Day two recap from down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile

The rain kicked the media out of watching practices, but we spent six hours in the film room breaking it down. Here are the AP Nerd Squad takeaways from day two of the Senior Bowl:

South standouts

• Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson has impressed with his length and physicality. He’s dominated in press throughout the week and displayed the ability to carry vertically.
• Temple cornerback Rock Ya Sin and South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel are having an excellent battle every day in one-on-one drills. They are actively seeking to line up against each other. Iron sharpening iron.
• Clemson cornerback Mark Fields hasn’t been consistent in press but has looked like one of the better cornerbacks in off coverage.
• LSU TE Foster Moreau and SJSU TE Josh Oliver have put together solid weeks. Oliver is more dynamic as a pass catcher and Moreau has been more impressive as a blocker but both have shown strong, natural hands and are winning at the top of their routes against smaller defenders.
• West Virginia FB/TE Trevon Wesco has surprised with his route running and hands. He’s an intriguing late day three prospect.
• Virginia safety Juan Thornhill looked more comfortable in man coverage and was fluid with good eyes as a single-high safety.
• Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat has an excellent rush plan and used his length well throughout the day. There are still major concerns about his flexibility.
• Texas A&M defensive lineman Kingsley Keke has violent hands and flexibility on the interior.
• Alabama State tackle Tytus Howard has excellent feet and keeps himself in position to make blocks, but his hands need dramatic improvement to have success at the next level. He’s a project, but a good project.
• New Mexico State linebacker Terrill Hanks has the most upside of the group. He’s aggressive in his fills.
• When West Virginia wide receiver Gary Jennings gets a free release, he’s been sudden vertically, eating up cushion quickly.
• Texas A&M defensive lineman Daylon Mack is an immovable object. He’s held up tremendously against double teams.

South struggles

• West Virginia wide receiver David Sills and Marshall wide receiver Tyre Brady struggled to get off the line of scrimmage in release drills. They’ve shown ability downfield.
• Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson was wildly inaccurate the entire day, as was West Virginia’s Will Grier.
• Before getting injured, North Dakota State running back Bruce Anderson struggled in pass-protection drills.
• South Carolina tackle Dennis Daley likes to push rushers around the pocket, but his inability to move his feet will be a problem with speed rushers if he doesn’t improve.
• LA Tech EDGE Jaylon Ferguson has been underwhelming as a pass rusher. He will struggle to bend at the next level.

North standouts

• Memphis running back Tony Pollard had the best catch of the running backs all week on a wheel route. He is more of a weapon than running back but impressed on Wednesday.
• Northern Illinois linebacker Sutton Smith is still transitioning to an off-ball linebacker but is smooth, athletic and displaying growth in his move from an EDGE position.
• USC offensive tackle Chuma Edoga has some of the best feet at the Senior Bowl and patient hands in pass protection. He’s balanced and runs people up the arc.
• Iowa EDGE Anthony Nelson looked his best kicked inside even though he was exclusively outside in his career with the Hawkeyes.
• TCU EDGE LJ Collier is a trash-talking, heavy-handed beast in one-on-one drills. He is everything the Chiefs wanted Breeland Speaks to be. He maximizes his length and shows impressive flexibility for a man his size.
• Northern Illinois tackle Max Scharping had an impressive day.
• Oregon EDGE Jalen Jelks had the cleanest move of all pass rushers this week.
• Western Illinois defensive lineman Khalen Saunders has not looked overwhelmed against better competition. He’s as athletic as advertised showing a good get off and incredible flexibility. His hands have been solid all week and he’s been excellent at locating the ball.
• Washburn cornerback Corey Ballentine improved drastically over his difficult start on Tuesday.
• Washington tackle Kaleb McGary has been one of the best tackles here, if not the best. Strong as an ox, powerful hands, tremendous size.
• Delaware safety Nasir Adderley had a better day in man coverage and jumped a flat route in team drills.
• Maryland safety Darnell Savage has been the best safety in man coverage this week.
• USC cornerback Iman Marshall showed why he was once considered a top-flight prospect going into the 2017 season. He’s helped himself this week.

North struggles

• Raiders head coach Jon Gruden continues to waste players’ and evaluators’ time with drills that don’t provide anything of substance.
• NCSU linebacker Germaine Pratt is converted safety, but you cannot tell based on his athletic display.
• Kansas State tackle Dalton Risner looks like a guard. He’s shown struggles against length and speed.
• Texas defensive lineman Charles Omenihu looks good and powerful inside but still struggles as an end showing an inability to bend and turn a corner.
• NCSU offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury struggles to anchor but moves well in space.
• Wisconsin offensive linemen Beau Benzschawel and Michael Dieter have been very underwhelming, struggling with length and power.
• Utah safety Marquise Blair has been poor in man coverage after disappointing by weighing in at a mere 180 pounds on Tuesday.
• UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella struggled to catch the ball all day. He had several drops.