2023 Senior Bowl News And Notes
The practices are a big deal.
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Senior Bowl is the time to shine
The Senior Bowl is this weekend and it is a time for players to get to know the NFL coaches and other draft personnel to get an up close look at these prospects.
The Mountain West has just two players in the Senior Bowl.
- J.L. Skinner, DB, Boise State
- Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
There wasn’t a stellar group of quarterbacks in Mobile, but Haener flashed the most of this year’s crop. The ball jumped out of his hands during practice, and he was accurate. He’s already shown he’s tough, coming back from an ankle injury last season and spearheading the Bulldogs’ run to a Mountain West championship.
Great throw from Jake Haener during Senior Bowl team drills…
Even better catch from @HuskerFBNation WR Trey Palmer 🔥
pic.twitter.com/ytEJskeLP7— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) February 2, 2023
#FresnoState QB Jake Haener with a beautiful ball for a TD during Senior Bowl drills. pic.twitter.com/ILxq44niTI
— Jared Tokarz (@JaredNFLDraft) February 2, 2023
Jake Haener to Puka Nacua, what a route from Nacua pic.twitter.com/BQNaYcLQpD
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 31, 2023
It’s not a banner year for quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, but it’s hardly a lost cause at the position. In a crop of quarterbacks that mostly range from Day 3 prospects to priority free agents, Haener might be the leading man among them. He’s now stacked solid back-to-back practices, showing decent accuracy and the ability to make plays out of structure — even in unfamiliar surroundings this week.
Sexy play alert: @FresnoStateFB Jake Haener with A DIME to @BoilerFootball tight end Payne Durham in Senior Bowl practice. pic.twitter.com/5JHw3sKxRw
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) February 2, 2023
#FresnoState QB Jake Haener throws a perfect deep ball to #Charlotte WR Grant DuBose. pic.twitter.com/X5XZQKgH3a
— Steve Frederick (@SteveFrederick_) February 1, 2023
J.L. Skinner, Boise State
Safety JL Skinner fights through the block from WR Ronnie Bell to get the TFL on RB Evan Hull. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/FXdLW67i4b
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) February 1, 2023
The Still Curtain likes Skinner as a Steeler option
This is where Safety JL Skinner could come into play. Skinner played his collegiate ball in Boise, Idaho, and is the next Boise State Safety in a fairly long line of defenders to come out of the university that has made an impact at the next level. The former Mountain West standout measures 6’4 and 220 lbs. His large frame compares considerably to Baltimore Ravens Safety Kyle Hamilton, who was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, as well as LA Chargers Safety Derwin James.
Skinner showed very good footwork and balance while moving for a taller DB. He stays low in his stance and didn’t have the wide turn radius that often plagues guy at his length. There was no tackling so it’s difficult to judge the run defense other than making the right read and quickly reacting. Skinner checked those boxes.
Arguably the top of the “big safeties” in this class, JL Skinner proved that he was much more than a lumbering, physical force for Boise State in 2022. Skinner dominated in coverage over the past two seasons, nabbing six of his seven career interceptions since 2021. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Skinner lays a boom when he makes plays over the middle of the field. But his size is carried by an impressive athleticism that allows him to cover receivers from the slot all the same.
The Senior Bowl game itself kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NFL network (free with FuboTV trial)
