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Post by Dale on Nov 7, 2013 8:54:00 GMT -6
Arkansas C Travis Swanson received an invitation to attend the 2014 Senior Bowl.
Swanson has earned plenty of praise from his head coach, Bret Bielema, saying he thinks the center will skyrocket on draft day. Bielema has plenty of experience with offensive line prospects, and there's a good chance NFL evaluators agree. He could be the first center off the board in May.
Arkansas DE Chris Smith has been invited to the Senior Bowl.
Smith is one of the nation's leaders in sacks with seven on the season. His play might not match that total, since Smith is winning with a lot of inside moves, but he'll get a chance to show his stuff in one on one pass rushing drills.
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Post by Dale on Nov 25, 2013 16:40:38 GMT -6
Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema believes senior C Travis Swanson will be a second-round pick, at worst.
"I really do truly believe Travis, (who) got invited to the Senior Bowl, if he goes and performs the way I've seen him perform in practice, he will be no less than a second-round draft pick," Bielema said. The head coach has a long history of sending offensive linemen to the NFL. "I just really am blown away with what he can do, how incredibly physical he is, and how much stamina he holds."
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Post by Dale on Nov 27, 2013 7:16:23 GMT -6
It is very possible Arkansas senior C Travis Swanson winds up as a first-round pick, according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler.
Brugler has heard as much from sources. Head coach Bret Bielema called Swanson "no less" than a second-round pick earlier in the week, and he could end up being the first center off the board.
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Post by Dale on Jan 31, 2014 7:06:16 GMT -6
Arkansas' Travis Swanson and USC' Marcus Martin were rated as the draft's best two centers by draft insider Tony Pauline.
Both pulled third-round grades out of Pauline. The center position is notoriously hard to predict during the draft process because team needs plays such a big role. Razorbacks' head coach Bret Bielema said during the season that Swanson is "no less" than a second-round pick, and we tend to agree with that. Swanson's top competition for No. 1 center might end up coming not from Martin, but from stealthy draft board riser Weston Richburg of Colorado State, who has impressed scouts during the postseason exhibition phase. Richburg earned a 3-4 round grade from Pauline.
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Post by Dale on Feb 10, 2014 16:35:54 GMT -6
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks ranks Arkansas C Travis Swanson as the top interior OL in the 2014 class.
"Coaches love "plug and play" prospects capable of immediately making contributions as a starter," Brooks writes. "Swanson fits the bill as an experienced pivot with a polished overall game." The Razorback is followed by UCLA's Xavier Su'a-Filo, Stanford's David Yankey, Baylor's Cyril Richardson and Colorado State's Weston Richburg. We believe Clemson's Brandon Thomas, Mississippi State's Gabe Jackson and Florida's Jon Halapio belong on this list.
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Post by Dale on Feb 22, 2014 17:22:05 GMT -6
Arkansas C Travis Swanson struggled through a long day Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Swanson ran a middling 5.28-second 40-yard dash and lifted a troubling 20 reps on the bench, the lowest output of any offensive lineman. His 1.76-second split was a bit more encouraging, but let's be honest: Swanson probably cost himself a little money today. The former Razorback had been trying to fend off USC' Marcus Martin and Colorado State's Weston Richburg for top center prospect honors, and he may have fallen behind for good on Saturday.
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Post by Dale on Mar 11, 2014 15:26:17 GMT -6
An Eagles LB coach put Arkansas edge player Chris Smith through positional workouts at the school's pro day.
Smith improved his 3-cone time from 7.55 seconds to 7.37 seconds. He has great burst off the line of scrimmage, which was apparent during Senior Bowl week, and it is notable that Smith only participated in outside linebacker drills during the workout. Rotoworld's Josh Norris does not think the tape, specifically hand and length use, matches up with the strong all star circuit, however.
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Post by Dale on May 10, 2014 4:51:28 GMT -6
Lions selected Arkansas C Travis Swanson with the No. 76 overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Swanson (6-foot-5, 312) made 50 starts for the Razorbacks, earning first-team All-American and All-SEC accolades as a senior. He struggled at the Combine, running 5.28 with a 7-foot-11 broad jump and managing 20 reps on the bench. Swanson doesn't play with power at this stage of his career, which when combined with limited athleticism makes him a long shot to develop into a reliable NFL starter. He does offer size and arm length (33 1/8") to get some looks at guard. Incumbent C Dominic Raiola is on a one-year deal.
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Post by Dale on May 10, 2014 13:05:16 GMT -6
Jaguars selected Arkansas DE Chris Smith with the No. 159 overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Smith (6-foot-1, 266) was a second-team All-SEC selection by the conference's coaches as a senior, and finished his career with 21.5 sacks. He ran 4.71 at the Combine with a 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-1 broad jump, demonstrating intriguing athletic tools. Smith is a classic speed rusher with a relentless motor. He has arm length (34 1/8") to separate from would-be blockers, but needs to improve versus the run. Smith has starting-caliber attributes, and will likely focus on the LEO rusher spot with the Jags.
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Post by Dale on May 11, 2014 5:43:19 GMT -6
Seahawks selected Arkansas FB Kiero Small with the No. 227 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
A pure battering ram, Small added 40 rushes for 151 yards and three touchdowns as a senior. He'll have to beat out lead blockers Derrick Coleman and Spencer Ware for a spot on the 53-man roster in Seattle.
Redskins selected Arkansas K Zach Hocker with the No. 228 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Hocker was the Razorbacks' kicker for four seasons, making 61-of-79 field goals in his career. He missed just two extra points. He'll more than likely end up being a camp leg for the Redskins. Kai Forbath would have to faceplant.
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Post by Dale on May 11, 2014 8:16:29 GMT -6
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