Bama’s Kevin Norwood showing NFL scouts what we already knew

From TideSports.com’s Aaron Suttles. Check out the video below the break.

For the first time in years Kevin Norwood caught meaningful passes from a quarterback not named AJ McCarron.

The pair will always be linked together, but with McCarron choosing not to participate in the Senior Bowl in order to recoup from the regular season, it leaves Norwood catching passes from other quarterbacks this week. Norwood and McCarron will workout together at D1 Sports Training facility in Jackson, Miss to help prepare for the NFL Draft, but this week he's working with Fresno State's Derek Carr, Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppalo and San Jose State's David Fales under the direction of the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching staff at this week's Senior Bowl.

"It's not really that different," Norwood said. "Everything's pretty much the same just different terminology."

His size, he measured in at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds Monday morning, is a major asset and scouts praised his hands through the first two practices.

"He's got a chance to be a nice move-the-chains receiver," one NFC scout said. "He runs good routes and he catches what's thrown at him. He's fundamentally solid." -

---

---

A lot of pundits believe that Norwood had the best hands on the Alabama team since Julio Jones racked up yardage, first downs and touchdowns during his all too brief stay at Tuscaloosa. His prototype measurables, great hands and route-running skills are sure to impress pro scouts during Senior Bowl workouts, Alabama Pro Day and the upcoming NFL Combine.

Expect to see Norwood as someone who will have improved his stock after these workouts, and the likelihood of a big Sunday paycheck next year can only go higher.

Update: The post title has been fixed. It’s Kevin, Dave… Ugh.

Manti Te’o snubs Senior Bowl

@allensullivans @seniorbowl Manti Te'o declined his invitation to participate.

— Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 15, 2013

Somebody is giving Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o bad advice. After his disappointing play during the BCS Championship Game on Jan 7, Te’o could have used the opportunity to work out and meet with NFL coaches and front office personnel during Senior Bowl week.

It’s not the game itself that’s important. It’s that whole week of practices, drills, interviews and meetings. Missing that will be a mistake that could cost him millions.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Senior Bowl and Steve Hale part ways

With a statement released to the press today, the Senior Bowl and Steve Hale have reached a mutual agreement that ends his 19-year tenure with the annual college all-star game.

Senior Bowl, LLC and its parent organization, the Mobile Arts and Sports Association, Inc. (MASA), announced today that Steve Hale and the Senior Bowl mutually have decided to part ways so that Hale can pursue other opportunities. Hale left his positions as the President and CEO of the Senior Bowl and as President of MASA effective March 1^st. MASA Chairman Angus R. Cooper, II will assume these positions on an interim basis until a replacement is onboard.

“I would like to express my ongoing support for the Senior Bowl and wish the game continued success going forward,” Hale said.

“On behalf of the MASA Board of Trustees, I’d like to thank Steve for serving our community for the past 19 years. We wish him the very best moving forward,” Cooper said.

“We are committed to continuing and enhancing the Senior Bowl’s contributions to Mobile, the State of Alabama and the entire region.  The game is a significant part of Mobile’s sports heritage, and plays an integral role in promoting Mobile and south Alabama to the sports world, while generating massive financial benefits for the local economy,” Cooper added.

The 2013 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, January 26^th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game and all practices will be televised by NFL Network.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Senior Bowl poll: Players split on BCS vs. Playoffs; like Nick Saban

Each year, the Mobile Press-Register’s Tommy Hicks surveys participants of the Senior Bowl to gauge their opinions on some of the hot topics of the day.

At publish time there was no link to the story, but here is a sampling of some of the questions and answers. (story link here, now)

Not all players answered all questions. Some of the answers are surprising, some are not. All are interesting.

Which plan do you favor for determining the National Championship?

BCS	18
Playoff	10
Plus One	8

If you were starting a team, who would you pick to be the head coach?

Alabama’s Nick Saban	10
Ohio State’s Urban Meyer	6

Will the SEC claim its seventh national championship next season?

No	22
Yes	21

If it had played in the BCS title game against LSU, would Oklahoma State have won the championship?

No	24
Yes	19

If it had played in the BCS title game against Alabama, would Oklahoma State have won the championship?

No	24
Yes	19

Among other fun questions, players chose Halle Berry by a slim margin over Kim Kardashian as their choice to head the cheerleading team for a new NFL squad; and chose Oregon’s uniforms as their favorite by an overwhelming margin.

