The first practice of the week is about to kick off down here in Mobile, Alabama.
What took place before that, however, was the official weigh-in — a process that's known deep in draft circles as one of the most underrated events in Mobile.
With teams using analytics to an entirely new degree in today's draft process, every player is measured up and down getting as accurate as a 16th of an inch. When it comes to translating these numbers, scouts can use these as a tool to determine what position a player can or can not play and as a critical deciding factor when comparing players to one another.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the winners from both squads.
North Team
Carl Nassib, Defensive End, Penn State
Height: 6’6 6/16”
Weight: 273 pounds
Hands: 1018
Arms: 3412
Wingspan: 8278
Perhaps no one solidified their already solid draft stock more than Nassib who finished in the top-five in nearly every category.
Nassib, a former walk on for the Nittany Lions, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while he was among the nation's leaders in sacks and already has a leg up on his peers as his brother Ryan Nassib attended the Senor Bowl a few years back.
Jihad Ward, Defensive End, Illinois
Height: 6’5 1/16”
Weight: 296 pounds
Hands: 938
Arms: 3358
Wingspan: 8138
Another Big Ten defensive end, Ward showed up looking like a monster of a man at 296 pounds while having one of the longest recorded reaches and wingspans.
For such a heavy weight, Ward looked surprisingly agile and nimble this year for the Fighting Illini. If he keeps that weight on, scouts and coaches may want to see if he has the strength and hand technique to slide inside to a five-technique in a 3-4 defense which would only add value to his stock as a more versatile player.
Deiondre Hall, Defensive Back, Northern Iowa
Height: 6’1 5/16”
Weight: 196
Hands: 912
Arms: 3434
Wingspan: 8238
The NFL is still craving and pursuing the long and lanky cornerbacks and Hall is certainly that with an impressive arm length and wingspan.
Hall played a lot of single high safety as a senior showing good range and the ability to tackle in the box however, after seeing his great length don't be surprised if coaches take a hard look at him at the cornerback position.
Last year Northern Iowa had a Senior Bowl player standout at the weigh in only to carry that momentum with him throughout the entire week in running back David Johnson. Could Hall make it two years in a row for the Northern Iowa program?
South Team
Jordan Jenkins, Outside Linebacker, Georgia
Height: 6’2 5/16”
Weight: 257 pounds
Hands: 11
Arms: 34
Wingspan: 8212
For my money, no one outshined his peers at the morning walkthrough quite like Jenkins, who had the second-biggest measured hands of all 110 players (Oklahoma’s Charles Tapper ranked one).
More impressively, Jenkins had his uncanny long arms measured ranking again among the best of all players in attendance.
Jenkins had some warm buzz heading into the Senior Bowl, but now that buzz has gone from lukewarm to boiling hot.
If he can show off a good arsenal of pass-rushing moves to good with any above average fluidity (Jenkins played with his hand in the dirt the majority of his senior season) then undoubtedly some teams will grow very fond of him physical tool set.
Le'Raven Clark, Offensive Tackle, Texas Tech
Height: 6’5 5/16”
Weight: 312 pounds
Hands: 1078
Arms: 3614
Wingspan: 8578
To put in bluntly some of Clark's measurables are off the charts, specifically his reach. Clark displayed his remarkably long arms that dragged nearly down to the floor as he stood on the stage that coaches surely hope can be used and harnessed into a NFL skill set.
While Clark shows plenty of good on tape he also has enough bad tape to make you hesitate pulling the trigger with an early draft pick.
However, Clark's incredible reach should be enough to make scouts and more specifically offensive line coaches drool with a phenomenal set of physical tools to work with right off the bat.
Shawn Oakman, Defensive End, Baylor
Height: 6’7 ¼”
Weight: 269 pounds
Hands: 1058
Arms: 3518
Wingspan: 8414
If you know anything about Oakman you knew I couldn't leave him off the measurable winners list, even if his play was underwhelming in 2015.
Oakman, who is known for his massive stature and cut six-pack trending picture measured in as the tallest player down in Mobile. Im sure scouts were looking to see his frame filled out more though as 269 pounds is an extremely lightweight for a player of that length.
Oakman really is one of the biggest wild cards here this week as with his sheer size and potential could raise his stock into the first-round with three good consecutive practices.
However, if you've followed Oakman game at all you'd know not to hold your breath as he has been known to disappoint or not live up to the high expectations more times than not.