National Football League

WRs look to impress at Senior Bowl

Published Jan. 25, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Opportunity is everything in life. It’s what you do with the opportunities that you’re given which will ultimately determine success or failure.

Such is the way of life for the Senior Bowl’s 12 receivers.

While none are projected as first-round picks, several will have a chance to move up draft boards if they can put together a strong showing. The top senior wide receiver on some draft boards, Troy University’s Jerrel Jernigan, is not participating in practices due to an ankle injury. But the others will get every chance to shine in front of NFL scouts and personnel evaluators.

San Diego State's Vincent Brown (North) has been perhaps the top performer at the position on either roster through two days of practice. While he’s projected to go off the board by some personnel evaluators in rounds 4-5 because of a perceived lack of speed, Brown has caught everything in sight. He also has impressed scouts with his precise route running. He’ll get a chance to show scouts how fast he is during February’s NFL Combine.

“It’s like a job interview. There’s a lot of competition out here. There are a lot of good players out here,” Brown told FOXSports.com about competing against the top senior defensive backs. “You have to be ready to compete against them.”

Because zone defenses are not allowed during Senior Bowl week, cornerbacks are pressing the receivers quite a bit. And because the defensive backs are getting physical, the wide receivers are being challenged snap after snap to get separation.

“They (the coaches) want to see how you get off the line of scrimmage. And recognizing what they (the defensive backs) are trying to do to you,” Brown added.

Another standout has been Boise State wide receiver Titus Young (North). While he stands just a shade over 5’11”, he weighs just 174. But Young is what scouts call a wide receiver that plays bigger than his listed size. Young has made several spectacular plays and ran by defensive backs several times over the first few days of work.

“It’s just a blessing to be here. Being able to play with or compete against guys that I know has been great,” Young told FOXSports.com about the opportunity to participate in Senior Bowl week. “Like (University of Oklahoma running back) DeMarco Murray and my teammate (Boise State wide receiver) Austin Pettis.”

And it’s not like wide receivers who have come to the Senior Bowl in years past haven’t moved up draft boards after dominating practices.

Former Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson had a terrific set of practices during 2008 Senior Bowl week. He impressed scouts with his route running and hands. But the trait which impressed personnel evaluators the most could have been his run-after-the-catch ability. And that talent wasn’t lost on the Green Bay Packers, who selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. The Packers, who use a West Coast scheme on offense, use his ability to get down field in their multiple wide receiver sets. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay’s upcoming Super Bowl opponent, is yet another team which uses multiple receiver looks on offense.

And because so many teams in the NFL are going with lots of three- and four-receiver sets, slot receivers are getting a lot of attention here this week.

Hawaii’s Greg Salas, who posted a whopping 225 receptions over the last two seasons, is projected to play the slot at the next level.

“Well, they have been having me play inside and outside so far,” Salas told FOXSports.com about his role through the first two days. “But the coaches have been great with telling me what to look for with coverages.”