Senior Bowl notes: Who shined as North stars?

MOBILE, Ala. -- The North team practiced at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Monday afternoon, where all remaining practices and Saturday's Senior Bowl game will take place. Because the South practiced across Mobile Bay in Fairhope, the usual NFL personnel crowd was split between the fields.

Washington State's Brandon Gibson quickly turns heads. (Getty Images)

The Senior Bowl separates itself from other postseason prospect all-star games because NFL coaches are leading the teams on the field and in meeting rooms. This year, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio and Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis and their coaching staffs are guiding the future pros. This benefits the players, who get an early education on what to expect in training camp, and the coaching staffs, who get an up-close look at the best senior prospects in the 2009 draft.

While the Jaguars and Bengals appear set at quarterback, many teams want to see a senior separate himself from the rest of the crowd this week. Two of the top candidates on the North squad are Rhett Bomar (Sam Houston State) and Graham Harrell (Texas Tech). Bomar has better pure arm strength but needs to take a little off when throwing underneath. Harrell showed better anticipation downfield, leading his receiver over the middle or placing the 17-yard out right on the money. Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas) doesn't have a great arm, but anticipated routes fairly well and has adequate zip on short to intermediate passes. He tends to throw off his back foot and will drop into three-quarter delivery, a serious flaw considering he measured right at 6-feet.

Underclassmen are dominating the top of the running back ratings, but second-round challenger Jeremiah Johnson (Oregon) displayed quickness and reliable hands out of the backfield. Kory Sheets (Purdue) also is versatile enough to produce as a runner and receiver. His compact build and speed stood out. Syracuse's Tony Fiammetta has quick feet for a fullback and packs a powerful punch.

Scouts continue to mine for elite talent at wide receiver. Brandon Gibson (Washington State) was the star of the North's practice Monday, running with fluidity and snatching the ball with his hands. His extension and concentration on a deep ball drew a strong reaction from the crowd. He needs a strong week to help overcome a lack of exposure in a moribund offense at Wazzu.

Derrick Williams (Penn State) caught everything thrown his way, even adjusting to poor deep throws in Monday's session. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) is smooth and also has solid hands but he takes his time getting off the line of scrimmage.

Brooks Foster (North Carolina) has the size and speed to contribute to an NFL roster but his hands are suspect. He dropped at least two passes and caught another with his body, but bounced back on a few other plays. Ramses Barden (Cal Poly) offers a nice target at 6-6 and is quicker in and out of breaks than expected. But his lack of top-end speed makes it hard for him to separate downfield and he's a bit awkward in running routes, especially in comparison to this peer group.

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma State) met expectations as a good blocker on the edge and reliable receiver in space. Virginia's John Phillips could really boost his stock if he continues to display good hands and run crisp routes. Mike Vrabel clone Connor Barwin (Cincinnati) is playing tight end this week to fill a need for the North, but told NFLDraftScout.com that teams expect him to play defensive end. Even so, his willingness to play both sides of the ball will not be ignored by scouts.

Connecticut left tackle William Beatty continues to shoot up draft boards. His athleticism was evident on the practice field. Former Husky teammate Cody Brown did win one head-to-head battle, however, forcing Beatty to overextend and lose his balance.

Oklahoma tackle Phil Loadholt played on the left and right sides, using his length to keep ends at bay throughout the afternoon. He lacked lateral movement in the shadow drill, however, which is no surprise to those who remember his rough ride against Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo during the 2008 season.

This year's interior offensive lineman group has talent.

Alex Mack (California) and Max Unger (Oregon) played at center at guard, displaying excellent versatility. Both also showed a nasty streak in practice. Guard Kraig Urbik (Wisconsin) was strong and has more nimble feet than he's given credit for. Oregon State's Andy Levitre lined up at left guard and right tackle, but he's best in tight spaces. He really struggled in one-on-one blocking drills because he lacks adequate lateral movement.

Xavier Fulton (Illinois) also played both tackle spots. The former tight end has the athleticism and strength to be a solid mid-round pick.