Both the North and South squads will do walk throughs of the game plan this morning. The game—which is nearly sold out—will be played tomorrow at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:00 pm CST and will be televised by the NFL Network.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

New Interview: Courtney Upshaw has Super Bowl dreams

By: @LivingCrimson

Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw, an MVP of this year’s BCS National Championship game and last year’s Capital One Bowl, is a 6'2", 273 pound outside linebacker that spent his Senior year racking up 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown. His one-on-one drills and practices at the Senior Bowl are receiving rave reviews from scouts and evaluators. He is expected to go in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, possibly in the top ten.

Some evaluators think the 3-4 defense at Bama limits Upshaw’s NFL options, surmising 4-3 teams might be unwilling to use a top pick on him. As Courtney points out, he played defensive end in high school and routinely lined up in that position for the Tide. He was asked if he's a better fit in a 43 or 34. "I'm a better fit for any team that wants to pick me," Upshaw quipped. "My strength is me being able to do whatever a team asks me to do and to do it to the best of my ability. If you get nervous about what the scouts are saying you're not going to perform to the best of your ability and this is like a job interview. You want to perform."

Steelers scout Mark Gorscak favorably compared Upshaw to Super Bowl-winning LaMarr Woodley, who had 44 sacks over the last four years. Some scouts have considered lowering Upshaw’s draft grade because he is shorter than the prototypical pass rusher. Gorscak thinks that would be a mistake. "He is like Woodley," Gorscak said. "Thick body guys. Powerful and play with their hands.” Upshaw will likely be drafted much higher than Woodley (early second round) because the NFL has come around on dinging pass rushers too much for body type.

Nobody in Alabama is surprised at Upshaw’s success, or his big heart. More than anything, he keeps himself grounded by remembering his humble beginnings in Eufaula, Alabama. A great read from Don Kausler, Jr. at Al.com reminds that no matter the heights Upshaw attains, he continues to pay his blessings forward, including founding the “41 Fund” to raise money for tornado victims.

When asked by one of the reporters this week what he would do with his NFL money, Courtney kept it simple: "I'm just going to get an apartment and probably a nice car and try to invest it and save up. I'm the type of guy, I have a little girl and two little sisters I want to take care of. It's no big investments for me when I get that money."

While he may keep things low key off the field, he doesn’t hesitate to dream big on the field. Like fellow hometowner Jerrel Jernigan (New York Giants), Upshaw can see himself playing in the Super Bowl one day. He’s just looking for the right team ready for a quarterback-seeking-missile of a defender. “I’m going to go into the League, no matter what round, what pick, what team, and I’m going to fight to the fullest and my hardest. I’m all about winning. I’m competitive. I want to make it to a team and hopefully help them get to the Super Bowl and win a championship.”

And, hint, he’s a huge Colts fan (#1 pick in the draft).

 

More Bama updates on Twitter at @LivingCrimson.

Crimson Tide in the Senior Bowl: NFL previews

By: @LivingCrimson

The Senior Bowl is the premier all-star exhibition game for NFL-bound football seniors (in eligibility). Players are selected based on interest from NFL scouts and will be evaluated during drills, practices and the game itself as a precursor to the NFL Combine.

Alabama led the Senior Bowl invites with seven, but only five will participate: Marquis Maze, DeQuan Menzie, Brad Smelley, Courtney Upshaw, and William Vlachos.

All Tide players will be on the South squad. The NFL Network will broadcast coverage of the daily team practices along with a recap January 23-28. The game will be broadcast live on January 28th at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Following are current scouting reports on the Bama players. Grades will be updated after the end of Senior Bowl week. For dozens of more detailed previews, the Walter Football mock draft database is a wealth of information. Draft previews of all Senior Bowl participants at NEPatriotsDraft: Offense and Defense.

All quotes are taken directly from the referenced mock drafts and Senior Bowl coverage previews.

---

Marquis Maze, WR/RS, 5-10/180/4.49 – ESPN player profile and stats

Official Senior Bowl weigh in: 5-7.6/184

NEPatriotsDraft.com: Lightning quick receiver that could develop into a contributor at the slot WR position in the NFL. Hurt his hamstring in the National Championship game, but should be healed for the Senior Bowl. A slot receiver/return specialist at the next level, has enough speed and agility to be able to make his mark. With a good draft season, I could see him being taken in the 5th or 6th round.

