Every year at the Senior Bowl there are risers, there are stars who prove it, and then there are out-of-nowherers, and I understand that's not even close to a word.
We saw all of that through the first two days of practices, so I'll go with that theme in today's notes. So let's start with the player that sure seems to be turning himself into a first-round pick.
THE RISER: Darius Robinson, DE/DT, Missouri
It's be silly to look at a standout SEC pass-rusher and say he's flown under the radar, but it is when you hear Robinson's evaluation of himself, which he told me after today's practice: "I’m the best D-lineman in the draft. … I know I am, you watch the tape."
If you asked him to describe his game, he's say a combination of Raiders star DE Maxx Crosby and Chiefs DT Chris Jones. And while that's certainly a lofty idea, when you watch him play, you can see it. The measurements at the Senior Bowl are as reliable as any, and he came in a 6-5, 284 pounds and with 34-inch arms. He's a tweener until you watch him move and get off the line, and you'd never guess the scale would show 284.
This isn't exactly a banner DE class, and I fully expect Robinson's name to be a popular one as the mock draft universe heats up. He's particularly intriguing for the Saints, who love themselves a big-body DE. Now, I highly doubt he's on their radar at 14 -- although that is where they picked Marcus Davenport in 2018 -- but if he's there at 45, they might just run up to the podium.
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THE LEGIT: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
We almost know too much about Roman at this point, but he's certainly continued to prove that at the Senior Bowl.
We all know what he did at Michigan, but I continue to be impressed with how graceful he is, and how effortlessly he gets in and out of breaks. It might be because of how much time I've spent watching Chris Olave, but I see it as the best comparison.
Just like Olave, physicality could be an issue, and he'll probably have to get stronger, but you can't teach what he does. On one of the 1-on-1 reps he had a spectacular one-handed grab on what was a terrible ball left behind him by Michael Penix Jr., but no one talks about the fact that Eli Manning overthrew Odell Beckham Jr. on his legendary grab ... we talk about the result, as we should.
Wilson is that type of player. I have a hard time seeing the Saints go for him in the draft, in part because you already have Chris Olave and their skillsets could be a bit redundant, but the man is as legit as they come and he's proving that in Mobile.
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THE OUT OF NOWHERE: Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
It's not exactly complicated why he'd qualify for this, anyone coming from the FCS level would be considered an out-of-nowhere prospect.
But after two days of practice there just have been too many pops to ignore. Laube is shifty and navigates space well, there's power to his game, he can catch, and he's been at or near the top of the speed rankings every time they flash up at Hancock-Whitney Stadium.
If you ask him who he'd compare himself to, it'd be Christian McCaffrey, though he admits he's yet to verify that assessment with Christian's brother, Luke, the Rice wide receiver who is also in attendance this week.
I asked him about what I consider to be a far more realistic comp: Danny Woodhead.
"If he was in today's game he'd be unbelievable. ... That would be awesome if I was compared to him, too," he told me.
I agree, and I'm doing it. Woodhead was a find of the Patriots out of Chadron State and went on to have a really impressive career. You could argue that he was the standard bearer who helped Austin Ekeler earn his stripes with the Chargers, even catching 80 passes and racking up more than 1,000 total yards and 9 touchdowns in the 2015 season.
Now, I'm not necessarily predicting those numbers for Laube, but I do expect him to be the leading rusher on Saturday when the actual Senior Bowl is played, and if a team decides to take a chance on him, I'm intrigued to see the results.
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