Utah State’s Jordan Love throws a pass as the North squad runs drills during practice for the Senior Bowl Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. | Butch Dill, Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — One interesting part about the college football postseason senior showcases is that practice can be as important as the actual game for the players.
That could be a very good thing for Jordan Love, who is among a handful of Utah college players in Mobile, Alabama, for the 2020 Senior Bowl.
Other Beehive State athletes on the Senior Bowl North and South rosters include Leki Fotu, Bradlee Anae, Francis Bernard and Terrell Burgess from Utah. Zack Moss (training) and Julian Blackmon (injury rehab) were invited but won’t play.
The Senior Bowl takes place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. It will be televised by NFL Network.
Coming off of a shaky senior season, the Utah State quarterback reminded people why he was so highly regarded after his huge sophomore season during practices leading up to the Senior Bowl.
CBS Sports NFL writer Ryan Wilson said Love came into this event with a lot to prove and commended him for being “sharp” in the three practices.
“And while the ball explodes out of (Oregon QB Justin) Herbert’s hand, Love’s delivery was effortless — and yet with similar arm strength. Love also showed much better touch on deep balls, something that we saw throughout his college career too,” Wilson wrote.
“But is he a first-round talent? Without a doubt. NFL teams will have to convince themselves they can limit the mistakes that plagued him in 2019 when he had 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, but much like Daniel Jones a year ago, Love will benefit from having much better players around him at the next level.”
Love was named North Squad Offensive Practice Player of the Week for quarterbacks. Bernard received the similar defensive honor for linebackers. Players voted for the award winners.
2020 @seniorbowl North Squad Offensive Practice Players of the Week (voted on by the position group they competed against in practice)
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 24, 2020
QB: Jordan Love, Utah St.
RB: Joshua Kelley, UCLA
WR: K.J. Hill, Ohio St.
TE: Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
OL: Josh Jones, Houston pic.twitter.com/PxcdxwsL03
2020 @seniorbowl North Squad Defensive Practice Players of the Week (voted on by the position group they competed against in practice)
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 24, 2020
DL: Davon Hamilton, Ohio State
LB: Francis Bernard, Utah
DB: Jalen Elliott, Notre Dane
ST: Tyler Bass, Georgia State
“Utah LB Francis Bernard impressed all season long for the Utes,” wrote NFL writer Gavino Borquez of The Chargers Wire. “In a league that’s getting faster, your linebackers better be able to cover. Bernard handles coverage responsibilities exceptionally well.”
Utah LB Francis Bernard impressed all season long for the Utes. In a league that's getting faster, your linebackers better be able to cover. Bernard handles coverage responsibilities exceptionally well. pic.twitter.com/l64gFY65Yb
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) January 23, 2020
Anae was credited for playing especially well on the second day of practice, by The Athletic’s Erik Turner.
“He showed off his pass rush arsenal,” Turner wrote of the Utes’ all-time leading sack man on Twitter.
Though listed on the roster, Fotu is not expected to play in the Senior Bowl.
from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2OddOY7
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