By Matthew Postins
The Dallas Cowboys have been in Mobile, Ala., all week scouting talent at the Senior Bowl, probably the most prestigious college all-star game around.
Unlike the previous all-star games, the Senior Bowl features talent that likely will be drafted in the first or second round of the NFL Draft in April. The majority of the players in this game are from FBS schools, with just a smattering of players from smaller schools.
So who might interest the Cowboys this week? Well, like each NFL team, they’re looking at everyone. But here are a few players who might interest the Cowboys and their fans this weekend.
QB Mike Glennon, N.C. State: A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the first set of mock drafts that came out. One actually had Glennon as the Cowboys’ first-round pick. Now, I think that’s really off the wall, but Glennon’s stock is rising this week at the Senior Bowl. He has a great arm and put up some of the best numbers in N.C. State history. But scouts also consider him inconsistent, and some of that has showed this week, according to reports. There is no certain first-round pick at the quarterback position, so Glennon could very well fall to No. 18. If he does, he may prove to be too much for Jerry Jones to resist.
WR Aaron Mellette, Elon: The first Elon player to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl is coming off an ultra-productive 2012 in which he caught 97 passes for 1,408 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has NFL size, coming in at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. If you think 2012 was a fluke, take into account that he had 113 receptions for 1,639 yards in 2011. So he’s caught more than 200 passes in two years. I don’t care what level he played at. He deserves a long look by every team, including the Cowboys. Mellette is projected to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick.
C Braxston Cave, Notre Dame: The Cowboys need to lock down a couple of interior offensive linemen in this draft. While center may be less of a priority, Cave could represent a final-day value. At 6-foot-3, 304 pounds, Cave was a reliable run blocker with the Irish. Reports out of the Senior Bowl this week have Cave struggling some with holding onto blocks, but that could be a fundamental that Cave just needs to work on. Right now Cave is a fifth- or sixth-round pick, meaning you’ll accept some flaws, if they can be improved.
DE Margus Hunt, SMU: One of the most intriguing players in the game. At 6-foot-8, 280 pounds, he’s the tallest player in the draft. He’s improved as a pass rusher, despite having only played football for a few years. Hunt also holds the NCAA record for most blocked kicks. The Cowboys met with Hunt on Tuesday, which means they’re at least doing their due diligence. The Cowboys could use another lean pass rusher and Hunt, at the moment, is a second-round pick. Chances are Hunt needs some polish, though.
DE Alex Okafor, Texas: Okafor is having a great week of practice in Mobile, according to reports. Okafor isn’t considered a speed rusher, but that’s fine. The Cowboys need a power rusher for the left side of the new 4-3 defense, and Okafor fits that bill. Right now, though, he’s a first-round pick and he’s not likely to drop.
LB Khaseem Greene, Rutgers: The perfect size for the Cover 2 – 6-foot-1, 230 pounds. The speed could use some work. He’s timed at 4.64 in the 40 right now, but let’s see how he’s timed at the combine. For now he projects as a second-round pick and he could be a solid fit on the strong side of the Cover 2. He was very productive at Rutgers. Plus, he started as a defensive back, so he has ball skills.
OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama: Fluker is an absolute beast – 6-foot-6, 335 pounds (some sites have him at 355 pounds). That’s something the Cowboys are in dire need of right now. Fluker showed how good a run blocker he was in the national championship game. The question is whether that massive frame will allow him to pass block adequately. Right now he’s a second-round pick.
OT Terron Armstread, Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The Division II prospect is getting a lot of love this week in Mobile. Scouts are impressed with his aggressiveness and he’s holding onto the momentum he built at the Shrine Game. He’s in that range where he could be had in the middle rounds and develop into a nice right tackle in a couple of years. One would argue the Cowboys need help now. The competition is better this week in Mobile. Keep an eye on him during the game to see how he matches up.
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