting lineup, Ponder didn’t waste any time leaving a strong impressions in front of a sellout crowd, leading the South to scores on the first two possessions. He opened the game by connecting with Miami wide receiver Leonard Hankerson on a 49-yard pass, ran two times for 11 yards – converting a pair of third downs – and set up Josh Jasper’s 23-yard field goal. The 10-play, 73-yard march took 5:09 off the clock set the tone for the game.

Ponder was even better on the second series, which began auspiciously with a holding penalty that wiped out a completion. He got the South moving by completing 4 of 6 attempts for 46 yards, capped by an 18-yard scoring strike to Hankerson on a deep out route for a 10-0 lead with 2:14 to remain in the first quarter. The 11-play, 70-yard march that took 6:17 off the clock was Ponder at his vintage best efficiency.

While fellow South quarterbacks Greg McElroy and Andy Dalton split most of the second and third quarters, Ponder would get the lion’s share of the reps on the day.

“The ironic thing was I ended up being the only healthy quarterback on the team,” said Ponder. “The other two guys got hurt.” Dalton’s back stiffened and McElroy’s hand went numb after taking a hit.

“I had to stay in the game the whole fourth quarter,” Ponder said. “It worked out well.” The South was clinging to a 17-10 lead when Ponder took over at his own 32-yard line with 4:47 to play in the game. Once again he proved up to the challenge, completing a 14-yard pass to Hankerson for a first down to jump-start what would be the game-clinching possession. Aided by a few solid runs from backs Bilal Powell and Anthony Allen, the South kept the chains moving.

Facing third-and-five from the North 23, Ponder delivered the dagger – a 23-yard strike on a slant route to Jeremy Kerley for a touchdown and a 24-10 lead with 3:04 to play. The six-play, 68-yard drive in just under two minutes sealed the outcome and the MVP award. Ponder was especially proud of the three long scoring drives over the five possessions he directed.

“I think, especially against good competition - in a system I had to learn in a week - that’s what a good quarterback is supposed to do,” said Ponder. “To do that it on three [long] drives was great.”

Hudson also had a hand in a strong performance by the South, which out-gained the North 317-238 yards, including 127 rushing yards. Splitting time between left and right guard, the Mobile native was part of a line that surrendered just two sacks while facing a defense that featured two of the nation’s top senior pass rushers in Ryan Kerrigan and Jeremy Beal.
“It turned out pretty good,” Hudson said after the game. “I did some good things; made a couple of mistakes, but that’s part of learning.”

Both Hudson and Ponder will participate in the NFL Combine, which runs Feb. 23-March 1 in Indianapolis, and are expected to take part in FSU’s Pro Day in late March. The NFL Draft is April 28-30.

Frank Coyle is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc.