News

*This article is part of the Warehouse Pool Supply Path to the Draft coverage.

MOBILE, AL—Tuesday morning the Senior Bowl North squad practiced at Ladd-Peebles stadium, with the South following suit in the afternoon at the same venue. HoustonTexans.com trained it’s eyes predominantly on the wide receivers, and has the following miscellaneous notes.

-Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton caught a deep ball for a touchdown, caught passes underneath, along the sideline and was constantly hammered by various South defensive backs. His toughness was impressive, and he said afterward that he prides himself on his “physicality”.

-Georgia nose tackle John Jenkins was able to penetrate in various drills.

-Alabama linebacker Nico Johnson believes playing for head coach Nick Saban in college made this week easier to adjust to than perhaps some others taking part in the Senior Bowl. He also thinks the complexity of the Saban and Kirby Smart defense for the Crimson Tide will serve him well in the NFL, whether he’s playing in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.

-Arkansas wide receiver Cobi Hamilton made an acrobatic catch and toe-tapped one foot in on the sideline, but it wouldn’t have counted in a game situation. The ball was high and a bit wide, and he managed to come down with it.

-Rice tight end Vance McDonald was a frequent target of Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel during pass drills. He pulled in a basket catch for a long touchdown, juggling it a bit as he brought it in for the catch.

-Manuel said it’s been pretty easy stepping in and taking a leadership role at quarterback, despite just meeting most of his Senior Bowl teammates.

-Michigan’s Denard Robinson is wearing a yellow quarterback jersey, but going through drills with the wide receivers.

-Duke wide receiver Conner Vernon spoke at length about his head coach David Cutcliffe, as well as Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who worked out with Cutcliffe last spring in his return from neck surgery. He was thoroughly impressed and inspired by Manning. Vernon also acknowledged that while Cutcliffe’s offense was more advanced than many other college schemes, he’ll have a lot to learn if he catches on with an NFL squad.

-Both Syracuse wide receiver Alec Lemon and Elon wide receiver Aaron Mellette said they admire and pattern their respective games after Texans’ wideout Andre Johnson.