Senior Bowl Winners: Offense

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks warms up before the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Well, sadly the week has come to an end and we now have to wait until 2021 for the next Senior Bowl. As I mentioned in my last article, this was my second time attending the event and it was even better than the first. I want to take a quick moment to thank Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Senior Bowl for organizing such an incredible event. The Senior Bowl is an amazing opportunity for seniors and early graduates to showcase their talent to the NFL. Many of the players thrived in their opportunity, here are my standouts from the week.
Quarterback: Justin Herbert, Oregon
The quarterback play at the Senior Bowl was interesting to say the least. There were two players that were clearly a tier above everyone else, those players being Jordan Love and Justin Herbert. No quarterback was perfect, but Herbert might have done enough to secure himself a spot in the top 10 come draft time. Herbert didn’t have a ton of chances to show off his arm, but this one throw is one of my favorites from the whole week.
Hello Justin Herbert. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/kUbxbMCjxp
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 25, 2020
This is very much a dangerous throw, but Herbert placed the ball in a perfect spot and it was one of the few times he really got to show off his arm.
#LSU’s Stephen Sullivan with a nice TD Catch from Justin Herbert…
VIA:(@seniorbowl) pic.twitter.com/IqJxlRJXHP
— Josh Lemoine (@LSUTruth) January 23, 2020
On this throw Herbert displays his ability to throw a touch pass. He places the ball perfectly for the tight end, here is another view.
South squad TD from @oregonfootball QB Justin Herbert to @LSUfootball TE Stephen Sullivan in red-zone period.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/9lrvk0TNAP
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 23, 2020
Here is another great throw from Herbert, he puts the pall on the receivers back shoulder in a perfect spot.
#Florida WR Van Jefferson beats #PITT CB Dane Jackson with a really well-placed ball by #Oregon QB Justin Herbert pic.twitter.com/k2DvtwAcUM
— Jerod Brown (@JerodBrown_) January 23, 2020
Here is another view.
Denzel Mims and KJ Hill are getting most of the recognition but Van Jefferson has had himself a hell of a week down here at the #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/vdWvh7v57W
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 24, 2020
Wide Receiver: KJ Hill, Ohio State
KJ Hill put on a show at the Senior Bowl. Ohio State fans will tell you this is nothing new and he has been doing this for years at Ohio State, but either way it was impressive to watch. First off he had the catch of the week which got the attention of everyone in the building.
KJ Hill.
Too smooth. pic.twitter.com/pXXJhJIOD3
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) January 23, 2020
Not only was he making flashy catches, his footwork was amazing. In this next clip watch Hill’s feet as he releases from the line of scrimmage. Every step has a purpose, and he gets the db to open his hips towards the sideline, right as he does that KJ plants his outside foot and has an easy release inside.
Do me a favor and just watch how KJ Hill sets this up with his footwork. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/epjqSHHbJ3
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 24, 2020
In this next clip you can see KJ Hill do the same release off the line of scrimmage, the db has a decent recovery but as he gets back into position KJ spins him around again.
#Buckeyes WR KJ Hill put CB Lamar Jackson in a spin cycle on this one.#SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/3mjyDHA2kq
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 21, 2020
Here is another view:
KJ Hill vs Lamar Jackson ( DB, Nebraska) #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/DGPDifPvCn
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 21, 2020
Wide Receiver: Van Jefferson, Florida
After the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl everyone was talking about KJ Hill and Van Jefferson, that did not change throughout the week. Like KJ Hill, Van Jefferson was very fluid in his route running. He was able to create plenty of separation as he cut in and out of his breaks. In this clip Van Jefferson chops his feet at the line of scrimmage, the db overextends his base and Jefferson releases to the outside. He sells the go route then sinks his hips, chops his feet and cuts inside becoming wide open.
Nice separation by Van Jefferson pic.twitter.com/5vghKC4iZR
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 21, 2020
This next clip was one of my favorites from the week. Here Van is explosive with every step, he gets the db to shift over every time he takes a step. As he takes the second step the db jumps inside and Jefferson releases outside creating tons of separation for the wide-open touchdown.
Denzel Mims and KJ Hill are getting most of the recognition but Van Jefferson has had himself a hell of a week down here at the #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/vdWvh7v57W
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 24, 2020
Wide Receiver: Denzel Mims, Baylor
By now you may be thinking “wow another receiver? Did you watch anything else?” The answer is yes, I did but these receivers are all very worthy of recognition. KJ Hill might have had the catch of the week, but Denzel Mims made sure there was a close second and third.
denzel mims is a freak pic.twitter.com/hoVyp838zT
— josh houtz (@houtz) January 23, 2020
Look at this catch from Denzel Mims!! pic.twitter.com/LPvYSbOkXD
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 22, 2020
Denzel was physical at the line of scrimmage all week, often making the first contact with the db. On this rep Denzel makes first contact, releases to the outside and stacks the corner. The stack is so important, it blocks out the corner and allows the quarterback to drop the ball over the receivers’ shoulder.
