Senior Bowl sleepers to keep watch over: Protection

The NFL Pre-Draft Cycle Season is about start, kicking off with All-Star video games just like the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. Followers appear to be already conversant in names like Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, and UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, as they’ve littered mock drafts posted on-line taken within the High 50. In Watts’ case, they’re among the commonest gamers to be mocked to the Colts.

However how about just a few sleepers? Gamers who for one purpose or the opposite, aren’t getting the identical consideration on-line? They won’t be Spherical 1-2 targets, however within the mid rounds these gamers might present some useful competitors to the roster.

Colts Common Supervisor Chris Ballard has been good at discovering these lesser-known gamers and turning them into contributors and even starters.

Let’s dive into some below the radar sleepers that followers ought to acquaint themselves with:

Photograph by Ross Harried/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures

Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan

A former 0-star recruit, Kone began his collegiate enjoying profession at Iowa Neighborhood Faculty earlier than transferring to Indiana State, then ending his collegiate profession at Western Michigan for the final 2 seasons.

Regardless of his unheralded begin to his collegiate profession, Kone has labored exhausting to show into a robust starter for the Western Michigan Broncos. As their beginning exterior nook the final 2 seasons Kone has allowed:

34 Catches / 67 Targets = 50.7% Catch Charge
537 Receiving Yards
2 Touchdowns
2 INTs
13 Cross Breakups
75.2 Passer Score Allowed

His 6’2 and 190lb. body suits with what the Colts new protection needs to emphasise, and he has displayed a knack for press protection with bail method and extremely clean hips to transition out and in of breaks. He mirrors very nicely, and may anticipate in each man and zone coverages.

We have to have extra discussions about Western Michigan CB Bilhal Kone.

Good footwork and fluidity in his transitions. Stays contained in the hip pocket. True press nook with good zone IQ and shows good read-and-react capacity. Arrives on the catch level rapidly to power a PBU. pic.twitter.com/FkMYndtoxZ

— Colton Edwards (@coltonedwardsFB) January 16, 2025

A excessive effort participant on tape, Kone has proven a variety of effort performs throughout the sphere and in pursuit. He’s not afraid to match in opposition to high receivers, flashing early in 2024 in opposition to Wisconsin and Ohio State. He allowed simply 3 catches for 39 yards with 3 cross breakups in 9 targets throughout these video games, additionally racking up 10 tackles in that span.

He was not requested to play to his press strengths usually in his school scheme, with much more off expertise. He has proven capacity in man and canopy 3 ideas, however wants extra expertise in a fancy protection scheme in addition to extra usually being requested to make use of his size quite than distinctive mirroring capacity in press.

Western Michigan’s Bilhal Kone (#1) is a G5 prospect to observe. Massive and fluid nook with pure ball expertise.

Kone’s 38% pressured incompletion charge final season leads all returning G5 cornerbacks. pic.twitter.com/4UTSUgYWAY

— Bobby Soccer (@Rob__Paul) June 22, 2024

Kone on tape wants improvement in tackling method, usually leaving his toes and lunging in sort out makes an attempt. He wants higher eye self-discipline, as huge performs can occur when he tries bites on a play beneath. He lets inside leverage on in breaking routes at instances, which hurts his capacity to place to make a play regardless of his size. His ball expertise want work as nicely, as he has alternatives to show breakups into interceptions extra usually together with his mirroring capacity however has struggled to reel in passes.

If he can present out in opposition to greater high quality WRs constantly within the Senior Bowl practices like Miami’s Xavier Restrepo, Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor, TCU’s Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins, and Utah State’s Jalen Royals, Kone shall be a quick riser on draft boards.

Photograph by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures

Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska

Tommi Hill is flying below the radar for just a few causes regardless of being a BIG10 beginning nook. For one, he handled plantar fasciitis all through 2024, worsening his tape, significantly pace and talent to crash downhill vs the run. He additionally solely has 648 profession snaps in protection, beginning his school profession as a WR earlier than transitioning right into a full time nook mid-2023.

Regardless of these issues, there’s a lot to like about Tommi on tape in his 7 video games in 2023. In 2023 he allowed:

25 catches / 46 targets = 54.3% catch charge
243 receiving yards
1 TD
4 INTs
9 Passes Defended
40.4 Passer Score
7 Run Stops
10.7% Miss Sort out Charge

Regardless of his inexperience on the place, I got here away very impressed together with his protection instincts and method. He was adept at each exhausting and delicate press, mirroring WRs, and having the ability to cross off targets in zone to others whereas conserving his eyes on others potential getting into his zone. As a former WR, he appears to have the ability to determine route ideas rapidly and react accordingly. He works nicely in off protection too, and is a prepared tackler.

Hill is ready to fly to the ball rather well when wholesome, and makes use of his size at 6’0 205lbs. to make performs on the ball. As a former WR, his ball expertise are obvious and he turns cross deflection alternatives into INTs very nicely.

