2024 Senior Bowl Takeaways: Bo Nix’s Struggles Could Cause His Draft Stock to Plummet

South Carolina wide receiver Xavier LegetteTodd Kirkland/Getty Images

The quarterbacks haven’t exactly shined, although a lesser-known prospect is turning heads.

That’s OK, because other skill-position performers are elevating the overall talent level found in Mobile.

With no other way to put it, Nix was bad during the second day of Senior Bowl practices.

The FBS season record-holder for completion percentage missed a number of throws, both in team drills and in one-on-ones. Nix’s underthrown wheel route to USC running back Marshawn Lloyd already made its rounds on social media. But he also missed plenty of others, including short-hopping underneath routes and simply looking off throughout the session.

Brent Sobleski @brentsobleski

Bo Nix on wheel to USC RB Marshawn Lloyd. pic.twitter.com/956QEcDrcj

As further examples, the Heisman Trophy finalist was late on one throw to the sideline in one-on-ones. During team drills, Nix threw a spot route too low and then tossed a seam route low and behind his target.

Nix is not normally this inaccurate on film, but it’s not surprising to see him late to trigger and generally a little anxious as a thrower. Both of those traits track with what he put on film, and both have cranked up in an unfamiliar environment.

If there was a competition for the best quarterback in Mobile, Nix wouldn’t be first, second and probably not even third.

QB Carter Bradley, South Alabama

Bradley isn’t just a nice story about a local product competing against the nation’s best talent. He might have had the best day of any quarterback during Wednesday’s session.

The second-team All-Sun Belt performer doesn’t wow anyone with arm strength, but he throws a pretty spiral and plays with good rhythm. Bradley was unafraid to let it rip down the field with good timing in certain moments while also showing the ability to cycle through his options and hit the checkdown in time.

Bradley really excelled in team passing drills and 11-on-11 sessions. He underthrew one route outside the numbers, but he was generally impressive all day.

QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

Rattler figured things out as Wednesday progressed. While he did have some moments in one-on-ones, Rattler shined in 11-on-11 at the end of the day.

Rattler cycled through his reads on one rep to hit a back-side curl route on time. Later in the series, Rattler found teammate Xavier Legette on a corner route to finish out practice.

WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

Speaking of Legette, he looked so much better during Day 2. He had a better sense of urgency and confidence in his route-running after a lethargic first day.

Legette snapped off a clean out-breaking route as the highlight of his day.

Brent Sobleski @brentsobleski

CB had no clue where Xavier Legette was going with that route. pic.twitter.com/RZ2Dgg5aZN

He was getting open all over the field, both during one-on-ones and team drills. Legette even finished out team drills at the end of practice with a nice catch on a corner route.

WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida

Pearsall pieced together another nice day. The speed is obvious, but other traits round out his skill set.

He’s a quick, controlled mover who showed some ability to win underneath during one-on-ones. Pearsall also had a sick contested catch down the right side of the sidelines, thus showing he’s more than just a thin, speed type.

Thrash’s Wednesday performance prove to be a mixed bag, but the good part was so enticing.

Thrash knows how to get open. Whether it was quick routes underneath, stop routes outside the numbers or vertical routes, Thrash created separation and gave the quarterback an easy target to hit. There’s a case to be made that nobody was open as consistently during Day 2.

However, Thrash missed a few opportunities to reel in throws just outside of his frame. They weren’t automatic catches by any means, but they were ones you’d like to see him snag.

Though largely still one of the best performing wide receivers at the event, McConkey badly lost a rep versus press coverage in one-on-ones versus Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips. The defensive back got hands on the receiver early, and McConkey was never able to recover or generate enough power to work through the contact.

Beating press coverage is a question McConkey must answer as a 187-pounder, so it’s a little disappointing he got worked on that rep. Still, he’s a very good prospect and is having an impressive week.

Quite simply, Walker is losing money in Mobile.

Walker dropped a number of passes on Day 2. Some of those targets hit him right in the hands, while others were through a little bit of traffic. Even so, Walker couldn’t seem to bring the ball in with any consistency.

Brent Sobleski @brentsobleski

Nice ball from Wahington QB Michael Penix Jr. Drop from UNC’s Tez Walker. pic.twitter.com/4tDEQosY0y

Walker also again struggled with getting off press coverage and beating some of the more physical corners.

TE Theo Johnson, Penn State

Johnson takes the cake among all of the tight ends in attendance. While not the flashiest prospect, he so clearly moves like an NFL tight end at 6’6″ and 257 pounds.

Johnson’s fluidity and adequate speed showed up all day. Best of all, he consistently finished at the catch point in a way few other pass-catchers did.

Barner has the movement skills of a serious NFL tight end. He carries 251 pounds quite well and did not have any issues keeping himself clean against physical coverage.

At the same time, Barner struggled to find throws outside his frame and did not finish on mildly contested catches the way teams prefer. A strong third practice day will go a long way.

Davis established himself as the best running back at this year’s Senior Bowl. It’s not particularly close, either.

It’s not just the size (220 lbs) or conviction Davis runs with, but it’s also his utility in the passing game. The 24-year-old prospect made a sweet catch down the field during pass drills, which is something most of the other running backs have struggled to achieve.

That same ability to win down the field occasionally showed up on Davis’ film, so it’s no surprise it came to light in Mobile.

A defender jarred the ball loose against Lloyd during team drills. One mistake can normally be overlooked as an aberration, but ball security has been a consistent issue with Lloyd on film.

He carries the ball low and loose too often, similar to LeSean McCoy. It’s a risky way for a running back to live.

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