Photo by: AP
Record Number of Mountaineers Performing at This Year's Senior Bowl
January 23, 2019 11:25 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The largest-ever contingent of West Virginia University football players is performing at this year's Reese's Senior Bowl taking place this week in Mobile, Alabama.
Six Mountaineer players were extended invitations and five are taking part in activities leading up to Saturday's game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium – quarterback Will Grier, wide receivers David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr., tight end Trevon Wesco and linebacker David Long Jr.
Offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste also received an invite, but he declined because of an ankle injury he suffered in the regular season finale against Oklahoma.
Prior to this year, three WVU players were invited to the Senior Bowl numerous times, the last instance taking place in 2011 when running back Noel Devine, nose tackle Chris Neild and wide receiver Jock Sanders participated.
This year, Will Grier is clearly one of the spotlight players at the annual event. Following Tuesday's practice, he addressed lingering questions about his arm strength and his decision to sit out last month's Camping World Bowl game against Syracuse.
"I don't understand some of the things that have been put out there," he said. "I mean, I'm the best quarterback in this class. I think my arm talent is there and my play will speak for itself.
"I'm confident in my abilities … ask my receivers, ask the guys at Florida, ask the guys I've played against if my arm strength was a problem," he added. "It doesn't necessarily make me mad; I think my play speaks for itself. That's part of why I'm here: I hope people can see my arm strength out there."
Grier said an ankle injury was the main reason he opted to sit out the bowl game after conferring with coach Dana Holgorsen. Grier said he injured his ankle against Texas and played the remaining three games of the regular season with it heavily bandaged.
As for his arm strength, Ball Metrics had Grier's highest max initial speed at 66.1 mph - far better than the average velocity of 57.5 mph for last year's first-round quarterbacks, according to All Pro Analytics.
Pro Football Weekly's Mark Schofield had this evaluation of Grier's first Senior Bowl practice on Tuesday: "Grier's confidence in the post-practice scrum might have glossed over some of the missed throws he had, but there were still positives to take away from his opening workout. At the outset you could see the ball pop out of his hands well when making his throws, which points to the arm strength issues perhaps being graded in his favor," he wrote.
"During the one-on-one session, he overthrew wide receiver Tyre Brady from Marshall on a post route, but came back and had two impressive throws – first on a comeback route to Anthony Johnson from the University of Buffalo working off play-action, and later a curl to Clemson's Hunter Renfrow. Both throws were made with good timing and rhythm, which is an area of his game that could use from refinement," Schofield added.
Grier wasn't the only Mountaineer player getting close attention on Tuesday.
The Saints and the Eagles spent time observing Sills V, and the Saints were seen conversing with him after the first day of practice, according to Sirius XM RosterWatch.
Sills V caught a long touchdown pass from Grier during Tuesday's workout.
Josh Norris of Rotoworld mentioned Sills V as a player who could really help his stock with a strong showing this week.
"I'm not saying 'big' receivers are being phased out of the NFL, but slow, big receivers are," Norris said. "The NFL went from prioritizing size to prioritizing separation. Sills V, however, is fluid, separates, plays big and actually makes good on his red zone potential, as he was dominant in that area in college. The more 'small skills' he shows this week the better."
Jennings Jr. was the second fastest among South players behind Houston defensive back Isaiah Johnson. Johnson was recorded at 21.7 mph while Jennings registered a 21.5 mph clocking.
Jennings Jr. also drew some praise, this coming from Tommy Call III of Niners Nation: "West Virginia receiver Gary Jennings was a late add to the Senior Bowl roster, but looked like he belonged on day one. Jennings didn't make any eye-popping plays, but he was continually consistent with every rep. He looked extremely smooth all over the field. He never had a defensive back glued to him, he created separation all day long with his route running ability. It was easy to spot how fast he got in and out his routes, which is something Shanahan preaches."
On the other side of the ball, linebacker David Long Jr. earned praise from John Schmeelk of Giants.com, "West Virginia linebacker David Long was active in run defense as well. At just 5-11 and 221 pounds, he was quick to fill, and laid a loud hit on Slippery Rock running back Wes Hills in the hole that garnered some oohs and ahs from onlookers," he wrote.
And finally, Wesco clearly passed the eye test, checking in at 6-3 ½ and 270 pounds with 34 5/8-inch arms. He is another WVU player who could make a splash this week.
"He's a mean blocker and a more natural receiver than I realized after watching him here today," Pro Football Weekly's Eric Edholm wrote. "He played in-line, in the backfield and as a 'ghost' tight end (lined up behind the offensive tackle) for the Mountaineers and might be a scheme-specific fit for the NFL, but the team that drafts him with a plan in mind might be getting a fun, useful player."
One of the teams keeping an eye on Wesco was the Denver Broncos, according to Christopher Hart of SB Nation's Mile High Report.
The NFL Network will televise Wednesday's and Thursday's practices and will also carry Saturday's game, set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
Oakland's Jon Gruden is coaching the North team while San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan is leading the South squad.
