Several SEC players impressed during Thursday’s Senior Bowl practices including Auburn wideout Sammie Coates, Georgia linebacker Amarlo Herrera and Alabama offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn was also in Mobile, Ala., to check on the progress of Coates along with five other participating Tigers during what has become the premiere event before the combine for scouts and NFL head coaches.
Coates has been a difficult cover 1-on-1 throughout the week and has natural speed and athleticism that should translate well to the next level. Drops are sometimes an issue but on Thursday, Coates hauled in multiple passes on various routes including a nice back-shoulder reception.
Auburn’s Sammie Coates went up to the highest point and pulled down a nice TD in a goal-line drill today at @seniorbowl practice.
— Alex Byington (@AUBlog) January 22, 2015
Some NFL teams are reportedly reluctant to draft Kouandjio due to an injury-riddled past, but he’s been dominant this week.
“More times than not, you see the ability to be a powerful, drive blocker,” CBSSports draft analyst Dan Brugler told the Montgomery Advertiser. “Latching on and driving defenders out of the play. He’s just kind of been a bully this week.”
#Alabama G Arie Kouandjio is quite athletic, great job vs best interior rushers. Looks like most talented G at #SeniorBowl. —@PewterReport — LivingTheCrimsonLife (@LivingCrimson) January 22, 2015
Eric Galko of OptimumScouting.com says LSU’s La’el Collins had his best day of the week up front:
LSU tackle La’el Collins played better today, but his technique wasn’t the reason why. He is over reliant on his length and strength. Today it happened to work. He has to stay more balanced and keep his legs moving, or else he’s vulnerable.
Herrera, a tackling machine at Georgia, has been one of the better linebackers this week despite being a late addition.
He has reportedly drawn interest from the Atlanta Falcons:
RT @BassinDawg: Falcons have shown interest in Amarlo Herrera – would be good to see that DGD stay close to home! pic.twitter.com/BvfDS1f5KH
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) January 22, 2015
Observations and video
Winners from day 3 south at #SeniorBowl: Sammie Coates, D’Joun Smith, Kevin White, Arie Kouandjio, Stephone Anthony and Owamagbe Odighizuwa — Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) January 22, 2015
ECU QB Shane Carden and Oregon State QB Sean Mannion are having a tough day. 3 interceptions and a fumble between them. #SeniorBowl — Charlie Bernstein (@nflcharlie) January 22, 2015
Gus Malzahn checks in on his six former players at the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/hGNgJxsVkd — Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 22, 2015
You win in the trenches. @nflnetwork on the top OL standouts from the @seniorbowl. WATCH: http://t.co/oLEjo0k1jw pic.twitter.com/W8cwFqB7Tv — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 22, 2015
#SeniorBowl video: Arkansas DE Trey Flowers tries to hold the point against about 650 pounds worth of double team in Alabama’s Austin Shepherd and Oklahoma’s Daryl Williams. A video posted by ChaseGoodbread (@chasegoodbread) on
