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Detroit Lions: 4 Senior Bowl draft candidates to watch

By Michael Kirkland

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 28: Nate Peterman #4 of the North team celebrates with Zay Jones #7 of the North team during the second half of the Reese's Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 28: Nate Peterman #4 of the North team celebrates with Zay Jones #7 of the North team during the second half of the Reese's Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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riddick with the carry
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 24: Theo Riddick #25 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

Who To Watch in the Senior Bowl

Our friend and beat writer for the Lions, Tim Twentymen, has been gracious enough to cover twenty-two prospects at several positions who are in Mobile: defensive end, defensive tackle, and running back. The Senior Bowl rosters are here.

I want to highlight a couple that he cited as interesting:

Running Back

"Rashaad Penny, San Diego State, 5-11, 220: Speedy back with over 2,000 rushing yards (2,248) and 23 touchdowns last season. Also a terrific kickoff return man with a 30.2 career average and seven touchdowns. – Tim Twentyman, DetroitLions.com"

What struck me about running back Rashaad Penny is his startling production. 2,248 yards and 23 touchdowns in one season. Rashaad has been racing up draft boards due to his combination of speed, power, and play-making. He is currently being ranked in the second round by NFL Draft Scout.

Penny’s 2017 was the fifth best rushing season ever by a college runner. He’s not Barry Sanders, but he can play.

I watched him play, (the link is to his plays against Stanford) and he has good vision and usually makes at least the first tackler miss. Penny has good body lean, good acceleration, plays with good pad level, and is almost always falling forward, too. In his matchup with Stanford, he had a huge game, amassing 175 yards and a score on the way to a win.

Penny averaged 7.8 yards per carry for the season and had six 200-yard games, including a bowl loss where he scored four times and had 221 yards. Not his fault. Did I mention his brother is also an NFL running back? Sorry.

Check this kid out.

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