WalterFootball.com: 12/12/11 Maze has totaled 56 receptions for 627 yards and one touchdown this season. He had a massive game against Arkansas with four receptions for 125 yards and a score. In 2011, Maze has averaged over 12 yards per punt return and 28.5 yards on 12 kick returns. His special-teams ability helps his draft stock. He could be a quick, slot receiver in the NFL. 8/19/11 Marquis Maze has been an underrated weapon for the Crimson Tide who has come up with some clutch plays over the past few seasons. Last year, he had 38 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns. Maze is a quick, shifty player who could have better numbers if he hadn't played behind other options like Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Trent Richardson. Maze has been a good punt returner with an average of 12 yards per return. He could transition to being a quality slot receiver and punt returner in the NFL.

---

DeQuan Menzie, DB, 6-1/198/4.65 – ESPN player profile and stats

Official Senior Bowl weigh in: 5-10.4/195

NEPatriotsDraft.com: Another big Alabama corner, Menzie gets a lot of attention from opposing QB’s. He has held up under the scrutiny very well, even though his +4.6 speed puts him in a spot where he has to have nearly perfect technique. Menzie is an underrated CB who isn’t the top flight athlete the other Alabama CB’s are. Whenever I have scouted Menzie, he is in position and competitive. He can play a variety of schemes, but I want to see how he fares matched up with the best WR’s in the country before grading him.

WalterFootball.com: Mock Draft 1/18, Round Three, #76 Seattle Seahawks. If the draft plays out like this, Menzie will be the fourth member of the Alabama secondary to be selected in the first three rounds of the draft. The 6-foot, 198-pounder is a quality cover corner who has a nice combination of size and speed. This season, Menzie recorded 41 tackles with four tackles for a loss, 11 passes broken up and one interception. He held up well as teams avoided throwing at Dre Kirkpatrick and generally tested Menzie and the other defensive backs. He has a good skill set and should test well leading up to the draft. It wouldn't be surprising if Menzie generates a buzz and rises up boards. 12/31/11 Menzie has had a strong season which has raised his draft stock. So far in 2011, he has recorded 37 tackles with three tackles for a loss, 11 passes broken up and an interception returned 25 yards for a score. Menzie has had tight coverage all year, even with teams challenging him to avoid throwing at Dre Kirkpatrick. Menzie is an underrated prospect. 8/25/11 DeQuan Menzie is an interesting sleeper prospect for the 2011 season. The junior college transfer made a quick comeback from a torn achilles tendon to play last season. He started seven games and recorded 33 tackles with five tackles for a loss, two sacks and four passes broken up. Menzie could be much improved in 2011, as he is more than a year removed from his surgery. With standout teammates Dre Kirkpatrick, Mark Barron and Robert Lester also in the secondary, Menzie figures to get tested and targeted often this season.

---

Brad Smelley, TE/HB, 6-3/229/4.75 – ESPN player profile and stats

Official Senior Bowl weigh in: 6-1.7/233

NEPatriotsDraft.com: Smelley is a solid blocker that can contribute on play-action and in the red-zone. Should be a Day Three selection in the draft. Good, versatile player who can line up in a variety of positions. Has nice hands, but only had one real breakout season this year for Alabama. He can afford to bulk up, but could lose some speed, only 6-3 236 right now. 7th round prospect/UDFA.

TE Brad Smelley #17

---

Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, 6-2/265/4.76 – ESPN player profile and stats 

Official Senior Bowl weigh in: 6-1.4/273

NEPatriotsDraft.com: Upshaw makes plays all over the field for the Crimson Tide from the defensive end and linebacker positions. We see his best fit as a 3-4 ILB in the NFL, a la Lawrence Timmons. Might be the best defensive prospect at the Senior Bowl. Upshaw is an explosive and attacking OLB. He plays with aggressiveness in both the run game and pass game. One of the best pass rushers in the draft. Can really take on blockers and blow them up. Upshaw has the ability to play multiple positions but is best suited for 3-4 OLB as a pass rusher and strong side run defender.

WalterFootball.com: Mock Draft 1/18, Round One, #10 Buffalo Bills. This is a reach, but we've seen the Bills do crazy things on Draft Day before. One thing this front office has been infamous for is telegraphing its picks. Chan Gailey repeatedly mentioned acquiring a running back prior to the 2010 NFL Draft, and sure enough, he picked C.J. Spiller despite having Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson on the roster. Gailey has recently harped about not being able to get to the quarterback, and it's easy to understand why. No one on the team finished with more than 5.5 sacks on the year. Courtney Upshaw is currently the top pass-rusher available in the wake of his MVP performance in the…national championship. He'll be the preferred prospect if the Bills want to run a 3-4.

