At this time last year, the Detroit Lions were preparing to coach at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The coaching staff took the lead on the game’s American team, opposite the New York Jets’ National team.
This year, Dan Campbell and company won’t be up-close with the prospects. Still, the week leading into the most notable postseason All-Star game at the collegiate level will be a valuable opportunity to learn about the crop of draft-eligible prospects.
The Senior Bowl, set for Feb. 4, is the conclusion of a week’s worth of practices and meetings. All 32 NFL teams will do their due diligence on the available prospects, with the countless practice reps allowing them valuable opportunities to impress scouts.
Here are 15 prospects set to compete in the 2023 Senior Bowl that the Lions should watch closely.
CB Kyu Blu Kelly (Stanford)
Kelly is the highest rated cornerback prospect heading to Mobile. Although he isn’t mentioned with the likes of Kelee Ringo, Christian Gonzalez and other top prospects, there’s plenty to like about the Stanford product, including his press-coverage abilities.
LB Henry To’o To’o (Alabama)
To’oTo’o is a thumper from the linebacker position. In two seasons playing for the Crimson Tide, he totaled 206 tackles and 16 tackles for loss. He has both pressure and coverage abilities as well, making him a fit for the Lions’ stack-linebacker scheme.
G O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida)
The injury to Halapoulivaati Vaitai has left his status in doubt, meaning the Lions may need help at the guard position. Torrence will enter Mobile as the highest-rated prospect at his position. He went the entire season at Florida without being penalized, after three solid seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette.
DE Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame)
Foskey posted 11 sacks, leading the Fighting Irish for the second straight season in that category. The Lions are deep at the EDGE position, but he adds a layer as a run-stopper that could be beneficial to the defense.
TE Luke Musgrave (Oregon State)
Detroit traded away TJ Hockenson at the deadline, creating a void at the position. Although Brock Wright and others did a good job filling in, Musgrave could be a wise addition as a pass-catching tight end, with the ability to contribute in the passing game right away.
S Marte Mapu (Sacramento State)
Mapu isn’t the top pick on any radars, but he was a catalyst in a historic season for FCS squad Sacramento State. He picked off two passes and made 76 tackles, a sign of his versatility as both a free and box safety. He’s an interesting late-round prospect who could leap up the boards with a good week.
DL Zacch Pickens (South Carolina)
Pickens is an interior defender who had a solid season at South Carolina. Expected to go in the middle rounds, he could be a second-day option for the Lions, to help plug the leaks within the team’s run defense.
WR Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss)
At 6-foot-2, Mingo is a physical outside receiver who put together career-best numbers in 2022. He doubled his career total with 861 receiving yards and added five touchdowns. Mingo could be a value addition to an already solid receiver room.
S JL Skinner (Boise State)
Skinner was one of the most productive defenders at the Group of Five level, finishing with four interceptions and 65 tackles. The Lions must decide whether to bring back safety DeShon Elliott, and Skinner could be a capable replacement should the veteran elect to play somewhere else.
OL Olusegun Oluwatimi (Michigan)
A finalist for the Rimington Award, Oluwatimi emerged as one of the best centers in college football the last two seasons. While the Lions are set at center with Frank Ragnow, depth has been an issue on the offensive line each of the last season.
LB Dee Winters (TCU)
Winters made a huge statement in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Michigan, finishing with seven tackles, three for loss, and a key pick-six. He was a machine all year for the Horned Frogs, finishing with 79 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
QB Jake Haener (Fresno State)
The Lions have committed to Jared Goff heading into 2023, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of adding a quarterback in the Draft. Should the Lions elect to do so, Haener’s 6,135 career passing yards at Fresno State would be enticing.
Haener limited his turnovers in his final year with the Bulldogs, throwing just three interceptions. He did miss a stretch of games with an injury but appears to be good to go heading into Mobile.
DT Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin)
Benton is another interior defender who could help Detroit’s efforts against the run. He notched 4.5 sacks playing the tackle position, while posting 10 total tackles for loss. A true run-stuffer, he could fit well next to Alim McNeill in the future.
RB Chase Brown (Illinois)
Brown finished fourth in the country in rushing yards with 1,643. A versatile back, he added 240 receiving yards and three receiving scores. The Lions face interesting decisions regarding Jamaal Williams, who is a free agent, and D’Andre Swift’s pending contract situation. Brown would be a safe tertiary option.
OT Cody Mauch (North Dakota State)
Mauch is the latest in a string of small-school prospects who enter the pre-draft process with high expectations. The North Dakota State product has impressed scouts with his play at the FCS level and has a chance to boost his stock with a week against top competition.
The Lions are set at tackle, but Mauch is a prospect worth monitoring given his small-school roots and potential versatility.
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