2020 Senior Bowl Risers: Eno Benjamin & Denzel Mims highlight Wednesday’s list

Two days of practice are in the books at the Senior Bowl, and several players have impressed NFL scouts. But which players have stood out the most to improve their draft stock through the first two days in Mobile? Pro Football Network’s team of analysts and contributors share their top two Senior Bowl risers through Wednesday.

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PFN Draft Analyst and Insider Tony Pauline’s Risers

Eno Benjamin/RB/Arizona State: Benjamin was good on Tuesday and even better today. He displays himself as a complete back effective carrying the ball, catching it out of the backfield, and blocking. He’s a feisty player with excellent athleticism, speed, and quickness. After a somewhat disappointing 2019 season, Benjamin has shown himself to be the class of the running backs here at the Senior Bowl.

Stephen Sullivan/TE/LSU: Sullivan was rarely part of the passing offense for LSU but has proven he has next-level potential at the Senior Bowl. After flashing on Tuesday, he pulled it all together today and was the South’s best tight end. He made several difficult receptions in both the long and short field and dominated as a blocker.

PFN Draft Analyst AJ Schulte’s Risers

Kyle Dugger/S/Lenoir Rhyne: Dugger was all over the field in coverage today and looked like he belonged with the big guys. He made a great interception in one-on-ones when he was lined up against Vanderbilt TE Jared Pinkney. He demonstrated great range and coverage instincts in the secondary. I thought he started strong yesterday but turned in an even more impressive performance on day two.

Denzel Mims/WR/Baylor: Mims was arguably the best player on the North team today. He was uncoverable all day long. He separated with explosiveness, fluidity, and physicality and showed off an impressive catch radius during one-on-ones. He had scouts in the stands “wowing” at some of his reps. Mims was the most impressive player of the day, in my opinion.

PFN Contributor Chris Tripodi’s Risers

Josh Uche/EDGE/Michigan: Uche was impossible to stop Wednesday. He won with quickness off the snap, flexibility to dip and rip off the edge, and counter moves inside when opponents positioned themselves to take away his outside rush. Uche was more comfortable in space than he was Tuesday, which will be necessary as he prepares for a role standing up over tackle at the NFL level.

Davion Taylor/OLB/Colorado: Taylor weighed in just under 225 pounds Tuesday morning, but he showed he was more than a small, speedy linebacker during Wednesday’s practice. He did show great speed to the sideline, but he was also effective as a blitzer, quickly getting into the backfield and using his hands well to keep running backs off his body and shed blocks. He combined his speed with good recognition ability to consistently fill holes before blockers could seal him from the action.

PFN Draft Analyst Matt Valdovinos’ Risers

Ben Bartch/OT/St. John’s: Bartch came in as a small school, lesser-known prospect. However, through the first two days, he’s shown he absolutely belongs. In pass protection, Bartch has shown soft, smooth feet. He also displayed a strong anchor and the ability to move people off the line of scrimmage. There was talk of playing him at guard for the week, but so far he’s taken every snap at tackle. Bartch has made his name known to all those who missed his film at St. John’s.

Shea Patterson/QB/Michigan: Patterson was someone I was publicly low on coming into this week. I thought he lacked arm talent and mental processing. So far this week, he’s changed my mind on at least one of those. The ball has shot out of Patterson’s arm in Mobile and found its mark with strong accuracy. I don’t think the quarterbacks have been strong so far, and Shea has done a good job of elevating his game at a peak opportunity.