Five observations from day two of the 2021 Senior Bowl

The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl kicked off this week and on Wednesday things ramped up as the second day of practice was underway. It’s on the second day that we see things get into a rhythm. Everyone has settled into their spots, a lot of catching up has been done, so there’s less chatter in the stands and more media members and scouts just concentrating on work.

There seems to be more of a serious tone by those in attendance this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has many people staying home that normally would attend, so there are fewer media members in attendance that there used to be. I’ve been going to this game since 2007, and this year reminds me of those early years when everyone under the sun didn’t know about the NFL convention that was/is the Senior Bowl. The players know this is the only chance to impress NFL teams in person with the Combine cancelled/changed next month.

Scouts know this is the only opportunity to get an in-person look at the nation’s best seniors. The media knows it’s time to get to work, so there’s less time for in-person social networking.

Here are five observations from day two of the 2021 Senior Bowl.

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Repeat Performance

I’ve seen hundreds of practices on the All-Star road trip, and during that time there have been plenty of players who stand out on the first day who fade into the background the rest of the week. It makes sense when you think about the newness of this situation for all involved.

These players are usually around others they don’t know and staffs they’ve never worked with. The players might have jitters on day one as they get ready for what is essentially a huge job interview that runs for the course of the week.

On the second day, players are already used to the routine of the schedule (for the most part) and they know what is expected of them. They know what they’ll go through on the field and they can relax. That means any player who was underperforming on day one could bounce back and have a strong week.

It was good to see players like Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, Virginia Tech running back Khalil Herbert and Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby back up their strong first day performances with above average performances on day two.

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Buckeyes Abound

Some of the best players on defense here at the 2021 Senior Bowl happen to be from Ohio State. There is a quaternary of Buckeyes defenders who are making impressions here in Mobile.

One of the best players from Wednesday’s practice was Buckeyes linebacker Justin Hilliard. A six-year player for the Buckeyes, Hilliard may not have as much hype around his game as his college teammates do, but he proved on the second day of practice that he is one player to watch.

Hilliard played significant snaps for the Buckeyes in 2020, after getting a sixth year of eligibility due to medical hardships. On the field, I liked his coverage ability and the high intelligence he plays with. Hilliard was not fooled by play fakes and seemed to understand his range and area of coverage. He also looked good when rushing the passer.

The Buckeyes have a fine program, so a player like Hilliard had to share time with talented players. A larger role in the pros may not be in the cards, but Hilliard looks like a player who is more than ready to make that jump. His teammates – linebacker Tuf Borland, linebacker Baron Browning and defensive lineman Jonathon Cooper – are ones to watch here in Mobile, as well.

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Small School Goes Big Time

It’s not just big-school prospects like those Buckeyes who are making plays at the Senior Bowl. One of my favorite players from the second day of Senior Bowl practice was South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson. The senior wide receiver has had no problem getting open against the coverage he’s seeing, and he made play after play in the morning practice.

Johnson was making defenders look silly in both one-on-one and team drills. There were two defenders who slipped and fell trying to cover Johnson when he made a move. That led to Johnson being wide open where he could easily snare the incoming pass.

Even when Johnson was getting interfered with by a defender, he still made a play. On a sideline throw, Johnson was getting pulled by Darren Hall but was still able to keep his concentration and make a one-handed grab for a big play. That was one of the biggest “ooh” plays of the day, which drew a big response from the crowd of media and scouts in attendance.

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Secondary Help

Some of the best drills here at the Senior Bowl are the one-on-ones where wide receivers go up against cornerbacks. On Wednesday, there was a lot of smack talk going back and forth between these offensive and defensive players. It was fun to see, as things got more physical than perhaps the coaches wanted between these receivers and cornerbacks.

The Broncos could use some help in the secondary, so I’ve been watching cornerbacks and safeties closely for two days trying to find players who fit Vic Fangio’s defense. I believe Minnesota cornerback Benjamin St. Juste could be a player who does just that.

St. Juste had to medically retire due to a hamstring injury suffered when he played for Michigan back in 2018. He entered the transfer portal and ended up with the Gophers. On Wednesday, St. Juste showed why his size is tough to throw on.

He’s a tall and strong cornerback who loves to get physical as a run-defender and with wide receivers in their routes. Not only was he getting physical, but St. Juste was talking to back it up.

He may not be the fastest player, but St. Juste is an intriguing late-round corner because he can recover with length and guile. I liked what he showed on the practice field during day two.

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Plenty of Fight in the Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have some good players here at the Senior Bowl. Arguably the best player here from that program is defensive lineman Daelin Hayes. He was a standout player on Wednesday for his disruptive play, and he made my notebook several times because of it.

Hayes has strength at the point of attack. With a prototypical build for a pass-rusher, Hayes has multiple moves to get after the quarterback. He knows how to stack moves effortlessly and doesn’t lose much time when he has to go to a second or third move.

Hayes also knows how to set up moves, leaving blockers guessing as to what could be coming at them. I liked what he did in “the pit” on Wednesday where he was able to show off both his brute strength and his quickness and hand-fighting ability.

Hayes is an edge player who can line up with his hand in the dirt or standing up. I believe his draft stock is on the rise after two days of practice.

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