Be sure to follow @WVUfootball for more updates on the Mountaineers this week.
Six Mountaineer players were extended invitations and five are taking part in activities leading up to Saturday's game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium – quarterback Will Grier, wide receivers David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr., tight end Trevon Wesco and linebacker David Long Jr.
Offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste also received an invite, but he declined because of an ankle injury he suffered in the regular season finale against Oklahoma.
Prior to this year, three WVU players were invited to the Senior Bowl numerous times, the last instance taking place in 2011 when running back Noel Devine, nose tackle Chris Neild and wide receiver Jock Sanders participated.
This year, Will Grier is clearly one of the spotlight players at the annual event. Following Tuesday's practice, he addressed lingering questions about his arm strength and his decision to sit out last month's Camping World Bowl game against Syracuse.
"I don't understand some of the things that have been put out there," he said. "I mean, I'm the best quarterback in this class. I think my arm talent is there and my play will speak for itself.
"I'm confident in my abilities … ask my receivers, ask the guys at Florida, ask the guys I've played against if my arm strength was a problem," he added. "It doesn't necessarily make me mad; I think my play speaks for itself. That's part of why I'm here: I hope people can see my arm strength out there."
Grier said an ankle injury was the main reason he opted to sit out the bowl game after conferring with coach Dana Holgorsen. Grier said he injured his ankle against Texas and played the remaining three games of the regular season with it heavily bandaged.As for his arm strength, Ball Metrics had Grier's highest max initial speed at 66.1 mph - far better than the average velocity of 57.5 mph for last year's first-round quarterbacks, according to All Pro Analytics.
Pro Football Weekly's Mark Schofield had this evaluation of Grier's first Senior Bowl practice on Tuesday: "Grier's confidence in the post-practice scrum might have glossed over some of the missed throws he had, but there were still positives to take away from his opening workout. At the outset you could see the ball pop out of his hands well when making his throws, which points to the arm strength issues perhaps being graded in his favor," he wrote.
"During the one-on-one session, he overthrew wide receiver Tyre Brady from Marshall on a post route, but came back and had two impressive throws – first on a comeback route to Anthony Johnson from the University of Buffalo working off play-action, and later a curl to Clemson's Hunter Renfrow. Both throws were made with good timing and rhythm, which is an area of his game that could use from refinement," Schofield added.
Grier wasn't the only Mountaineer player getting close attention on Tuesday.
The Saints and the Eagles spent time observing Sills V, and the Saints were seen conversing with him after the first day of practice, according to Sirius XM RosterWatch.
Sills V caught a long touchdown pass from Grier during Tuesday's workout.
Josh Norris of Rotoworld mentioned Sills V as a player who could really help his stock with a strong showing this week.
"I'm not saying 'big' receivers are being phased out of the NFL, but slow, big receivers are," Norris said. "The NFL went from prioritizing size to prioritizing separation. Sills V, however, is fluid, separates, plays big and actually makes good on his red zone potential, as he was dominant in that area in college. The more 'small skills' he shows this week the better."
Jennings Jr. was the second fastest among South players behind Houston defensive back Isaiah Johnson. Johnson was recorded at 21.7 mph while Jennings registered a 21.5 mph clocking.
Jennings Jr. also drew some praise, this coming from Tommy Call III of Niners Nation: "West Virginia receiver Gary Jennings was a late add to the Senior Bowl roster, but looked like he belonged on day one. Jennings didn't make any eye-popping plays, but he was continually consistent with every rep. He looked extremely smooth all over the field. He never had a defensive back glued to him, he created separation all day long with his route running ability. It was easy to spot how fast he got in and out his routes, which is something Shanahan preaches."
On the other side of the ball, linebacker David Long Jr. earned praise from John Schmeelk of Giants.com, "West Virginia linebacker David Long was active in run defense as well. At just 5-11 and 221 pounds, he was quick to fill, and laid a loud hit on Slippery Rock running back Wes Hills in the hole that garnered some oohs and ahs from onlookers," he wrote.
And finally, Wesco clearly passed the eye test, checking in at 6-3 ½ and 270 pounds with 34 5/8-inch arms. He is another WVU player who could make a splash this week.
"He's a mean blocker and a more natural receiver than I realized after watching him here today," Pro Football Weekly's Eric Edholm wrote. "He played in-line, in the backfield and as a 'ghost' tight end (lined up behind the offensive tackle) for the Mountaineers and might be a scheme-specific fit for the NFL, but the team that drafts him with a plan in mind might be getting a fun, useful player."
One of the teams keeping an eye on Wesco was the Denver Broncos, according to Christopher Hart of SB Nation's Mile High Report.
The NFL Network will televise Wednesday's and Thursday's practices and will also carry Saturday's game, set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
Oakland's Jon Gruden is coaching the North team while San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan is leading the South squad.
Be sure to follow @WVUfootball for more updates on the Mountaineers this week.
?? Highlights from practice day one at the Senior Bowl. The Mountaineers made their mark. #HailWV pic.twitter.com/ARgADKKo9I
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) January 23, 2019
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