Tommi has his query marks, however has had a while to get his physique proper after being out for the season in late November. A superb exhibiting at Cellular and optimistic medical checks on the Scouting Mix later to show he’s wholesome might trigger him to stand up boards.

Photograph by Michael Chang/Getty Pictures

Nohl Williams, CB, California

Williams is an absolute baller and competitor at Nook. Keen to press and match up in opposition to high WRs, he’s a menace when requested to cease a receiver from getting a clear launch. The 6’1 200lb Golden Bear performs like his group’s namesake in that respect. Very aggressive and makes well timed swipes in press in addition to aggressive and efficient efforts to go for the Interception, which his ball expertise as a former Excessive College WR reward usually. That aggression additionally manifests in his run protection with a variety of power vs screens and the run. The Park Companies advises you retain your distance.

In his 5 school seasons at UNLV and Cal, Nohl has a protracted resume, permitting:

126 Catches / 224 Targets = 56.3% Catch% (32/66 = 48.5% Catch% in 2024)
1,508 Yards (362 yards in 2024)
10 TDs (3 TDs in 2024)
14 INTs (7 INTs in 2024)
21 Cross Breakups (9 Cross Breakups in 2024)
65.8 Passer Score (40.9 Passer Score in 2024)
41 Run Stops (8 in 2024)
3 Compelled Fumbles (1 in 2024)

Cal CB Nohl Williams has excellent ball expertise. However I am much more impressed with the sting and physicality he placed on tape.

This dude competes! Actually spectacular match up vs. Ayomanor. pic.twitter.com/PnImMdvxPg

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 23, 2025

Nohl makes a speciality of Man Protection, mirroring his receiver nicely, staying hooked up to their hips. His deep pace is sweet to get well, and he has good closing burst as nicely. Nevertheless he is usually a bit indecisive in Zone, and is usually a bit delayed in flipping his hips. His aggressive playstyle may make him have a much bigger difficulty in tackling, bouncing off of runners at instances. Though that difficulty was a lot much less of a difficulty in 2024 in comparison with 2023 (went from 20.3% miss sort out charge to five.9%).

Finally: his instincts, ball expertise, press capacity, particular groups utilization (each as a gunner and a returner), and good athleticism ought to make him a reputation extra followers must be conversant in. He’s presently very underrated in most mock draft simulations, and will enter Day 2 discussions with an efficient Senior Bowl efficiency.

Photograph by Brian Bahr/Getty Pictures

Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma

In a really proficient Security class, generally gamers get pushed down the board or begin flying below the radar. Billy Bowman Jr. in my view suits that invoice, as his ADP on boards is 105-117, aka mid Spherical 4 projection. Nevertheless, I’ve him as a Spherical 3 prospect, and I believe extra of the draft neighborhood ought to take discover.

Billy Bowman Jr. is a extremely versatile, excessive IQ chess piece. His most frequent spot is as a Free Security, exhibiting capacity to work very nicely in a number of schemes and coverages. Nevertheless he additionally has proven versatility at nickel nook and field security, thriving in zone depths all throughout the sphere. Very instinctual, Bowman reads QBs very nicely and is very explosive in his closing pace to capitalize on his reads. He understands route ideas very nicely, making him a menace in zone and man protection. He received’t take the bait on double strikes or pump fakes, and he has good vary as a deep security to make up floor and disrupt a play. In Man, his hips are fairly fluid, permitting him to match up very nicely.

Oklahoma S Billy Bowman, Jr. (#2).

An enormous 4th down sort out on Luther Burden III right here, exhibiting off a few of his greatest traits: play pace, imaginative and prescient, instincts and physicality.

Actually good participant. pic.twitter.com/fysFGYWLgJ

— Area Yates (@FieldYates) November 13, 2024

Bowman additionally has a knack for the massive play turnover. His Ball expertise are very robust, and he capitalizes on his alternatives with the ball in palms, with three Choose 6s in his 6 INTs of 2023. He has 10 INTs and three Compelled Fumbles in his profession.

So why is Bowman not one of many high security prospects? Measurement and tackling points. He’s 5’10 and 200lbs. and has missed 21.7% to 26% of his sort out makes an attempt yearly in school. His size limitations clearly have an effect on his capacity to wrap up tacklers, which is regarding for a security.

His match on the Colts can be attention-grabbing, as his greatest spot can be Free Security, which might decrease his tackling issues in comparison with enjoying Field Security (the place Nick Cross is predominantly enjoying) or Nickel Nook (the place Kenny Moore II has a stranglehold over). This might additionally assist maximize the impression of his protection instincts and IQ, and he might have a tangible impression in serving to communication at the back of the Protection. His capacity in so many protection schemes can be an important match within the Lou Anarumo protection that asks for a robust number of them.

