Multiple Maryland football players boosted their NFL Draft buzz at showcase bowls
The Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl are in the books, giving several Maryland football products a stage to showcase their skills and increase their NFL Draft stocks. The name that got the most buzz among the Terps might be the one you'd guess.
The Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl are in the books, giving several Maryland football products a stage to showcase their skills and increase their NFL Draft stocks. Several of them took advantage.
That most-mentioned name was Tai Felton, who caught a 25-yard touchdown Saturday at the Senior Bowl. Felton was a standout in practice all week, helping his Draft stock. He's viewed as a top 10 receiver in the class and is viewed in the third-round range but could rise more.
Jeff Risdon of Yahoo Sports wrote:
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"Felton was a personal favorite of mine entering the week, and the speedy Terrapins wideout did not disappoint. He won consistently in both 1-on-1s and team drills with raw speed but also savvy change of gears that really disrupts the flow of the defender. He bested every corner he went up against at least once, including his defensive counterpart who also wears No. 10 here, Kansas State's Jacob Parrish (who had a very nice day of his own). Clean hands and good over-the-shoulder ball tracking--even if the throw wasn't always when or where it needed to be."
Felton, a first-team all-Big Ten selection and semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, finished his senior season with 96 receptions, 1,124 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He wasn't the only Maryland player to impress. The other one in the game, safety Dante Trader, also opened eyes. Draft guru Dane Brugler wrote for the Athletic:
He also went up against an old teammate during practice.
Four Terps were on the rosters of last Thursday's Shrine Bowl in Texas: defensive lineman Jordan Phillips and Tommy Akingbesote, defensive back Glendon Miller and Kaden Prather. All were relatively quiet in the game, but Phillips was one of the stars of the practice week leading into the game.
Prather looks like a fourth-to-sixth-round pick right now. He has prototypical size but will need to answer questions about speed and consistency. Miller is viewed as a fifth-to-seventh-round pick.
Akingbesote, who has some NFL traits but might need to catch on as an undrafted free agent, doesn't appear to have played in the game.
