ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Draft prospects will often talk about the pre-draft grind of workouts designed to maximize their draft stock by improving their work in Combine and Pro Day testing.
Wide receiver Jalen Robinette will see that grind -- and raise them.
He doesn't have the luxury of focusing only on football. Not with a full courseload and the responsibilities of being a fourth-year cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs.
"It definitely causes some minor headaches. I don't get all day to train," said Robinette, who didn't arrive in Mobile until Wednesday because of commitments to which he had to attend back at the academy. "I definitely have to lock down in class, because making it to graduation day is the objective -- finishing strong."
Mornings belong to his studies as he completes his work toward a degree in marketing. But afternoons belong to preparing for the NFL.
"There's no complaints from me," Robinette said. "I get to go to class and keep playing the game I love."
He will be at the National Scouting Combine next month -- a rare accomplishment for a cadet. But he's already made history by becoming the first Air Force player ever to play at the Senior Bowl -- one week after taking part in the East-West Shrine Game with one of his fellow cadets, safety Weston Steelhammer.
It wasn't that Air Force products weren't good enough for the Senior Bowl. It's that the minimum two-year commitment to the Armed Forces hurt pushed prospects from the service academies to the back of the line.
This has particularly impacted the Falcons in particular; with 26 all-time bowl appearances and perennial-contender status in the Mountain West Conference, Air Force consistently produces players talented enough to get a shot at the next level. Now, more of their players will get longer looks from the NFL.
"I kind of feel bad for the guys that came through the Academy that had a really great shot, but the couple of years of active duty they had to do kind of deterred their [sports] future," Robinette said.
Last July, the U.S. Department of Defense changed its policy on athletes pursuing a career in professional sports, allowing them to forego their minimum 24-month active-duty stint to immediately sign and and play in any professional league if they earn a contract. Prospects like Robinette can now satisfy their post-graduate commitment in the reserves.
This was the final step in an evolution that took place over decades. In the 1960s, Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach had to serve his full five-year post-graduate commitment in the U.S. Navy. Two decades later, Navy product David Robinson waited two years to join the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, serving in the civil engineering corps before beginning his Hall of Fame playing career. And as recently as 2011, Ben Garland was on the Broncos' military-reserve list as he served his Air Force commitment before joining the practice squad in 2012.
Now Robinette gets his chance, with no restrictions and hesitation.
"It's exciting to have more doors open," Robinette said. "It couldn't be more perfect timing."
Take an in-depth look at Andrew Mason's evaluations of the potential draft prospects from the 2017 Senior Bowl who caught his eye through Day 3. (Photos by Andrew Mason)
Working from the left tackle spot, Western Kentucky's Forrest Lamp demonstrated good power, particularly on one Tuesday run play where he drove Alabama DE Dalvin Tomlinson inside, sealing the right side and allowing BYU running back Jamaal Williams to race through to the second level and beyond. Lamp has worked at both tackle and guard this week, and while his pass protection is a work in progress, he already looks to be a solid run blocker.
South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett made some good catches, but he shows just as much potential as a blocker. He set up one of N.C. State RB Matt Dayes' best runs this week by blocking out TCU's Josh Carraway, getting into his stance quickly to the point where Carraway could not budge him. Everett also showed the ability to make plays outside and downfield as a pass-catching target, and he helps ensure that this tight end class is the deepest in recent memory.
Another notable tight end is Toledo's Michael Roberts, who not only has the biggest hands of any player at the Senior Bowl (11 5/8 inches), but the ability to use them effectively and get out in space to make plays, as he does here working past Saint Frances safety Lorenzo Jerome.
North Carolina WR Ryan Switzer is a natural slot receiver at 5-foot-8 and 179 pounds; he has the necessary quickness and ability to use a juke of his shoulder to gain separation. But his ability to get cornerbacks out of position could also make him useful as an outside receiver who plays every down in every situation, not just in three-receiver formations.
Syracuse WR Amba Etta-Tawo is a long, lean 198 pounds, and showed good body control on some of his receptions Tuesday, including this one where he leaped over Lamar cornerback Brendan Langley for a deep reception during North team practice.
Louisville WR Jamari Staples has good body control and can work his way into position despite having tight coverage from a defender -- or in this case, two defenders. However, he needs to do a better job completing the catch; he failed to come down with this reception.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Daeshon Hall says he's talked with teams about a potential role in a 3-4 defense, even though his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame would seem to make him a more ideal fit in a 4-3 alignment. Hall should be able to add bulk to his size, and did receive some three-technique work at times during his college career. He also practices with intensity; none of the South team defensive linemen made their tackling dummies hit the ground with as loud of a thwack as Hall did.
Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon had some bursts into the backfield, but is still working on his consistency. The 6-foot-7 former FCS standout has plenty of tools, but also needs to strengthen his lower body; he weighs 280 pounds but looks like he could carry up to 300.
Grambling State wide receiver Chad Williams had some of the day's best receptions, showing good body control in mid-air to adjust to deep balls in one-on-one coverage.
Texas A&M WR Josh Reynolds can make receptions in tight one-on-one coverage. Here, he doesn't get much sedation from Florida State's Marquez White, but does a good job adjusting to the flight of the football for a deep catch up the right sideline in a one-on-one period.
