With the Bucs set to play in the Super Bowl in a week, there aren’t many Tampa Bay fans focusing on the Senior Bowl or the NFL Draft right now. That’s fine, just bookmark this one to read after the big game next Sunday.

These are far from the only standout prospects at the Senior Bowl, as others have written extensively about players like Western Michigan wide receiver D’Wayne Haskridge and UCF safety Richie Grant having great weeks in Mobile. I’m sure they are correct, but I only wrote about the players that caught my eye on tape more than anyone else. Here are the nine prospects that really stood out to me on tape this week.

Wisconsin-Whitewater (D-III) C-G Quinn Meinerz

The Senior Bowl is always a huge platform for the few D-III players selected each year, as it’s their first time going up against anything close to resembling NFL competition, unlike a lot of their teammates at the event. For Meinerz the challenge was even more significant, as the snaps against better competition would be his first since the 2019 season, after COVID canceled the 2020 DIII football campaign.

Also Meinerz did was consistently show the strength and toughness to hang with bigger players with better resumes, including Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike, who entered the week as one of the more hyped prospects in attendance. Meinerz’s ability to consistently play with leverage allows him to uproot bigger players, and he showed off skills that could work in a variety of run schemes in the NFL. He can improve some technique things in pass protection, but his physical and athletic traits appear well on par with the NFL talent he will soon be facing.

Meinerz performance should move him into the day two conversation, where the Bucs will likely be looking at interior offensive line depth – and they’ve drafted two small school Senior Bowl prospects in the past in Hobart College’s Ali Marpet and Humboldt State’s Alex Cappa. Given his intangibles, toughness and coachability, plus his small school status and guard/center flexibility, Meinerz is exactly what Tampa Bay is looking for in the middle rounds of the draft.

Grambling State C-G David Moore

For my money, Moore looked like the best offensive lineman in Mobile this past week. Not saying he is the best, I haven’t studied his tape or the tape of several other players at the event, but Moore was dominant in one-on-ones and team periods through all three practices.

Voted the best offensive lineman on the American team by the opposing defensive linemen on his team, Moore showed the kind of physicality and finishing ability that will erase questions about how he’ll transition from the FCS. He consistently generated movement up front in the run game, while more than holding his own in pass protection, even when left uncovered. Moore looked good at guard and at center during the week, and his fit with the Bucs would be an ideal one on day two of the draft.

Tulane DT Cam Sample

I had no idea who Cam Sample was coming into the week, but I don’t think any defensive lineman there had a better week except for maybe UCLA’s Osa Odighizuwa. Not many college interior rushers have a consistent plan of attack as a rusher and the tools to execute, but Sample flashed both all week long. Sample has only 10.5 career sacks in college and his 6-foot-2, 274-pound frame with 32-inch arms are a tough sell on the interior, so there is still plenty to prove in his pre-draft workout. But every team is looking for pass rushers, so this was a great start to Sample’s pre-draft process.

Baylor EDGE William Bradley-King

Baylor EDGE William Bradley-King and Auburn LB K.J. Britt – Photo by: USA Today

Bradley-King tailed off significantly as the week went on, but his frame and athleticism will interest teams a lot as they head back to their facilities to study tape. An Arkansas State transfer, Bradley-King had just 3.5 sacks last year for Baylor, but plays with the energy and pace the Buccaneers like in their edge rushers, while showing traits to develop with more attention to detail.

He’s a classic snap jumper right now, similar to Shaquil Barrett in that sense, but he showed dip/bend and a bull rush, which is a great place to start when learning the art of pass rushing. Bradley-King finished his college career with 18 sacks and six forced fumbles, which will get NFL team’s attention.

Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu

What a week for Melifonwu. There was first-round buzz about the Syracuse cornerback before the week, and he did nothing but confirm that talk with his play. I loved Melifonwu’s willingness to play flat-footed and attack the football in the 3-5-step game. He has the desired size, length and processing speed for a cornerback, while also making plenty of plays on the football this week. It’s not a great cornerback class, so this week was a huge boost to Melifonwu’s stock.

Clemson WR Amari Rodgers

In a league where wide receivers are more valuable than ever, a guy like Rodgers should generate a lot of excitement among teams on Day 2 of the draft. He may not be an elite prospect in any one area, but Rodgers catches everything, wins vertically, creates yardage after the catch in the quick game and can separate from man coverage. The senior looks like a dynamic slot with plenty of versatility to fit multiple schemes/roles at the next level. Rodgers stock is soaring after a great season and Senior Bowl week, even amidst a loaded wide receiver class.

LSU LB Jabril Cox

It’s not too often that you see college linebackers who can cover like Cox, showing the ability to win with his range and instincts in zone coverage and his speed in man coverage. But it was Cox’s run defense that impressed me, although the linebacker is clearly still learning how to play under and around blocks rather than taking them straight on. Coming in at 233 pounds was a big win for Cox, who checked the size box many were worried about heading into the Senior Bowl.

North Dakota State OT Dillon Radunz

Radunz is light and short-armed for an NFL offensive tackle, which may mean he will move inside to guard at the next level. But he definitely showed enough at tackle this week to warrant a long look there in the NFL. I thought Radunz may get pushed around more than he did, but he packs a punch and really competes. He’s a good athlete who can pull or get into space without getting over-extended and falling all over himself trying to make blocks. There was more polish in Radunz game than I expected, so I’m looking forward to studying him more on tape.

UCLA DL Osa Odighizuwa

UCLA DT Osa Odighizuwa – Photo by: USA Today

What a week for Odighizuwa, who at 280 pounds had a lot to prove at defensive tackle and defensive end heading into the week. He was a standout at both spots, but especially on the inside, where Odighizuwa needed to prove he could play at the next level. The UCLA standout’s quickness is a problem for guards and centers, and his ridiculous wingspan and power makes it hard to get hands on him.

Odighizuwa also held up far better than expected in the run game, even against double teams, where he anchored and held his ground far better than I thought he would. I think his stock soars after this week. He’s not really a Bucs prototype as an interior player, but if they are looking to add athleticism next to Vita Vea, he certainly fits the bill.