Jordan love connects with Denzel Mims #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/eh31NrGkFE
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 22, 2020
I loved Denzel’s physicality at the Senior Bowl. In the last rep you saw how he made first contact with the db, in this next rep you will see just how effective initial contact can be. Mims packed enough punch to get this db of balance, allowing for an easy release and catch.
Denzel Mims out here being a bully #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/bdu1zyEsBT
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 23, 2020
Offensive Tackle: Josh Jones, Houston
Josh Jones was a player that was gaining a lot of hype coming into the Senior Bowl week and he did not disappoint. Here Jones does a great job with his footwork keeping a square base and shutting down Syracuse edge rusher, Alton Robinson.
#Houston OT Josh Jones is the type of tackle that has tremendous upside because of the little subtle things that he already does.
Watch the quick allusion with his left hand to force the DE to reveal his plan of attack prematurely: pic.twitter.com/8d1yuUM4Is
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) January 23, 2020
Here Josh Jones is able to get to the second level, take on another talented player in Wisconsin’s Zack Baun and completely take him out of the play.
Josh Jones is burying linebackers 15 yards downfield pic.twitter.com/1vVidQJRzY
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) January 23, 2020
This was my favorite rep from Josh Jones this week. Here Jones is lined up against North Carolina’s Jason Strowbridge (who had a phenomenal week), Strowbridge attempts to counter inside against Jones, Jones then just uses his pure strength and drives him to the ground.
Josh Jones you animal. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/nno8cgX5sv
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) January 23, 2020
Offensive Tackle: Ben Bartch, Saint John’s
Ben Bartch was one of my favorite players this week. They played Bartch at guard and tackle, however I feel that his best work was at tackle. Coming from a division 3 school in Saint Cloud, Minnesota the biggest question for Bartch was, can he hold up against bigger competition…he did. In this clip Bartch is up against Alabama edge rusher Terell Lewis. Bartch is explosive out of his stance and does a great job sliding to always stay in front of Lewis.
Nice job by Ben Bartch against Terrell Lewis. Hand placement and that punch just ended the fight pic.twitter.com/PSGIrIvjNL
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 24, 2020
Lewis wasn’t the only SEC player he had success against, here is against Florida’s Jabari Zuniga. Again, Bartch is explosive out of his stance, he doesn’t establish his hands right away but once he does, he gets his anchor and locks Zuniga up.
Ben Bartch getting some work at guard today. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/EmPfC6H0FI
— Jeffrey Essary (@JeffreyEssary) January 23, 2020
This clip pretty much speaks for itself, Bartch is able to get up to the next level and wash Penn State’s Cam Brown out of the play.
When Ben Bartch meets Cam Brown at the second level…?#SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/Ubh76HGxR2
— Austin Silvey (@SilveyESP) January 23, 2020
Sadly, his week ended in injury, and I wish Bartch a speedy recovery.
Interior Offensive Line: Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU
Cushenberry might have been the most dominant offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. Cushenberry was lined up against Javon Kinlaw most of the week and it was incredible to watch. Kinlaw was near impossible for anyone to stop, but Cushenberry was one of the few to actually win a rep against Kinlaw. Here Cushenberry does a phenomenal job of getting his hands inside Kinlaw’s pads and establishing an anchor.
LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry had a really good practice yesterday. His hands are always in tight. One of the few wins for anyone vs Javon Kinlaw. pic.twitter.com/uPnPEhex2Y
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 22, 2020
Here is another example of how good Cushenberry is with his hand placement (the tweet is part of a thread so I can’t separate it but enjoy the clip of Javon Kinlaw).
Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU vs Benito Jones, Ole Miss.
Cushenberry has been excellent today. pic.twitter.com/G9Lz87aNjo
— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) January 21, 2020
The Senior bowl was an absolute blast and I encourage everyone to attend. Jim Nagy has done a brilliant job of making the event accessible to anyone, whether you’re just a causal fan or trying to break into the football world. Be on the lookout for my next article highlighting the Senior Bowl winners on the defensive side.
Honorable Mentions:
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Joshua Kelly, RB, UCLA
- Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
- James Proche, WR, SMU
- Damien Lewis, IOL, LSU