WalterFootball.com (Charlie Campbell): Mock Draft 1/23, Round One, #18 San Diego Chargers. San Diego has to improve its front seven. Even against suspect offensive lines, the team struggled to rush the passer and stop the run in 2011. … Upshaw is in the running as the top 3-4 outside linebacker in the 2012 draft class. The 6-foot-2, 265 pounder has the size to hold up on the edge and also has the athletic ability to rush the passer. The senior finished 2011 having made 52 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, an interception and two forced fumbles. Against Florida, Upshaw totaled four tackles with three tackles for a loss, one interception and one sack. He returned that interception 45 yards for a touchdown, while his sack knocked the Gators starting quarterback, John Brantley, out of the game. The first time versus LSU, Upshaw gave the Tigers offensive linemen all they could handle. He was consistently pressuring the quarterback and defended the run well. Upshaw had one sack but had a number of near sacks with hits on the quarterback. Against LSU, he totaled six tackles as well as that sack. The second game against the Tigers was more of the same for Upshaw. He collected seven tackles (6 solo), one tackle for a loss, and a sack. In 2010, Upshaw led the Crimson Tide with seven sacks plus contributed 52 tackles, with 14.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles. He definitely is a perfect fit for NFL 3-4 defenses.

---

William Vlachos, OC, 6-1/294/5.25 – ESPN player profile and stats

Official Senior Bowl weigh in: 6-0.3/306

NEPatriotsDraft.com:  Undersized center that is dependable. I wouldn’t project Vlachos as a starter in the NFL, but could be a serviceable backup. Looks small on the field at under 6-1 and 290 lbs. Can get overpowered at the line and rarely takes on a one-on-one block. Has good mobility, but will need to bulk up without losing that at the next level. Seventh round pick.

WalterFootball.com (Charlie Campbell): Mock Draft 1/23, Round Three, #93 San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers need a long-term starter at center. … Vlachos (6-1, 294) was a two-year starter for Alabama, and in that time, was a key factor in the Crimson Tide's strong ground game. Vlachos did a good job of blocking for current Saints running back Mark Ingram and current Alabama starter Trent Richardson. This season, Vlachos had good games blocking against Florida, Arkansas and Ole Miss. Against LSU, he had some struggles and that knocked his stock down some. Mark Ingram raved to us about Vlachos. Ingram made a good point that when you include Vlachos' playing time as a freshman, he helped block for three 1,000-yard (one of whom won the Heisman) running backs in Glen Coffee, Ingram and Richardson. Not many centers come into the NFL with that on their resume.

Mark Ingram: "He's been blocking well for us since he got there. Vlachos has blocked for three 1,000-yard rushers. Glenn [Coffee] ran for 1,000. I ran for 1,000 and now Trent is about to run for 1,000. Any time you have blocked for three 1,000-yard rushers that says a lot about him."

 

More Bama updates on Twitter @LivingCrimson.

Six Tide Seniors invited to Senior Bowl (UPDATED)

SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE

Six Seniors from the Alabama Crimson Tide national championship team will be invited to play in the Senior Bowl, according to Chris Walsh of Bama Online. Walsh notes that bowl organizers won’t formally announce the six until next week.

Players receiving invitations to the annual all star exhibition are selected based on interest from NFL scouts, meaning not only do these players get one more accolade for their work over the last four years, they are also legitimate NFL prospects that scouts and coaches want to look at and evaluate during drills, practices and the game itself.

The six invitees are:

• Mark Barron Safety
• Josh Chapman Defensive Line
• Marquis Maze Wide Receiver
• DeQuan Menzie Cornerback
• Courtney Upshaw Linebacker
• William Vlachos, Center

Dont’a Hightower will not be invited. Although academically a college senior, Hightower had an extra year of eligibility and the Senior Bowl cannot practically invite early draft entries.

All six will play for the South squad, and will be coached by Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and his staff.

UPDATE 4:50 pm: Senior Bowl President Steve Hale, appearing on WNSP 105.5 Sports Drive, told hosts Randy Kennedy and Pat Greenwood that the organization had not completed its roster and expressed disappointment and disbelief over the Southeastern Conference release posted earlier today.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.