UCLA defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes showed enough spark in pass-rushing drills with an effective bull rush to draw double-teams during the team periods of Wednesday's practice. His persistence should earn him immediate playing time as a rookie as part of an interior rotation.
There isn't a Dak Prescott in the quarterbacks in Mobile, but Pitt's Nate Peterman of the North team looks like the highest pick of the six passers here -- and is the most accurate on deep passes, including work on one-on-one periods.
The best wide receiver at the Senior Bowl is Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp, who runs precise routes. Kupp is proficient at using a bob of his shoulder to generate separation and leave cornerbacks flat-footed.
Of all the offensive linemen on hand this week, Western Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Moton has the best chance of moving into the first round alongside potential Round 1 picks Cam Robinson (Alabama), Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin) and Garett Bolles (Utah). At 330 pounds, Moton has a strong upper body and uses it well, planting his legs like tree trunks and effectively taking the bull rush out of play. His feet are also quick enough to allow him to counter inside and outside moves. Some analysts project him as a guard, but he looks like he should be able to handle right tackle well.
Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs has made some good decisions, but also needs to be more decisive and adjust to the narrow windows at the next level. In the pocket, Dobbs must avoid drifting forward unnecessarily. Late in Wednesday's practice, he stepped up and into Clemson defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, resulting in a sack.
At 310 pounds, Iowa's Jaleel Johnson could see some action as a 3-technique in a 3-4 alignment. The North team had some three-lineman looks during Tuesday's work, and he used a bull rush on Temple's Dion Dawkins to collapse the pocket and get to Iowa QB C.J. Beathard as he threw into the right flat.
Florida inside linebacker Alex Anzalone has some work to do in coverage, but against the run, he's been the best linebacker in the two days of practice so far, reading plays as they develop, filling holes and avoiding missed tackles.
LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White injured his ankle Wednesday and will not play in Saturday's game, but he did enough to cement his status as the best cornerback in this week's work, and could find himself in the first round.
Temple's Haason Reddick made a nearly-flawless transition from defensive line to the second line of defense. What impressed me was how solid he was in coverage; as the three days progressed, he became less susceptible to step-fakes from opposing tight ends, and prevented them from getting separation when they tried to cut to the outside.
East Carolina WR Zay Jones, the NCAA's all-time receptions leader with 3999, also had a strong week -- and showed his strength here, fighting through contact from Iowa's Desmond King to make the catch with little difficulty. Jones displayed a knack for making catches like this through heavy obstruction throughout the week, and doesn't need separation to make plays.
How do you get this wide open in a red-zone one-on-one period? Run a perfect route. Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp cut inside and froze West Virginia's Rasul Douglas, then cut back toward the sideline and upfield, leading to an easy touchdown.
Working at right tackle Thursday, Bucknell's Julien Davenport encountered difficulty containing Illinois' Dawuane Smoot, who worked past him to pressure Pitt QB Nate Peterman. Davenport tried to guide Smoot outside and behind Peterman, but didn't have good balance and fell, allowing Smoot a chance for what would have been a sack or a hit in game conditions. Davenport has moments where he uses his size and athleticism to his advantage, but remains a work I'm progress.
NOTES:
... The South team defense was particularly stout at the second level against the run Thursday, with Florida's Alex Anzalone and Clemson's Ben Boulware both making plays against the run.
... North Carolina State RB Matt Dayes has opened some eyes here this week with his toughness in his one-on-one blocking drills and his vision. He turned a short gain into a double-digit yardage pickup Thursday with his open-field vision, dodging two potential tacklers at the second level as he headed upfield.
... Charlotte defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (6-foot-2 1/2, 304 pounds) has shown some flashes in one-on-one drills, but what I like best about him is his ability to shake a blocker and make lateral pursuit against the run. One example came Thursday when he was held, he managed to push through and steer Wisconsin RB Corey Clement to the sideline, where two linebackers awaited.
... I like the tenacity and fearless nature of Toledo RB Kareem Hunt in pass protection. During one red-zone snap Thursday, the left side of the offensive line -- USC LT Zach Banner and Kutztown guard Jordan Morgan -- had a missed assignment, allowing Iowa's Jaleel Johnson to roar through the gap unblocked. The 309-pound Johnson has a 101-pound advantage on Hunt, but the running back raced over from the right side and lowered his shoulder into Johnson, giving Pitt QB Nate Peterman just enough time to throw to the right side.
... Mississippi State WR Fred Ross closed the last practice of the week with perhaps the best reception so far, reaching up for a Davis Webb pass in the back right corner of the end zone. Ross got both feet inbounds as Tennessee State cornerback Ezra Robinson closed on him.
... Villanova DE Tanoh Kpassagnon is an intriguing prospect with off-the-charts athleticism, but his consistency and technique need refinement. Late in the South team's practice, his extremes were evident on back-to-back plays.
On the first, he spun out of the block from UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott, flushing QB Antonio Pipkin off the spot for what would have been a sack from behind -- and a potential strip-sack fumble -- under game conditions.
But on the next play, Kpassagnon misplayed the zone-read option, biting on Josh Dobbs' fake to Jamaal Williams. Kpassagnon's overreaction and inability to stay at home allowed Dobbs to run around right end for a touchdown.
