QB Christian Ponder UP

The game’s MVP (though I’d argue Leonard Hankerson deserved it), Ponder started off shaky. He underthrew a limp deep ball that was caught by Leonard Hankerson, who made a great play to find the ball, for 49 yards. He then threw a near pick on the goal line, a bad decision. Kendric Burney had inside position on Hankerson. Then he threw an incompletion and the South had to settle for a field goal. However, after that, he was good. 7-13 for 131 yards, 2 touchdowns, no picks. Everything from 15 yards or shorter was good. Good timing, good reads, good accuracy, looks like a West Coast offense type quarterback. His struggles with the deep ball, which is why he’s no more than a 4^th rounder, but overall he helped himself today. He was really the only quarterback who greatly increased his stock today.

WR Leonard Hankerson UP

My MVP, Leonard Hankerson did everything. He was on the field for almost every play. He was impossible to cover. Aside from one drop, he didn’t make a mistake. He’s big and physical at 6-2 205 and plays bigger than that. He’s got good hands and great speed and athleticism. Reminds me a bit of Brandon Marshall actually. He had 5 catches for 99 yards and a score and should have had more if his quarterbacks had the arm strength to hit him downfield. He had his man beat to end the half for a sure touchdown before an underthrow back to the defender.

DT Sione Fua UP

Fua got into the backfield and made a play at least a half dozen times today. He’s tough to block, big and sneaky quick. He fits a 3-4 or a 4-3 as a tackle. He moves into the 3^rd round range after a good day today.

G Clint Boling DOWN

He had one nice block, but overall got beat today. He played guard and wasn’t able to handle the quicker interior linemen. If he can’t do that, there’s no way he can play his natural position of tackle.

CB Kendric Burney UP

This 5-9 corner definitely helped his stock this week. He was matched up with the 6-2 Hankerson a lot today and even though he was 5 inches shorter, he still was the only one able to keep Hankerson in check. He had a near pick. He made a few open field tackles. He played well on special teams. The announcers made an interesting comparison to Brandon Flowers. 5-9 180 guy with 4.5 speed and Flowers is one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the league now, already, after being drafted in the 2nd in 2008.

CB Jalil Brown UP

Didn’t get a ton of recognition today, but I think he played well. He got into good position. He should have found the ball and picked it off when Ponder had that first underthrow, but he was in good position. He’s a physical corner who did surprisingly well even with the no man press coverage rules and made a nice play in the end zone where you are allowed to press.

WR Ronald Johnson DOWN

Ran a few ugly routes that made it impossible for him to get open. He also didn’t look like he knew where he was going at all on special teams as a return man. He’s athletic, but plays like he doesn’t have a clue.

OLB Von Miller UP

Really impressed this week. He’s undersized, but when you play like him, who cares. He’s instinctual and doesn’t get fooled easily. He made a few nice tackles for loss. Even more impressive, he showed he could play the 4-3 as a non-rush linebacker. He played linebacker all day today and wasn’t allowed to rush the quarterback and he still made an impact stuffing the run and covering well.

FB Charles Clay UP

A bigger version of Dorin Dickerson from last year. I don’t know where this guy lines up, but I want him somewhere. He played running back, full back, tight end in college. He’s 6-3 235 and can make plays in the open field, like he did once today, so he could be an h-back, but he proved he could play fullback at a high level today.

QB Jake Locker DOWN

Not moving him down too much because I already had a low grade on him coming in, but he didn’t do himself any favors today. He was wildly inaccurate and showed more of his terrible footwork. He almost had Titus Young murdered on two separate occasions by throwing the ball too high. He should have been picked off in the end zone. He was asked on the sideline to explain his completion percentage in the 50s for his career and instead of saying something like numbers don’t tell the whole story and saying, I didn’t struggle in college he got this “oh shit” look on his face and said something about how he hasn’t been playing under center for very long. An excuse was not the right answer there. He reminds me of Jay Cutler, big arm, poor accuracy, loser in college, fast, athletic, they have similar size, similar college stats, similar college record, similar speed. Cutler went in the first and I think Locker still could too (Mike Shanahan in Washington, the same man who took Cutler 11^th with Denver), but he’s not a good quarterback. He went 6-10 for 98 yards today, was all over the place with his accuracy, and his struggles can’t be blamed on his supporting cast like they could at Washington.

 

MLB Casey Matthews UP

He doesn’t have his brother’s size or speed, but he has everything else. His tenacity, his hustle, his heart, his instincts. Matthews made several nice plays in coverage today. He really was the quarterback of that defense. He really impressed me this week.

RB Derrick Locke UP

Goes down on first contact, but only if you can catch him. He’s extremely explosive, looking forward to seeing not just his 40, but his initial 10 yard speed. He gets low and he’s sneaky and he’s got great vision. Seems like a solid 3^rd down back.

WR Jeremy Kerley UP

Worked the middle of the field like a pro today. He should be a solid slot receiver/return man for any team in the NFL. He’s worth a 3^rd rounder.

CB Richard Sherman UP

I didn’t know much about him going into today, but I didn’t know much about Chris Cook going into Senior Bowl week last year and he ended up a 2^nd rounder. He’s a former wide receiver, with a big body at 6-2, but he’s quick and he’s got good hip fluidity. He’ll be even better if he can man press. He blanketed receivers all day today, with the exception of a bad mistake at the end of the half where he should have given up a touchdown, except Andy Dalton has a girly arm.

DE Sam Acho UP

Measured up undersized at under 6-2 257, but worked his ass off all week and made several nice plays in the backfield today. He’s too quick for some tackles and he’s athletic enough to play standing up as a 3-4 rush linebacker. He burned Nate Solder today.

