Pinned
That's what Baby Ironhead can do.
MOBILE, Ala. -- The 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl took place Saturday, which ultimately signified the start of draft season. Talent evaluators from all 32 NFL franchises were on hand for the Senior Bowl, and they've been in Mobile, Alabama, for the entire week of practices leading up to this game. For most personnel executives, it's all about the practice week, meeting with the players, and watching how they interact with the rest of their team. However, standing out as a performer in the actual game can carry a lot of weight, too.
All eyes were on the quarterbacks, and Malik Willis, Sam Howell and Desmond Ridder were among those who showed flashes of first-round potential. But they were hardly the only ones to make an impact during the National Team's 20-10 victory over the American Team. Below, we dive into the MVP, other standout players, and key takeaways.
MVP
Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
Perrion Winfrey didn't exactly fly under the radar during the week, but he did get lost in the mix at times while names like Travis Jones, Logan Hall, Devonte Wyatt and Jermaine Johnson were well-deserved talking points. But Winfrey did his share of dominating one-on-one drills during practices, and he took that tenacity to the field Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium. He finished the day with two sacks and three tackles for loss and was just about unblockable every time he was on the field.
Just ask LSU's Ed Ingram, who was tasked with staying in front of Winfrey on his second sack of the game, the one where you're screaming at quarterback Bailey Zappe, "Please, for the love of all that's holy, get rid of the ball before it's too late."
Sack #2 for Perrion Winfrey at the Senior Bowl #Sooners pic.twitter.com/OhGpHIn5Ya
— Derek Duke (@DerekDuke25) February 5, 2022
It was too late for Zappe, but this week will serve as a springboard for Winfrey into the pre-draft conversation, after a career at Oklahoma that showed glimpses of potential.
Gameday Standouts
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Here's the deal: Willis' week was all about possibilities. He had a solid day in terrible conditions Wednesday, and while he struggled at times during Thursday's workout, on game day he led the both rosters in gasps from both fans and media in attendance at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Willis finished with just 11 passing yards -- which was last among the six quarterbacks -- but he also rushed for 54 yards, a game-high, punctuated by this scramble at the end of the first quarter:
MALIK WILLIS WHAT?!@LibertyFootball @malikwillis
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 5, 2022
📺: @seniorbowl on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/w3cRCSyjuE
Our stance on Willis remains unchanged: He's incredibly raw, but the upside is through the roof. He'll need to land in the right place to have the best chance to succeed, and he probably won't be ready to play until 2023. There were several instances Saturday where he missed open receivers, or only got through his initial read before taking off. It's fun to watch, for sure, but it's not sustainable in the NFL, and the team that drafts him must have a long-term plan. For today, however, it was a lot of fun.
Sam Howell, QB, UNC
Howell quietly had a solid week, and like Willis, showed that his value lies in his leg and his rocket right arm. He was 6-for-9 for 67 yards through the air, and added 29 more yards on the ground (including a two-yard TD run) on five carries. Throughout his career in Chapel Hill, Howell has drawn comparisons to Baker Mayfield, but the reality is this: Mayfield was a better, more consistent passer coming out of Oklahoma while Howell is the better athlete. And like Willis, there needs to be a plan for Howell, though he did have the benefit of facing tougher competition on a weekly basis at UNC. You could see how a team might like his physical talents after his performance on Saturday.
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder arguably had the most to prove this week, and while he held his own during the week, on Saturday he made some of the throws we wanted to see.
Desmond Ridder ➡️ Trey McBride
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 5, 2022
T O U C H D O W N@seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/9jT5NTXoPF
Yes, this looks easy, but he hit tight end Trey McBride in stride, allowing him to turn upfield and get into the end zone without having to readjust his body. It's a little thing, but it could also be the difference between a touchdown, a first down or winning and losing. Ridder came back in the second half with a similar throw on a similar play with similar results:
Desmond Ridder touchdown to Jake Ferguson pic.twitter.com/X9qmHzOMGh
— solvingfootball (@solvingfootball) February 5, 2022
Credit to tight end Jake Ferguson for doing the heavy lifting and getting into the end zone, but he doesn't get that opportunity if the throw is behind him, or low, or causes him to have to contort his body to pull it in. Again, it seems straightforward enough, but Ridder struggled at times with those throws during the season.
Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
If you told us Boye Mafe was the MVP we wouldn't have questioned you. He showed off that quick first step during the week in one-on-one drills, giving offensive tackles fits. That theme continued Saturday where, like Winfrey, Mafe had two sacks, three tackles for loss while also forcing a fumble.
The superb week for Minnesota’s Boye Mafe continues
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) February 5, 2022
Strip Sack 😈 pic.twitter.com/Nyr7eKDIb7
And this, where it feels like Mafe almost materializes out of nowhere to run through the quarterback:
Absolute domination from @GopherFootball EDGE Boye Mafe at this year’s @seniorbowl!
— PFN Draft (@PFNDraft) February 5, 2022
Explodes off the snap, perfectly times a quick swipe, and surges into the pocket.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE
pic.twitter.com/N9K429Jp4w
Mafe is a Day 2 pick all day long, and his effort this week in Mobile only solidifies that.
Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
There were a lot of good defensive performances throughout the week. The conversation usually started along the defensive line, but the secondary had its share of standouts. Near the top of that list: Jalen Pitre, who measured only 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, but plays like he's 2-3 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. He was all over the field Saturday, blanketing receivers in coverage or coming downhill with a purpose.
All the Bears making plays today. Jalen Pitre blowing up a screen with his instincts isn’t surprising. pic.twitter.com/aqI3SvOEL1
— Colt Barber (@Colt_Barber) February 5, 2022
Pitre excels in the slot, but he can also patrol deep centerfield or play in the box. Yes, he's undersized but you wouldn't know it to watch him.
For more Senior Bowl coverage, fellow CBS Sports NFL Draft analysts Josh Edwards and Chris Trapasso provided updates throughout the game, which you can see below:
