One of the great things about the Under Armour Senior Bowl is the fact that for one week in late January the future of the NFL calls Mobile, Ala. home. We're reminded about the elite talent that visits the Port City each April during the NFL draft and then again in the fall when that talent shines each and every Sunday. This year there a few alums in particular that have really stood out to us here at the Senior Bowl. The first is Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews and the other is Tampa Bay running back LeGarrette Blount.
Matthews is on course to claim defensive MVP honors this season with an NFL leading 10.5 sacks heading into this weekend's (11/14) game. The former USC standout and 2009 Senior Bowler has quickly become one of the more feared pass rushers in the game today. We knew Matthews was special when he came to Mobile in January of 2009, but to be honest he was not even considered to be the best linebacker on his team. That honor went to Brian Cushing--another former Senior Bowl player--and the 15th pick of the 2009 NFL draft. Cushing, Matthews and Rey Maualuga all shined while in Mobile but it just seems that Matthews has gone to a whole new level in the pros. Sure, Cushing was named the NFL's defensive rookie of the year last year but in our opinion Matthews is on a clear path to becoming the best of the bunch.
Blount may be one of the great comeback stories of the year--and he's only a rookie! Nobody can forget that horrible scene in Boise, Idaho at the beginning of the 2009 college football season. Blount punching an opposing player and then having to be restrained as he was escorted off the field. To his credit Blount owned up to his mistake in countless interviews with scouts and media while in Mobile last January. He certainly seems to have put the incident behind him too. He's currently #2 among rookies in rushing with 268 yards and three touchdowns for the Bucs this year. Here's hoping he'll continue to be productive on the field and a shining example of making the most of a second chance.
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