OT Nate Solder DOWN

I think this whole North offensive line proved to be overrated, but Solder in particular. He couldn’t keep anyone out of the backfield. He had a few nice second level blocks and he’s mobile, but if he’s going to be a left tackle, he’s got a lot of things to work on.

OT Anthony Costanzo DOWN

Also struggled, but that makes sense, because, for some reason, they put him at guard. He wasn’t as bad as Solder though and he was playing out of position so I’m not knocking him down as much as I am Solder.

DE Christian Ballard UP

Showing more and more of his natural athleticism, he has excellent chase speed for a 285 pound lineman. I think he proved he can play 4-3 left end, in addition to 4-3 defensive tackle and 3-4 defensive end. He played 4-3 left end in college, but he might be athletic enough to do the same in the pros.

QB Greg McElroy UP

He showed the strongest arm of any South quarterback and his footwork is like watching an instructional video. All that time in a Pro Style offense coached by a Pro Style coach in Nick Saban helped. I think he’s better than John Parker Wilson and should be a solid backup as a late round pick.

MLB Colin McCarthy UP

Not very athletic, but he made a ton of plays today. He seems best off as a 4-3 middle linebacker. He’s got an amazing motor. He gets after the ball. He’s a defensive leader and a tremendous special teamer. He should make an impact on an NFL roster as a rookie as a 4^th or 5^th rounder.

CB Shareece Wright UP

Reportedly a film rat, Wright looked the part today. He looked prepared for everything the offense had. He covered routes very well. He’s even better in man press, which he didn’t even get to do today. I pegged him as a sleeper going in and he didn’t disappoint.

DE Pierre Allen DOWN

Didn’t do anything except commit several penalties.

NT Phil Taylor UP

Cemented his status as the #1 nose tackle in this class with an amazing day against the North’s offensive line. I know he’s 337 pounds, but he doesn’t move like it.

RB Noel Devine DOWN

Good if he’s not touched, which, in the NFL, doesn’t happen very often. He doesn’t his Locke’s vision, explosion, or shiftiness either.

OT Derek Sherrod UP

Sherrod took advantage of Costanzo and Solder struggling and really showed himself to be a potential first rounder. He played better than any tackle in this game.

CB Curtis Brown UP

Reminding me why I had a first round grade on him before a down senior year, Brown made a bunch of plays. He’s physical, but also athletic.

QB Ricky Stanzi UP

Struggled early, but appeared to be the most NFL ready quarterback in this game. He has above average arm strength, good footwork thanks to a Pro Style offense, and he led a couple good drives.

DE Brooks Reed UP

The energizer battery. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not somewhere jumping up and down right now. He has so much energy. He’s not particularly athletic, but he’s a feisty player and he can play  both a 3-4 and a 4-3. He wrecked havoc for the South today.

QB Andy Dalton DOWN

Terrible arm strength, worst in this game. He doesn’t have a shot at completing anything more than 25 yards downfield. He had the worst day of any quarterback in this game.

OT DeMarcus Love DOWN

Couldn’t handle Ryan Kerrigan at all. Kerrigan blew past him on several occasions, causing a sack and a hold.

RB Bilal Powell UP

He rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries. He’s a one cut and go type player, but he doesn’t go down on first contact. He’s got good hands as well. He could be a starter in this league someday.

TE Mike McNeill DOWN

Didn’t do much except drop a pass for an interception. He didn’t help himself at all this week.

OLB KJ Wright UP

Wright caught the interception off the hands of McNeill. He impressed in coverage and is a big body against the run as well. Commentators suggested he could be a 3-4 rush linebacker if he bulked up some. At the very least, he’s a solid 4-3 SAM linebacker.

QB Colin Kaepernick UP

He was inconsistent, but he’s a project worth taking on in the 3^rd round. He’s got a good arm and his weird delivery is more Philip Rivers than Byron Leftwich. He reminds me a bit of Josh Freeman, definitely a poor man’s version, but the comparisons are there.

WR Dane Sanzenbacher UP

Led the North with 5 catches, all of which were on nice slants or curls. He’s a possession slot type receiver and needs to bulk up some to handle hits over the middle in the NFL, but he’s quicker than fast and has great hands. He’s a potential early day 3 guy.

TE Lee Smith DOWN

Had a drop and a penalty today. He’s a good blocker, but nothing else.

OT James Carpenter DOWN

He might just be a guard. He really struggled on the outside today against faster guys.

RB Da’Rel Scott UP

First he had a nice special teams play, then he had a few nice carries and never went down on first contact. He runs bigger than he is and he has good quickness. He runs a bit upright, but he’s still a decent mid/late round guy. He took a screen pass 34 yards.

RB Roy Helu DOWN

An upright runner, who didn’t break tackles. He also displayed poor vision. He only carried twice, but I didn’t like what I saw either time.

WR Titus Young DOWN

Explosive, yes, but I think he’s a bit immature. He committed a terrible offensive pass interference penalty, he dances around too much on returns for no reason, he could have come down with both throws that Locker threw to him. He didn’t absorb the hit well on either. He dropped a lot of passes in practice as well.

DE Pernell McPhee UP

Very active today, good chase speed, and had a strip sack of Jake Locker, who is a fast quarterback.

G Steve Schilling DOWN

Another North offensive lineman that couldn’t protect. He was burned on back to back plays by Jarvis Jenkins and Phil Taylor.

CB DeMarcus Van Dyke UP

Had several nice moments in coverage. He’s a project, but he’s very athletic. He needs to bulk up, but with 32 inch arms, he has room to do so.

OLB Lawrence Wilson DOWN

Couldn’t fight through blocker at all. He’s a bit too small and unathletic.