The NFL draft begins in Mobile and with players from around the country making their way to Alabama for Senior Bowl week — now under the microscope of media members, scouts and front office members — they all began that journey as they went through their official weigh-ins and their first practice of the week on Tuesday.
With the game just days away, these practices are a valuable opportunity for players to grow under NFL coaching and impact their own draft stock by showing off their abilities.
Here are the defensive standouts from the first day of practice.
SOUTH
DT Javon Kinlaw – South Carolina
Just as Kinlaw showed up in Pewter Report’s first 2020 Mock Draft of the year, he showed up on the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
A huge presence at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Kinlaw showed the type of agility and power that allowed him to rack up 15 sacks and two forced fumbles over his last two seasons at South Carolina. In the rep below, the powerful defensive tackle beats Clemson offensive lineman John Simpson.
That’s @GamecockFB DT Javon Kinlaw easily winning his 1-on-1 at @seniorbowl South practice. pic.twitter.com/uM7IJAl3YY
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 21, 2020
DE Trevis Gipson – Tulsa
Gipson saw action in just 16 games over his first two seasons with Tulsa, totaling just one sack, before his stats jumped in his junior and senior seasons, racking up nine sacks in 2018 and 15 in 2019.
Over his last two years he also combined for 95 total tackles and 24 tackles for loss. Here he wins his matchup against Clemson’s Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and darts into the backfield, nearly getting to quarterback Justin Herbert.
Great pass rush rep from @TulsaFootball DE Trevis Gipson (15). pic.twitter.com/NHAa6BoyZg
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 21, 2020
EDGE Anfernee Jennings – Alabama
Getting into the backfield is nothing new for Jennings, a highly-touted edge rusher out of Alabama. Jennings, a four-year player with the Crimson Tide, found most of his production later in his career as he totaled 133 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble over his junior and senior seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Jennings stood out on the first day of practice and in the play below he showed his powerful hands and good technique as he gets quick penetration and blows up the run in the backfield.
Good stop of the run here by @AlabamaFTBL LB Anfernee Jennings. #RollTide pic.twitter.com/7ImbKCTJeu
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 21, 2020
NORTH
CB Lamar Jackson – Nebraska
A versatile player at Nebraska, Jackson was able to reach 123 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions, 22 passes defended and three forced fumbles in his career with the Huskers. Those numbers translated to day one of practice as Jackson put on a solid performance against an extremely talented group of receivers at the Senior Bowl this year.
At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Jackson is a long, physical corner who can disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and in the play below he faced off with one of the most dominant wideouts in attendance this year, Michael Pittman Jr., and forced the incompletion while left on an island in one-on-one drills.
Solid coverage by @Huskers CB Lamar Jackson sticking with Michael Pittman Jr. pic.twitter.com/xcel6GzstC
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 21, 2020
EDGE Alton Robinson – Nebraska
While not a finished product, Robinson is a talented edge rusher with good technique. While his production, at times, looked great at Syracuse, his regression from 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss as a junior to four a nine, respectively, as a senior has to be a question mark. He’s powerful with a good frame and good technique and he showed off some good reps at Tuesday’s practice.
In the rep below Robinson made quick work of offensive tackle Ben Bredeson as he attacked the outside shoulder with a strong punch to get the Michigan product off balance before working inside via a strong swim move.
Solid pass rush rep from @CuseFootball DT Alton Robinson. pic.twitter.com/Od24xHpv0E
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 21, 2020