.jpg&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "2013 NFL Draft Big Board - FINAL Edition (April 18th)")
2012 Players All-Star Classic Preview: South Offense
Featuring small school talent from the FCS and Division II levels, the South offensive squad holds a huge size advantage in the trenches. James Carmon, especially, is a gigantic 6’7, 345 lbs and looks to prove himself more than just a raw body. Landon Walker from Clemson, is the highest rated prospect on the squad and currently holds a 3rd-5th round draft grade here at Optimum Scouting.
FCS quarterbacks Nathan Dick and Aaron Corp will battle Jordan Jefferson for the top quarterback slot, which I see Nathan Dick coming away with. Both Dick and Corp display good anticipation for throwing lanes, accuracy across the board, and presence within the pocket. Jefferson has an uphill battle to climb, as most do not see him as a capable next level quarterback.
That being said, I would not be shocked if Jordan comes out and blows scouts away with his live arm, outstanding velocity, and overall athleticism. Jefferson needs to keep the ball off the ground, hit his receivers in stride with better ball placement, and improve his reads. Two Division II talents to watch out for are halfback, Daryl Richardson and tight end, Phillip Supernaw. Both need to step up this week, and I feel each of these players could end up establishing themselves at the top of their respective positions on the South offense.
In sharp contrast to the North’s first practice, the South performed at a much higher tempo. Pads were clicking in 1 on 1 drills with linebackers and running backs, and I finally got to see o-line and d-line match ups in the pit drill.
Kicking off the Player’s All-Star Classic practices at 11:30, I focused mainly on the quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs for the North squad. I wasn’t able to get a great feel for the trench players, backs, or linebackers today, all of which will be my focus tomorrow. Practice was a bit sluggish, but that is to be expected on day 1 and I’m hoping for more contact tomorrow.
In an NFL that is increasingly becoming more pass oriented, the emphasis of adding elite pass rushers has become a top priority for teams around the league. During this advent of the pass game, the 3-4 defense also rose to extraordinary popularity around the NFL. However, the struggle to project 3-4 outside linebackers in the NFL has never ceased to be an issue for player personnel departments, and ultimately has led teams to revert back to the more traditional 4-3 front. More 3-4 outside linebacker projections have been labeled “Busts” than any other position in the NFL Draft over the past decade. This is an area in which scouting departments are continually learning how to evaluate and will only improve in drafting.
As the Players All-Star Classic kicks off onn Tuesday (today), lets take a look at the North Defense that features some likely draft selections and a variety of notable and talented position switchers. 
Even though the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl are completed and the "major" All-Star games are complete, another All-Star game that NFL teams are certainly aware of and are attending is still on the dockett with the "Players All-Star Classic" in Little Rock, Arkansas and run by the same people that ran the Texas vs. Nation game a season ago.
Well, all the practices, film study, playbooks, walk-throughs, team meetings, and more is now complete for these prospects. It's been a long week for myself, my fellow NFL and non-NFL scouts here in attendance for the week and the game along with these players.
It's been a LONG week here in Mobile, and I've gotten a great feel for who a lot of these players are in padded practices, in one on ones, when the pressure is on, and off the field as well. And while most of the NFL scouts leave by Wednesday, with a few hang-ons until Thursday, there still is much to be gained from evaluating the actual Senior Bowl game, echoed by an NFL scout I spoke with who looks forward to getting the actual game film afterwards.
As I said earlier in the week, I got a chance to watch every drill from Day Two and Three of the Senior Bowl, so I'd say I have probably as good of a look at each of these prospects as every NFL team does here.
