2020 Senior Bowl Risers: Jordan Love headlines Tuesday’s list

Practice for the first day of the 2020 Senior Bowl week is in the books. For a number of players, it was a complete success. Below are the players who helped their stock the most on day one down according to some of PFN’s draft analysts who will be in Mobile all week.

Related | 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Report: North Team

PFN Draft Analyst and Insider Tony Pauline’s Risers

Jordan Love/QB/Utah State: Considering the disappointing season turned in by Love in 2019, showing up at the Senior Bowl was a gamble – a gamble that has thus far paid off. On the first day of practice, Love showcased the physical skills necessary to lead a team at the NFL level and displayed proper decision making as well as pinpoint accuracy. His ability to drop the ball into tight spots was only surpassed by the speed in which he was able to deliver those passes.

Adam Trautman/TE/Dayton: Trautman arrived at the Senior Bowl with high expectations, which he met on day one. He looked like a natural in all aspects of the tight end position and did not look overwhelmed or intimidated by the circumstances. He caught the ball well, did a fine job blocking, and looked like an NFL tight end.

PFN Draft Analyst AJ Schulte’s Risers

KJ Hill/WR/Ohio State: Hill was so smooth in drills all day long, which was great to see, as his tape on first glance did not suggest a great athletic profile. One of my biggest questions was his ability to play outside at the next level and his drills today seemed to indicate he could, but it was still a limited sample size. He attacked the leverage of DBs all practice long and did a phenomenal job of using nuances like head fakes to get open. Hill consistently dusted the defensive backs and won the vast majority of his reps.

Related | 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Report: South Team

Van Jefferson/WR/Florida: Jefferson came in as the most advanced route-runner in the group and did not disappoint. He got open on virtually every rep and tracked the ball well. He looked phenomenally crisp and smooth in and out of his breaks and his attention to detail really showed up when asked to beat press coverage. Jefferson was one of the biggest winners of the day in general in my opinion.

PFN Draft Analyst Matt Valdovinos’ Risers

Terrance Steele/OL/Texas Tech: Steele was the most pleasant surprise in the trenches today. His length was evident and he held his own against the terrifying Florida edge duo. He showed good power in run blocking drills as well as quick feet and a good punch in pass pro. Steele has an ideal frame to play tackle in the NFL, and he cemented himself as my top riser for Tuesday.

Jason Strowbridge/DL/North Carolina: Strowbridge is not someone I was familiar with coming into the week, but he showed out today. He has elite size at 6’4″ and 267 pounds with a massive 80-inch wingspan. Strowbridge lined up all along the defensive line, from 1-tech to 5-tech and performed well at all of them. His hands were violent, and his get-off was quick. Strowbridge will be someone I absolutely keep my eye on for the rest of the week.