Senior Bowl preview: North skill position snapshots

January 22nd, 2009 by Vince Mullins

The North Roster for the 2009 Senior Bowl may be light on QB depth, but the other skill position talents will likely keep the game competitive. Kickoff is Saturday 7pm ET/ 6pm local, all the practices being covered Inauguration Day – style on NFL Network.

(Numerical Roster of offensive skill position players, picture by Jason Roberts).

Link to South Team

1 Brooks Foster WR 6-3 205 North Carolina
You may have forgotten about Foster after the Hakeem Nicks Experience launched a couple months ago. Or you may have him confused him with the “Drunk Comedian” Foster Brooks.

2 Derrick Williams WR 6-0 195 Penn State
The former #1 overall recruit has a tremendous opportunity to help himself – the perception bar is set low based on his lack of statistical prowess but the talent is undeniable. Was the lack of stats due to poor QB play or all the talent around him? We will soon find out. I admit I spent a late-rounder on him in 2008, I imagine he will go higher in April.

4 Brandon Gibson WR 6-1 200 Washington St.
He never put up Jason Hill-type numbers but he didn’t have the QB stability either in Pullman. Early news is he tweaked a leg muscle and may not participate much, stay tuned.

6 Graham Harrell QB 6-3 205 Texas Tech
Spotlight is on the “system QB” who set career TD pass records. Harrell only lined up under center for sneaks and quick fade routes, so the basic footwork will be the focus of the scouts. I never thought of him as having a gun for an arm, just super-accurate.

7 Rhett Bomar QB 6-2 215 Sam Houston St.
Last time most of us saw Bomar was when he was thrown out of Oklahoma – his senior numbers at SHU are not that impressive given the level of competition (56% comp, 13 int in 436 att) so he has a lot to prove after being out of the spotlight.

9 Juaquin Iglesias WR 6-1 201 Oklahoma
I can see him being a WR1 in the NFL, like a taller Steve Smith of the Panthers. Great hands, solid return game and the talk of early practices.

10 Nathan Brown QB Central Arkansas
First time I heard his name was when CA stuck close with fantasy favorite Tulsa…he is no Joe Flacco, as Brown looks thin but throws a very catchable ball.

(SIDE NOTE: with Harrell working on NFL footwork and two QBs from the FCS ranks I will predict that the North offense will not operate at full throttle. I am willing to bet that Harrell will adapt OK, but chances are that Brown and Bomar will struggle against the elite speed of the Senior Bowl)

11 Ramses Barden WR 6-5 225 Cal Poly
Barden finished his Cal Poly career with 206 catches, 4,200 yards and 50 touchdowns. WOW. Cal Poly stuck close at Wisconsin this season and opened the year with a road victory at San Diego State and Barden played big in both. Likely the name to shoot higher up draft boards like Houston WR Donnie Avery did last season.

23 Kory Sheets RB 6-0 210 Purdue
Plays much bigger than the weight, very productive in the spread under Joe Tiller. So far nearly un-tackleable (is that a word?) in Mobile as Jason Roberts reports he just seems quicker than everyone else.

24 Jeremiah Johnson RB 5-10 205 Oregon
Small speedster who will need more of an adjustment to operate without a spread formation in front of him.

35 Louie Sakoda K Utah
Punts too, would be an excellent value on the second day.

36 Eric Kettani RB 6-1 233 Navy
I think of him like Mike Alstott – RB moves and speed in a fullback body. His military commitment to the Navy is laid out well here but Kettani sounds like a guy who wants to keep the dream alive.

37 Cedric Peerman RB 5-10 208 Virginia
Injury prone in 2007 but was very productive when he returned at full strength in October 2008. Threat not just on the run but a solid pass catcher.

43 Tony Fiammetta RB 6-1 240 Syracuse
Fullback – more a third guard Lorenzo Neal than a multi-purpose Tom Rathmann type.

80 Brian Robiskie WR 6-3 200 Ohio State
Son of a former NFL receiver and coach Terry Robiskie who scored 11 times and caught for 935 yards in 2007 when Todd Boeckman was the QB, he regressed this year as Terrelle Pryor. Robiskie has an excellent chance to improve his draft stock, he just needs the QBs to accelerate their learning curve to do so.

82 Connor Barwin TE Cincinnati
Actually projects better as a DE, but got the invite here based on his TE and blocking skills.

85 John Phillips TE 6-4 250 Virginia
Former defensive lineman, more of a third tackle rather than downfield receiving threat.

87 Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St.
Unless he pulls an Adarius Bowman, Pettigrew is due for a big payday as a top 15 overall pick. All the size to dominate at the line of scrimmage and the hands and athleticism to work the vertical seams. Quiet first couple days of practice however.

(See all pictures from Jason Roberts on his Photobucket page.)

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