Photograph by Brian Bahr/Getty Pictures

Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

Knight brings a component of maturity, energy, size, and instincts that could be very enjoyable to observe on tape. A sixth 12 months Senior, he spent 4 years as predominantly a particular groups participant, earlier than turning into a starter within the final 2 years at Charlotte after which South Carolina. However that lengthy look ahead to his alternative has paid dividends, with him flashing huge potential.

The 6’2 and 245lb. Gamecock has a nicely constructed body and spectacular size, capable of convey a robust quantity of energy in his hits and prevents Yards after Contact. He can struggle by contact nicely in opposition to blockers, and plugs up holes within the run recreation, with 27 run stops in 2024. His cross rush has confirmed promise as a blitzer, utilizing his mixture of robust athletic traits and sensible timing on his blitzed to make an impression there. He had 12 Pressures and a pair of sacks in 30 blitz snaps in 2024.

South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. is a giant, athletic linebacker who has gotten extra consideration because the Senior Bowl approaches.#BuildingTheBoard

Positives:✅ Massive, robust, and athletic linebacker with wonderful size and sideline-to-sideline pace✅ Not afraid to fight… pic.twitter.com/wJ7PS4GEZb

— Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) January 24, 2025

In Protection, his size and athleticism make a huge effect. He has wonderful restoration pace and makes use of his size to disrupt cross lanes. He has 4 INTs and 6 Cross Breakups within the final 2 years, permitting simply 1 TD in that span. He can work in each man and zone protection, however he nonetheless does have to work a bit on loosening his hips and drop deeper into protection. He might tweak his tackling type at instances, however his size and energy have helped him to this point keep away from dangerous miss sort out charges.

Knight is an underrated MIKE LB prospect, who could possibly be a greater match within the Colts new scheme with their elevated blitz charges below Anarumo.

Photograph by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Pictures

Tyreem Powell, LB, Rutgers

Powell is a participant who you may instantly see a distinction in him from the remainder of the again 7 defenders in a protection. At 6’4/5 and 240lb. it’s exhausting to overlook him. Powell is a uniquely sized LB, which comes with its personal set of strengths and weaknesses.

His strengths are in his energy, sideline to sideline run suits, his capacity to disrupt cross lanes as a spot Zone dropper, and his attention-grabbing bodily profile to match up with Tight Ends in Man Protection. He can neutralize runners from YAC together with his hit energy, and he flows the ball very nicely. His size permits him to stack and shred opposing blockers rapidly. His top allows him to see over OLs, permitting him to get a very good learn on misdirections and Play actions within the backfield. His skills as a cross rusher aren’t any joke, with 33 pressures and 6 sacks in his profession.

The downsides with Powell are that his top may be a difficulty in decreasing his pad degree to convey down decrease leverage energy backs at instances, and his change of course expertise want work. He might use higher ball consciousness in man protection, however he has a transparent TE eraser potential as nicely.

Well being shall be a giant consider his pre-draft analysis, as he suffered a wrist harm that ended his 2023 season after 8 weeks, and he suffered an Achilles tear within the winter, delaying his 2024 debut till Week 4. proving himself absolutely wholesome and having clear medical checks would do quite a bit for his draft inventory.

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David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

Maybe the most effective small college prospect on this draft class, Walker has had a dominant profession over the past 3 years. The Bears have been blessed with Walker mauling opposing OLs, as he has racked up:

151 Pressures
15.9% Strain%
37 Sacks
129 Run Stops
5 Compelled Fumbles
90.3-94 Cross Rush Grade Each Yr
83.6-92 Run Protection Grade Each Yr
88.6- 94.4 Protection Grade Each Yr

The 6’2 260lb. edge rusher performs with excessive power and high notch athleticism, outmatching his FCS competitors routinely. His energy output, leverage, explosiveness, agility, bend, and shutting pace look sensational on tape. He makes use of these pure presents nicely, and has nice palms in his cross rush strikes. Frankly, he was the most effective and most athletic participant each time he stepped on the sphere. His bull rush is nasty work, and his swipes regarded so unstoppable, not even Dora would have stood an opportunity to cease them. He takes the quickest path to the QB with out dropping hole integrity, which might usually be simply by his opposing linemen.

His effort reveals on run protection, the place he swarms to the ball within the bottom and ID’s pulling guards to get round them very nicely to struggle to the ball service. His power is obvious each snap, and he brings up the complete protection’s degree as nicely.

The problems with Walker’s profile is his lack of size limiting his moveset, his have to show extra counters in his rush plan (often simply had 1-2 strikes, which whereas extremely efficient vs FCS opponents, will want a bit extra selection in opposition to NFL linemen. He might fill out his body a bit extra to assist his battles in opposition to lengthier linemen as nicely.

The massive query is how will he do in opposition to NFL caliber linemen, as he was by no means really challenged constantly within the FCS. If he does nicely in opposition to the Senior Bowl Tackles, count on him to be a giant riser on this Edge class.