2020 Senior Bowl: 26 Offensive Prospects to Watch

QB

1. Justin Herbert 6’6 240 Senior Oregon (South)

• Herbert might be the most physically talented passer in the 2020 class. The 6’6 240 passer led the Ducks to a rebound season that resulted in a Pac-12 championship and a Rose Bowl win. He’s comparable to Andrew Luck physically coming out of the draft. Herbert still has his warts, however as he has a tendency to throw to a predetermined point instead of throwing receivers open with anticipation. He was the latest quarterback to accept his invitation. Herbert will undoubtedly own the room when he gets interviewed by the NFL but he needs to prove it on the field. Some in the scouting community have questions about his leadership ability thanks to his introverted personality.

2. Jalen Hurts 6’2 218 Senior Oklahoma (South)

• Hurts accepted his invitation earlier this month. Athletically, he’s really solid and can run with the best of them. As a passer, he reverted to prior inconsistent form at Alabama. Key turnovers dotted the landscape for him throughout the season. Pocket presence will be an essential trait that he will need to prove to scouts. He will win over the interview room with his character and work ethic given that he was an excellent teammate as a backup. There are multiple clips of him working out after games. He has the arm talent to make all the throws but it’s not the best in the class.

3. Steven Montez 6’5 230 RS Senior Colorado (South)

• Montez is a pretty good passer when he isn’t concussed as he was for most of the USC game. He’s not the greatest athlete on the field but can manipulate the pocket. The quick passing game is his bread and butter game. Doesn’t have the biggest arm. Processing the clutter isn’t the greatest attribute.

4. Shea Patterson 6’2 202 Senior Michigan (North)

• Patterson has been really bad in 2019 until a decent stretch during the middle of the year until he regressed again towards the end. He transferred to Michigan after the Ole Miss sanctions hit the Rebels. A discount Johnny Manziel if you will.

5. Anthony Gordon 6’3 210 RS Senior Washington State (North)

• Not the greatest athlete at the position. He was the next Cougs quarterback to make a name for himself under Mike Leach. Possesses a rocket arm that can make all the throws, either to his receivers or to the defense is anyone’s guess. Has a lightning quick release and processing ability. Short game is fun to watch. Has great accuracy to all levels of the field.

6. Jordan Love 6’4 225 RS Junior Utah State (North)

• Love had an inconsistent 2019 season that resulted in much speculation for his future either as a graduate transfer or a declaring for the draft. He chose to declare for the draft. He took a step back as a result of the coaching change when Matt Wells left for Texas Tech. Another redshirt junior taking advantage of the graduate requirement to participate in Mobile. He’s been really hyped for the past couple of years. Pocket manipulation is a pretty good. Has the arm talent to make most of the throws. It will be interesting to see how he compares to his peers.

RB

1. Eno Benjamin 5’10 210 Junior Arizona State (South)

• Benjamin has been one of the best running backs in the conference the past two years (a title not lightly given the RB depth in the Pac-12). He won’t break the game wide open but has enough speed to get to where he needs to go. Gets a little lost in between the tackles at times. Improved vision and IQ. He’s in the Senior Bowl as a graduate junior. Benjamin skipped the Sun Bowl victory for draft prep reasons.

2. Joshua Kelley 5’11 219 RS Senior UCLA (South)

• Kelley has been one of the more underrated running backs in the Pac-12 due to the state of affairs in Westwood. He’s more of a in between the tackles type of runner that can move well enough laterally to make people miss. His footwork is very good and doesn’t have many false steps.

3. Lamical Perine 5’11 221 Senior Florida (South)

• Like Kelley, Perine is more of a in the tackle box type of runner but he has a little wiggle to his game. Footwork and lateral agility can be defined as good things in the tool kit. I love that he knows what type of running back he is and doesn’t stray away from it.

4. Ke’Shawn Vaughn 5’10 218 RS Senior Vanderbilt (South)

• Vaughn broke out as a redshirt junior but had a really tough season in 2019 due to a myriad of issues surrounding the Commodores. He still did enough to merit an invitation to the Senior Bowl though. It can be argued that he can be the most intriguing running back in this year’s class.

WR

1. Denzel Mims 6’3 215 Senior Baylor (North)

• Mims has been one of the more underrated receivers in the nation. Speaking of most improved receivers, Mims is one. A big time athlete that has immense catch radius and can score from pretty much anywhere on the field.

2. Michael Pittman, Jr 6’4 215 Senior USC (North)

• Pittman is a huge red zone threat given his size and great ball skills. Plus route runner. Excellent catch radius and hands. Athletically, not the most inspiring but inside the 20, it’s hardly needed. He has been the best receiver in the conference but it has been close.

