The week of practice at the 2015 Senior Bowl will provide NFL scouts with the best opportunity for assessing prospects, but the Player Weigh-Ins provide a valuable first impression. An impressive physique provides evidence of a player's work ethic. Just as important is learning the player's accurate heights, weights, arm length and hand size as colleges are notorious for adding inches or dropping pounds to make their players look better.
That certainly wasn't the case for a pair of Ivy Leaguers. Yale's Tyler Varga may possess the most impressive build of any player in Mobile, checking in at a rock-solid 5-foot-10 (and 1/4") and 227 pounds. Harvard edge rusher Zack Hodges also gave a new meaning to the expression hitting the books. The Atlanta native measured in at 6-foot-2 (5/8"), 242 pounds, seven pounds heavier than his listed weight.
The following is a quick take on players from the North Team who made positive first impressions, as well as a few who need to perform well during practices to convince scouts that they can overcome less-than-ideal measureables.
T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh: Arguably the top prospect in Mobile, Clemmings measured in a 6-foot-4 (and 5/8" inches) and 307 pounds, with nearly 35" arms (34 7/8") and big hands (10 3/8"). Clemmings' prototypical build and athleticism projects well to the next level, though scouts would like to see him play with more refined technique.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska: With the players announced alphabetically, Abdullah had the first opportunity to wow scouts and he certainly did so, showing off a chiseled physique that provided ample evidence that his game is much more that elusiveness and acceleration. At just over 5-foot-8 (and a 1/4"), Abdullah does not possess great height but his 198 pounds are well distributed.
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington: Generally-speaking, it isn't a good thing to measure in shorter and heavier than expected but given Shelton's rare movement skills, it may not keep him from earning a first round selection. Shelton was listed by Washington at 6-foot-2, 334 pounds, but he checked in at Mobile just under that (6-foot-1, 3/4") and a whopping 343 pounds. Interestingly enough, Shelton pumped his fist when the scout announced his weight, perhaps indicating that he'd played this season heavier.
Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford: While Montgomery possesses a chiseled frame, he came in nearly three inches shorter than the 6-foot-2, 215 pounds he was listed by the Cardinal, measuring in at 5-foot-11 (3/4"). In a class boasting several big, athletic receivers, Montgomery needs an impressive week. Most important for Montgomery will be simply catching the ball cleanly after a senior season in which he struggled with drops.
Jamil Douglas, OL, Arizona State: Douglas is listed by the Senior Bowl at tackle but he could be this year's short-arm guard convert after it was discovered that the 6-foot-4, 307 pounder possesses just 32 1/4" arms.
Trenton Brown, OL, Florida: If size is what the NFL is looking for than Brown has an advantage. No one measured bigger than the Gators' behemoth, who checked in at 6-foot-8 (1/2") and a staggering 376 pounds.
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