Taking place at the same time as Reese’s Senior Bowl, the Shrine Bowl is another pre-draft spectacle, and here are five defensive Shrine Bowl sleepers who could raise their stock.
Defensive Prospects Who Could Stand Out At The Upcoming Shrine Bowl
EDGE Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
Ponder is one of the best defensive players to come out of Cal Poly and has the physical traits scouts desire out of small-school projects. His Shrine Bowl invite came after a standout performance at the Hula Bowl and has created some discussion with his ability to entirely overwhelm linemen in an instant.
He picked up a sack in the game and has been near unblockable at times for the Mustangs defense. Ponder put together two consecutive elite seasons to finish his collegiate career and some on social media have begun talking about him as a top FCS prospect. If he can replicate what he did during his career during the drills and the game itself, his name will become much more popular.
Potential Team Fit: New England Patriots
DL Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Phillips has been steadily picking up steam as an underrated prospect in the draft cycle in recent weeks. His athletic ability and blend of speed and power has flashed several times on tape but he hasn’t produced at a high level in college. It’s rare that someone with his small body of work would declare as a redshirt sophomore, making him even more intriguing to watch.
He should be an absolute problem for offensive linemen in drills and full-play run-throughs and has the tools to be a massive riser. Phillips drives downhill with intensity which few offensive lines will be able to quickly match, and his box score numbers could be quickly forgotten with a compelling Shrine Bowl performance.
Potential Team Fit: Houston Texans
LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
The All-Big 10 selection paired nicely with Carson Schwesinger (Scouting Report) to make an exceedingly dangerous LB duo for UCLA. Schwesinger often overshadowed the contributions Medrano made, but he certainly stamped his presence on games. His instinctual play style flows nicely over the middle and looks the part of a game-managing backer.
Medrano has shown he can impact plays at any level and excels in coverage against running backs and tight ends. His film shows excellent upside as a coverage defender and could be a big winner during the one-on-one portions. As the NFL gets faster and more athletic by the year, a coverage specialist such as him could become a coveted asset with more eyes on his skills.
Potential Team Fit: Denver Broncos
DB Nohl Williams, California
Williams was statistically one of the nation’s best corners and was acknowledged with a slew of postseason awards. He led the FBS in interceptions with seven and was a major part of the Golden Bears’ success in the secondary. He has experience across five years of consistent playing time and is a noticeably advanced and disciplined defensive back.
His biggest test will be whether or not he can compete with high-level athletes in isolated situations. Williams’ hips are a bit stiff and he gets into his heels early, but is the type of feisty coverage back that the new-age NFL loves. Scouts’ opinions on him are quite varied at this point, and locking down top Shrine Bowl talent could shoot his stock upwards.
Potential Team Fit: Miami Dolphins
DB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
Longerbeam will be an incredibly interesting prospect to watch at the Shrine Bowl due to his fantastic skills at the catch point. He broke up 11 passes across 11 games this season and is a technical weapon with the ball in the air. His coverage abilities are solid in zone coverage and should be fun to watch when matched up in man coverage.
He plays far bigger than his listed size and is a formidable defender against the run as well, despite a smaller frame. Longerbeam has press-man abilities that should give him initial leverage during one-on-one sessions and footwork to stick onto WRs through routes. He’s currently projected as a late-round selection but could work himself into the middle rounds with a strong showing.
Potential Team Fit: Los Angeles Rams
Main Photo: [Mark J. Rebilas] – USA Today Sports
