Tuesday morning marked the annual Senior Bowl Weigh-in spectacle. NFL Draft hopefuls march across a stage in their underwear, and have their heights, weights, arm lengths and hand sizes announced and recorded in front of NFL personnel and media. This may seem strange, and the fact that it’s so public makes it so, but the weigh-in is viewed as a necessary evil, providing pro teams with information they can use to determine whether or not players meet certain thresholds. The merit of these thresholds is a debate for another time, but they exist, and make the weigh-in a significant event.
The biggest story of the morning was the player who was not there. Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield is set to be a late arrival due to a “personal family matter,” and missed the main weigh-in. Presuming he arrives later, he will be weighed and measured at that time.
For those players who were in attendance, full results can be found here courtesy of Eric Galko and Sporting News.
Here’s a closer look at some noteworthy marks, as I observed the results trickling in across my twitter timeline this morning...
Quarterback Hand Size
Hand size takes on added importance for quarterbacks, as NFL people associate large hands with ball control and security. Scouts are anxiously awaiting Mayfield’s measurement. Wyoming’s Josh Allen (6’5” 237) “checked the box” on his scouting report with a huge 10 1/8” mitt. Meanwhile, Mason Rudolph of Oklahoma State came in on the low end of “acceptable” at 9 1/8” despite standing 6’4” 229. Other QB hand sizes:
Hand sizes of Senior Bowl QBs:
— Rob Rang (@RobRang) January 23, 2018
Josh Allen: 10 1/8
Luke Falk: 9 3/8
Tanner Lee: 10 1/8
Kurt Benkert: 9 5/8
Kyle Lauletta: 9 5/8
Mason Rudolph: 9 1/8* won’t play
Brandon Silvers 9 1/8
Mike White: 9 3/8
Baker Mayfield has not yet arrived
James Washington
Washington, the ultra-productive receiver from Oklahoma State, set off alarms by coming in two inches shorter than his listed height (5’11” 210).
James Washington at 5107. Uh oh.
— Kyle Crabbs (@NDTScouting) January 23, 2018
All year long, many analysts suggested Washington was built like a running back, yet somehow folks were surprised he actually weighed in like one. No worries. At 210-pounds, Washington has a strong build, and his nearly 34” arms mitigate height concerns.
The Burger King Tiny Hands Award
Mobile local and South Alabama DB Jeremy Reaves checked in with the smallest hands, measuring just 7 3/4”. I imagine this is one reason he doesn’t play receiver. Reaves weighed in at 5’10 5/8” 204.
Tweeners
Jaylen Samuels was a Swiss Army knife tight end/fullback/running back who will likely transition to running back full time. He weighed in at 5’11 1/2” 223 with 31 3/8” arms, virtually the the same size as San Diego State’s star running Rashaad Penny.
Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was a productive Big 12 pass rusher, but the general feeling was that he was undersized and he’d have to move off the ball in the NFL. Okoronkwo measured 6’1 3/8” 243, with vine-like 34 1/2” arms, so he may have just enough length to stay on the edge.
Enigmatic Arizona State product Kalen Ballage is still listed at running back, but he was often as his best in more unconventional roles. He’s a terrific athlete, and I wonder if he’ll get looks this week at receiver after weighing in at 6’2” 222 with 33 1/4” arms and 9 3/4” hands.
Miscellanea
Texas-San Antonio pass rusher Marcus Davenport is one of the fastest risers of the draft season already, going from the Group of Five to potential top-10 NFL Draft pick. He has filled out over the years after checking in at 197 pounds coming out of high school
Edge Marcus Davenport 6'5" 7/8 at 259 with 34" arms. Could be the top non-QB drafted from the #SeniorBowl
— Steve Shoup (@Steveospeak) January 23, 2018
Central Florida receiver Tre’Quan Smith has some seriously long arms
#UCF WR Tre’Quan Smith has longer arms (34 1/2”) than several OT prospects here. Longest arms among WRs.#IowaState WR Allen Lazard has the largest hands (9 7/8”) among this WR group.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 23, 2018
A list of cornerbacks with 32”+ arms
CBs with 32-plus inch arms:
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 23, 2018
Chandon Sullivan (32 1/2)
D’Momtre Wade (32 5/8)
Levi Wallace (33 3/8)
Christian Campbell (32 1/2)
Jamarcus King (32 1/2)
Isaac Yiadom (32 1/4)
West Georgia offensive tackle Desmond Harrison weighed in at just 279 pounds after reportedly battling the flu last week
Desmond Harrison, OT, West GA
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 23, 2018
HT: 6060
WT: 279
Arms: 34 3/8
Hands: 10 1/2#SeniorBowl