Day 3 Shrine Bowl 2024 Practice: 4 West players to watch out feat. Memphis RB Blake Watson
It was an explosive practice for the West squad at the Shrine Bowl under the guise of Mike Kafka, who was interviewing for coaching jobs around the league before arriving in Frisco.
Kafka ran his team through a bunch of red-zone and two-minute drills as the footballs were flying through the air. As one would expect, pass rushers, defensive backs and skill players made the most of the opportunity.
Here are four players to watch out for:
#1 Jarius Monroe, DB, Tulane
Monroe took a while to get his feet underneath him, with coaches moving him between cornerback (his natural position) and safety, but he turned in an impressive performance on Monday.
Besides shutting down opponents and defending multiple throws, Monroe made a terrific interception during drills when he was put in man coverage. His play at safety improved as the week went on.
It was easy to see that Monroe was doing a much better job anticipating plays at his new position. He’s a bigger corner with instincts and a feisty playing attitude. Forty times during combine workouts will eventually dictate where Monroe lands in the draft.
#2 Blake Watson, RB, Memphis
Watson has built a buzz around himself in the scouting community and showed why during Shrine Bowl practice.
He’s a super-quick back with a terrific burst and playing speed. Watson showed a lot of shiftiness in his running Monday, weaving through traffic and beating defenders into the open field.
He was also very effective catching the ball out of the backfield, to the point where he cemented himself as a pass catcher. Watson wasn’t on the scouting radar before the season.
However, after a career year that included 1,152 rushing yards and 14 TDs, as well as three terrific Shrine Bowl practices, he’s receiving late-round consideration.
#3 Sundiata Anderson, Edge, Grambling
“Sunny” Anderson turned heads with his imposing figure and athletic play. The Grambling product was primarily used standing over tackle and easily beat opponents with his quickness, explosion and terrific movement skills.
Anderson also plays with great fundamentals, using his hands to protect his body from blocks and playing with leverage. He was a terrific pass rusher in college but showed the ability to play in space if a team wants to use him in pass coverage.
#4 Jadon Janke, WR, South Dakota State
The SDSU Jackrabbits, fresh off their second consecutive FCS title, are well-represented at the Shrine Bowl with five players on hand.
Two of them are the Janke twins, Jadon and Jaxon, with the former being very impressive Monday. The tall receiver, who measures over six-foot-two, showed a complete game on the field.
He ran good routes and displayed a burst of speed as well as reliable hands. Janke made a terrific catch in the end zone during drills, using his frame to out-muscle opponents. What was really impressive was his blocking, as Janke consistently sealed running lanes for ball handlers down the field.
Both brothers will likely end up in the late rounds of the draft and are destined to make NFL rosters due to their attention to detail.