5 prospects on offense Panthers should monitor at Senior Bowl
By Dean Jones
Which college prospects should the Carolina Panthers keep a close eye on when they start coaching at the 2021 Senior Bowl in the coming days?
The Carolina Panthers will get the chance to work closely with some incoming college prospects looking to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Matt Rhule and his staff were selected to coach at the 2021 Senior Bowl, which is a substantial boost to their plans given how many changes are expected during the evaluation process thanks to COVID-19 health concerns.
This is an opportunity that Rhule was keen to take on despite many teams opting not to get involved at Mobile due to the current climate. The former Baylor man will have a good scope of the 2021 NFL Draft class just one year removed from the college game, but finding out a little more about certain players of interest will be vital to their eventual decision-making.
Carolina drafting Derrick Brown at No. 7 overall in 2020 was largely down to the impression he made on Rhule and others during their Senior Bowl encounters last year. New general manager Scott Fitterer will also be keeping a close eye on proceedings from the sidelines, which all bodes well for the Panthers as they look to further boost their chances of becoming a postseason contender once again.
It is a crucial few days ahead for the Panthers. Here are five players on offense that the coaching staff should monitor closely.
Carolina Panthers at Senior Bowl: Prospect No. 1
Trey Smith – OG (Tennessee)
The Carolina Panthers are after some interior protection upgrades this offseason. John Miller and Chris Reed simply didn’t work out as expected and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a complete makeover in this particular area of the field.
Trey Smith is a player of interest, to put it mildly. The offensive guard was a highly-touted high school recruit to Tennessee who has enjoyed a fantastic college career and possesses elite power that is sure to make a smooth transition to the next level.
There does appear to be some concerns regarding his mobility and minor health concerns regarding blood clots suffered in 2018. But Smith comes with a tremendous amount of upside and might be worth considering on day two.