Ahead of the NFL combine, four former LSU players will get to showcase their talents in the 68th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 in Mobile, Alabama.
Linebacker Duke Riley, cornerback Dwayne Thomas center Ethan Pocic and wide receiver Travin Dural will be representing LSU in the upcoming game.
Thomas was added to the Senior Bowl on Friday and is a replacement for cornerback Tre’Davious White, who injured his ankle during practice this week.
Local draft analyst Mike Detillier said the bowl game can help boost a player’s draft stock.
“Well, it is the first job interview, and it can help your draft stock,” Detillier said. “To be honest, a poor week of practice can hurt you some. It is all about the practices and how you pick up pro coaching, the terminology, the pace of the practices and how you pick up pro techniques.”
Riley, who played 38 games at LSU, registering 51 tackles and one fumble recovery in his collegiate career.
In the beginning of Riley’s season, he was projected as a seventh round pick. Now Riley is projected to be a late third round or early fourth round pick, according to Detillier.
“[He is] just a tackling-machine for the Tigers in 2016,” Detillier said. “The most improved player on the team overall. He needs to work on his overall strength and as a technician to use his hands better to get off of would-be blockers. I can’t make him taller and bigger framed. He is who he is and in today’s NFL you are looking for that guy that can cover a tight end or back in coverage. Duke can do that very well.”
White had a strong senior season and is projected to be picked late in the first round, Detillier said.
The Shreveport native started 47 games, accumulated 167 tackles, 34 pass breakups, which ties for No. 5 in LSU history , and six interceptions during his time at LSU. White served as LSU’s punt returner in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, gaining a total of yards for 68 returned punts.
“Tre White is my 25 best overall player for the 2017 draft,” Detillier said. “Late first round pick. He has excellent ball skills, he plays the ball well in flight and he is physical with receivers downfield. [He is a] good open-field tackler, also.”
With Pocic’s versatility as a center, guard and tackle, Detillier expects him to do well in the draft and in the NFL.
“He is just so smart, very competitive and he has excellent foot movement skills for a big man,” Detillier said. “I have him rated an early second round pick. I think he is a better guard than center for the pros.”
Pocic earned a total of 680 snaps and 92 knockdowns, with his season high being 14 knock-downs against Texas A&M.
As for Dural, Detillier thinks he needs the most improvement to make his name more known.
“Right now with Travin Dural, he needs work on getting into and out of his cuts and breaks quicker,” Detillier said. “He is a speed guy, good hands, good runner after the catch and another gear in space. A good week of work could help each of them, but Travin Dural is the one with the most to gain since he did not have a signature senior season and he had offseason surgery in the spring of 2016 due to the hamstring problem.”
Dural has made 72 catches for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dural was regarded as one of the fastest players on the team who ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash.
The Senior Bowl is played annually, showcasing the nation’s best senior collegiate players and top NFL draft picks. Notable players like Derek Carr, Richard Sherman, Jimmy Graham and Russell Wilson have played in the Senior Bowl.
LSU senior defensive back, Tre'Davious White (#18) catches the ball on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, during the Tigers 10-0 loss to Alabama in Tiger Stadium.
