Senior Bowl Measurement Highlights

January 22, 2019

For many players, the most important aspect of the Senior Bowl is not what happens on the field, but how they measure up at Tuesday’s weigh-in session. And as noted in an earlier report one of the biggest questions NFL scouts had coming into Mobile was exactly just how tall was West Virginia QB Will Grier. Grier was listed at 6-3 this fall, but there were concerns that he might be only 6-1 or so which would be problematic. In the end, Grier measured in at a perfectly respectable 6-2.4, 218 with 9.5″ hands. same story for Missouri’s Drew Lock who measured in at 6-3.6 and 223 pounds, although his hand size (just 9″) was a little smaller than the pros like to see in a QB. Best looking QB in shorts though was Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson who measured in at a basketball sized 6-7, 249 with 10″ hands. Duke’s Daniel Jones also passed the eyeball test as he measured in at 6-5, 220 with almost 10″ hands. On the other hand, Washington State’s Gardner Minshew, who led the NCAA in passing in 2018, measured in at under 6-1, although he is thick enough at 224 pounds, while he also impressed with huge (10″ plus) hands. Penn State’s Trace McSorley also measured in at an undersized 6-0, 200, which is even a little smaller than had been projected.

Maybe the most impresive guy at this morning’s weigh-in session was Mississippi State ER Montez Sweat, who also happens to be the highest rated player over at this year’s Senior Bowl. Sweat measured in at 6-6, 252 with the length (35.5″) and clubs (10″ plus hands) that NFL teams covet. Sweat had been considered to be more of a 3-4 edge-rusher type, but has more than enough size to figure just as easily as a traditional 4-3 DE. In fact, there were a number of other DE/OLB/ERs that really impressed at today’s weigh-in. In no particular order:

  • Texas DE Charles Omenihu measured in at 6-5.5, 274 with exceptional 36.5″ arms
  • Iowa DE Anthony Nelson was almost 6-7 and 272 with 34 and 3/4″ arms
  • Boston College DE Zach Allen measured in at 6-4.3 and 280 pounds with 34.5″ arms and 10″-plus hands
  • Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson, who led the NCAA with 17.5 sacks this fall, measured in at 6-4.5, 256 with 34.5″ arms, although his hands (8.5″) are a little on the small side.

Couple of other notes on the defensive line: Northern Illinois ER Sutton Smith, arguably the most disruptive edge rusher in college football over the past two years, passed one test when he measured in at over 6-0 (although just barely), but is likely to be downgraded as he has very short arms at under 31″. Same for Alabama 5T Isaiah Buggs who measured in at a full-sized 6-2, 295, but also had less than 31″ arms.

There were also some interesting developments on the other side of the ball, although from a purely eyeball perspective, the OL guys not quite as impressive as the DL prospects. It will be interesting to see, for example, what pro teams make of the numbers for Kansas State’s Dalton Risner and Andre Dillard of Washington State. Both were outstanding OTs in college, but some scouts feel they are better suited physically to kick inside at the next level. And the numbers from Mobile for both are marginal. For the record, Dillard measured in at just under 6-5, with 34″ arms and 9.5″ hands, while Risner is 6-4.5 with 34″ arms, but bigger hands at 10.5″. Again, nothing necessarily wrong with those numbers, they are just not elite. Same story for Washington’s Kaleb McGary, who at 6-6.7 and 312, blocked out the sun, but again has just 34″ arms. And it was the same story for Northern Illinois’ Max Scharping, who is certainly big enough at 6-5.7, 320, but maybe lacks ideal length with arms under 34″. In fact, the most impressive OTs, at least in shorts, were rising small school stars Oli Udoh of Elon and Tytus Howard of Alabama State. Udom, one of the stars at last week’s Shrine game, measured in at 6-5.6, 327 with long (36″) arms and big hands (10″). Same for Howard who tipped the scales at 6-5, 322 with 34 and 3/4 arms and 10.5″ clubs.

A couple of interior offensive linemen also had good mornings at the weigh-ins. Mississippi State C Elgton Jenkins, for example, aced the eyeball test as he measured in at 6-4, 314, with 34″ plus arms and 10″ hands. Same for Boston College’s Chris Lindstrom who also has 34″ arms as he measured in at 6-3.6, 303. At the same time, both C/G Michael Dieter of Wisconsin and NC State C Garrett Bradbury have arms under 33″, but both have huge hands. Indeed, Dieter’s mitts measured in at over 11″, while Bradbury’s were in the 10.5″ Biggest OL today, though, was unheralded Jacksonville State OG BJ Autry, who came in at 6-3, 351 with 35″-plus arm length.

Not as much to report among the skill position players. Baylor WR jalen Hurd, who unfortunately won’t play this because of an injury, won first prize among the WRs as he measured in at 6-4.5, 227 with 10″ hands. Unheralded Old Dominion WR Travis Fulgham also turned some heads as he measured in at 6-2, 210 with 35″ arms. On the other hand, possession receivers Andy Isabella of UMass, who led the country in receiving this fall, and Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow looked more like smurfs. Isabella measured in at under 5-9 and 186 with 8.5″ hands and arms just under 30″, while Renfrow, the All-American over-achiever for the national champs, came in at 5-10, 175 with just 29″ arms and 8″ hands. However, they still haven’t figured out a way to measure heart at the Senior Bowl yet!