Standout athletes from around the country kicked things off early in Mobile, Alabama, Tuesday morning at the Reese’s Senior Bowl National Scouting Weigh-in.
This year's 2021 Draft-eligible prospects have been split between "National" and "American" teams rather than the previous use of "North" and "South."
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the number of media members attending this year's Senior Bowl in-person, but we'll have virtual coverage of the week's happenings, including the 72nd installment of the all-star game that remains scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.
Scouts, media members and fans alike took to social media throughout the day to evaluate and react to players' measurements and on-field performances during the first day of practice.
In no particular order, here are 10 tweets that give fans a brief glimpse into Day 1 in Mobile, which seemed to garner lots of attention at the wide receiver position.
Measurement evals
Austin Gayle of analytics site Pro Football Focus delved into Senior Bowl rosters and pointed to specific measurements he found significant.
Harris doing work
Jim Nagy, Executive Director of Reese's Senior Bowl, tweeted this video of Alabama running back Najee Harris during Tuesday's practice. Harris was listed 28th on analyst Dane Brugler's list of top 100 prospects to keep an eye on.
DeVonta Smith sighting
Alabama wide receiver and winner of the 2020 Heisman Trophy DeVonta Smith was a non-participant in Tuesday's practice but still was spotted on the field. Smith, who racked up 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide this past season, declined height and weight measurements.
Praise for Jamie Newman
Multiple people tweeted positive reactions to Jamie Newman, one of four quarterbacks on the American roster and seven overall at this year's Senior Bowl.
Newman spent the 2017-19 seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Georgia for the 2020 season. He ended up opting out of the campaign, however, due to COVID-19 concerns, and never played a snap for the Bulldogs.
Bonus Newman tweet:
Rising receiver
Wide receiver Sage Surratt, whom Newman played with at Wake Forest, was deemed a "Big Riser" by ESPN NFL Front Office Insider and former Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.
Physicality from a Syracuse CB
NFL Network's Ben Fennell highlighted the traits of Syracuse cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was listed at No. 57 on Brugler's list.
Melifonwu, who recorded 54 tackles, an interception, 1.0 sack and six passes defensed as a junior in 2020, is the brother of former NFL safety Obi Melifonwu, who was drafted 56th overall by the Raiders in 2017.
Shi Smith is shining
Brugler had high praise for Gamecocks wide receiver Shi Smith Tuesday, saying he had the "catch of practice."
As a senior at South Carolina in 2020, Smith recorded a career-high 57 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns over nine games.
WYFF News 4 Sports Director Marc Whiteman posted a video of Smith's impressive grab:
Rodgers rumors are true
No, not those Rodgers rumors.
Word on the street is that Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers is a speedster, and NFL draft scout Matt Miller verified that to be true during Tuesday's practice. He had a standout season for the Tigers in 2020, racking up 1,020 yards (his previous high was 575) and seven touchdowns over 12 games.
Closer look at the QBs
It's that time of year again.
NFL analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks are in the thick of pre-draft evaluations, and on Tuesday they broke down performances by quarterbacks at the first day of practice.
Reunited in Mobile
Matty Brown, an assistant coach for the University of East Anglia Pirates (Norwich, England) tweeted a photo of Oklahoma State standouts Tylan Wallace and Rodarius Williams. The former teammates faced off in a drill during Tuesday's practice.