3. Brandon Aiyuk 6’1 206 Arizona State (South)

• The leading receiver for the Sun Devils. He’s a YAC monster. Has opened a lot of eyes in the scouting community even with a true freshman QB trying to figure things out. Straight line speed could be an issue but lateral agility is not. Good route runner that varies depth and speed of the route. A dynamic returner as well. He’s one of the most improved receivers in the draft class. He should have a big week like Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin did last year. Skipped the bowl game for draft prep reasons.

4. Quartney Davis 6’2 200 RS Junior Texas A&M (North)

• Davis is another redshirt junior that is eligible for the Senior Bowl due to graduation. He’s a really solid route runner and probably the best of the bunch from A&M. The medical portion during the Combine will be key for him as he has missed a lot of games due to various injuries over his career. He’s one of the more underrated route runners as he can vary his depth and location of his routes with ease. He can have Deebo Samuel potential at Mobile.

5. Van Jefferson 6’2 195 RS Senior Florida (South)

• Jefferson was a transfer from Ole Miss just like Shea Patterson due to the sanctions. He is the son of longtime NFL wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. He’s very nuanced in his route running ability thanks to his father. A lot bigger than what I realized. Was Florida’s key target during some quarterback injury related turmoil this past season.

6. Devin Duvernay 6’1 205 Senior Texas (South)

• It took him a little while to get going in his career but he took off as a senior. Solid with the ball in his hands like a running back. One of the faster players in the nation. He’s so fast that he nearly tripped against TCU on a post route and still managed to blow by the defensive back for a TD. A discount version of former NFL receiver Percy Harvin if you will.

7. Chase Claypool 6’4 224 Senior Notre Dame (North)

• He’s listed as a receiver but can also play tight end. TE may be his ticket to the NFL as he’s limited athletically as compared to other receivers in the class. It will be interesting to see which position group he works out in.

8. Collin Johnson 6’6 215 Senior Texas (South)

• The Horns’ jump ball specialist. Route running is just average but he uses his size well to box out defenders to make a tough catch. The main target for Sam Ehlinger but QB issues have prevented him from being the true dominant threat he could become. A willing blocker most of the time. Kind of a bigger Juwan Johnson if you will.

OT

1. Prince Tega Wanagho 6’7 305 RS Senior Auburn (South)

• One of the nation’s best tackle prospects. He has the size and length to stay at tackle at the next level. Physical at the point of attack. Hand usage is a great. Still learning the technical points of the game as he started playing football in high school. Footwork is a plus. He played really well against Oregon’s talented defensive front. Should be in a for good week at Mobile.

2. Colton McKivitz 6’7 312 RS Senior West Virginia (North)

• McKivitz is another right tackle that moved to left tackle this past season. He played rather well considering the technical differences between the two spots. He’s built like a mountain at 6’7. Huge in the run game but is solid as a pass protector as well. One of the sleepers at tackle due to West Virginia’s state of the program.

3. Trey Adams 6’8 327 Senior Washington (North)

• Adams went through a tough 2018 season due to injury and losing his left tackle spot to current Atlanta Falcon Kaleb McGary. He’s now fully healthy for a 2019 comeback tour. A huge mountain that’s hard to move but leverage is an issue due to height. Medical history is scary due to a 2017 ACL and the 2018 back injury.

4. Charlie Heck 6’7 307 RS Senior North Carolina (North)

• Heck was a standout left tackle for the Tar Heels this past season. He’s an absolute mountain of a man at 6’7 307 and reportedly had a good week of practices at the East-West Shrine Game last week. He moved to left tackle from the right tackle position for the 2019 season so teams will love his versatility.

OG

1. Ben Bredeson 6’5 305 Senior Michigan (North)

• He has a lot of experience at guard for the Wolverines. He’s a typical Big Ten lineman i.e. country strong and a brutal finisher. Footwork is a plus along with his anchor in pass pro. Can fly on pull blocks, relatively speaking.

C

1. Nick Harris 6’1 287 Washington (North)

• Harris is the best center in the conference. He’s position versatile as well. Work ethic and motor are a plus. Footwork is an issue that he needs to correct. If that 287 weight is real then he needs to add a few more pounds to take on the bigger defensive linemen he’ll face at the next level.

2. Lloyd Cushenberry III 6’4 315 RS Junior LSU (South)

• The starting center for the reigning national champion Tigers was a late addition soon after he declared for the draft. He’s eligible as a redshirt junior due to graduating LSU before the deadline. He has the ability to play guard at the next level and is a road grading type of run blocker that can move well to the second level.