Another year, another pair of Tulane standouts hoping to open eyes around the NFL on the field in Mobile, Alabama.
Last year it was standouts Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams, both of whom landed in the third round of the NFL Draft. It'll be a different course for Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt and WR Jha'Quan Jackson, but the goals are identical.
“I think everybody here has got something to prove," Pratt said after the first day of practice at Hancock-Whitney Stadium. "You know, I just want to play to the best of my ability and put forth what I can, doing what I’m capable of.”
Pratt finished his Tulane career with 9,611 yards passing and 90 touchdowns against 26 interceptions and a resurgence that the team is hoping will last beyond the departure of head coach Willie Fritz. But this week Pratt will be held up against some of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 class, Heisman finalists Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix.
The focus on the field: Footwork and intangibles. Pratt says he's been working closely with QB specialist Tony Racioppi on fixing minor issues that have been hurting his accuracy, rotational power, setting a good base and all of the little things NFL scouts will be looking for.
Related
"I think that’s something that can translate into what we’re doing out here,” Pratt said.
But the part that viewers don't see at the Senior Bowl can be just as important. With the new schedule in recent years, every prospect is expected to meet with all 32 NFL teams for interviews. It's the first chance for teams to really get to know players off the film, though the Saints have a head start on Pratt, having interviewed former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz about their prospects before he departed to be head coach at Houston.
Saints assistant GM and scouting director Jeff Ireland gave Pratt high marks when asked on Tuesday.
“Michael is really smart, very accurate," Ireland said. "I would pretty much call him more of a pocket passer than a dual-threat guy, but he does have legs to move around and improvise and do some nice things. We have a nice grade on him. He’s a great kid. ... So looking forward to him to compete against these other quarterbacks here in this game and see how he balances out with that group.”
Related
But Pratt also wants to show some very specific traits in his interviews with teams, and those go beyond the play on the field.
“I think my leadership ability, my ability to elevate the people around me. [is what I want to show," Pratt said. "You know, I can sit there and talk about my ability on the field, but that’s something that they see on the tape that I can’t – no matter what I say, they see it. But just kind of relaying what I can do being an asset to the locker room and elevating everybody else around me.”
Senior Bowl practices run through Thursday, with the game itself played on Saturday, Feb. 3. The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 25, where Pratt is projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 selection.