Which college prospects on defense should the Carolina Panthers watch closely when they coach at the 2021 Senior Bowl?
This year’s evaluation process for the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft will look much different. COVID-19 health concerns continue to be at the forefront of everybody’s minds and the league has already taken some significant steps to ensure safety is paramount for young prospects and teams alike.
The NFL Scouting Combine won’t be holding its usual in-person workouts in Indianapolis, which leaves teams relying on pro days on college campuses more than ever this year thanks to the current climate.
That is why coaching at the 2021 Senior Bowl is an opportunity Carolina’s staff simply couldn’t pass up. Finding out about some top incoming recruits first-hand through watching them practice and being around them off the field will be a significant asset to call upon ahead of what is another vital draft that the Panthers must get right to aid their rebuild.
Carolina Panthers GM will also be in Mobile.
Carolina will also have the presence of general manager Scott Fitterer on the sidelines in Mobile, Alabama. The new appointment comes into the organization with an exceptional scouting reputation from his time with the Seattle Seahawks and considering head coach Matt Rhule’s extensive knowledge of the college game, it should serve the Panthers well both at the Senior Bowl and throughout the process.
With that in mind, here are five prospects on defense that Carolina’s coaching staff needs to keep a close eye on when practices begin.
Prospect No. 1
Jabril Cox – LB (LSU)
The Carolina Panthers got some nice production from Jermaine Carter when he patched up his differences with Rhule and was inserted into the starting lineup. However, it might be wise for the organization to get some additional depth at the second level despite the impending returns of Christian Miller and undrafted free-agent Jordan Mack, who both opted out of the 2020 season.
Jabril Cox is a player of tremendous promise. He has all the athleticism and explosiveness that the Panthers sought heavily in their recruitment process last time around, with his versatility to play either on the inside or as an outside linebacker another intriguing element to his potential that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Providing that Cox can work on his anticipation once he gets to the next level, then the prospect is well worth considering on day two.
Marvin Wilson – DT (Florida State)
There was a lot to like about the defensive front of the Carolina Panthers from a progression standpoint during the 2020 season. They found it difficult to generate pressure consistently over the first few games of the campaign, but things improved dramatically down the stretch to leave plenty of cause for encouragement with another offseason to develop in Phil Snow’s scheme.
One of the main reasons for this was Derrick Brown, who proved more than worthy of the No. 7 overall selection with some outstanding displays despite being one of the most doubled-teamed defensive tackles in the NFL.
Getting Brown a long-term partner to further boost the rotation would be a smart move by the Panthers this offseason, although Zach Kerr and Efe Obada performed well above expectations when Kawann Short went to the reserve/injured list for the second straight year.
Providing the Panthers extend Obada, then it doesn’t appear to be a significant need. So looking at a player like Marvin Wilson in the mid-rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft is a realistic option.
The Florida State star is more than capable of impacting the game on passing downs thanks to a surprising burst for a man his size. Wilson does need some coaching up when it comes to avoiding blocks on running downs, and his physique is another concerning factor that Carolina’s coaching staff will get the chance to examine closely at the Senior Bowl.
Hamsah Nasirildeen – S (Florida State)
There appears to be some concern surrounding the safety position with the Carolina Panthers. Tre Boston’s regression after signing a new deal was there for all to see and free-agent signing Juston Burris might be moved on after just one season after some indifferent displays that overshadowed the positives overall.
Phil Snow is eager for the Panthers to move stud rookie Jeremy Chinn to the backend, which would be a big boost to this particular area of the field. However, considering the impact he made as an outside linebacker during his first season in a professional environment, it might leave them a little short on the line of scrimmage.
Bringing in an exciting talent from the college ranks wouldn’t hurt even if Carolina does switch the former Southern Illinois standout to safety. Hamsah Nasirildeen comes with some exciting upside and possesses a lot of the same versatility that convinced the Panthers to trade back into the second round for Chinn at No. 64 overall.
The best thing one could say about Nasirildeen is his potential to be a positionless player at the next level. This isn’t a slight by any stretch of the imagination and this is something Matt Rhule clearly loves, so getting a strong indicator as to how the Florida State star could make a difference on the Panthers during Senior Bowl workouts in the coming days will be an invaluable source of information ahead of draft weekend.
Nasirildeen is physical enough to impact proceedings at the second level, has no trouble covering from the slot, and although there is a serious knee injury suffered in 2019 to consider, he comes with a significant amount of upside.
Carlos Basham Jr. – DE (Wake Forest)
As stated previously, the Carolina Panthers had some difficulty getting sacks early in the season. If the pressure wasn’t coming from Brian Burns, then it generally didn’t come at all, and although Yetur Gross-Matos showed promise during a frustrating season overall for the rookie, some more options would be highly advantageous in their pursuit of progression.
One player that you cannot help but be impressed by is Carlos Basham. The Wake Forest defensive end has three seasons of exceptional film for NFL scouts to go off and he is sure to be getting more than his fair share of attention from Carolina’s coaching staff at the Senior Bowl.
Basham’s final stats from his time in college are just sensational. In four years with the Demon Deacons, the lineman recorded 19.5 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defended, seven forced fumbles, and 173 tackles from 42 career games.
His technique is of a high standard and Basham has the necessary power to make a smooth transition to the next level. Putting him in a rotation that also consists of Burns and Gross-Matos would undoubtedly make the Panthers a pass-rushing force to be reckoned with moving forward.
The pass-rushing traits are there, so when he learns how to be more effective against the run, one NFL team is going to have a player with enormous promise on their hands.
Ifeatu Melifonwu – CB (Syracuse)
One area that the Carolina Panthers definitely need to strengthen this offseason is cornerback. Donte Jackson looked the part when he finally rid himself of a frustrating toe problem, Corn Elder should be extended after a promising campaign, but Rasul Douglas might not be so lucky and it’s clear the rookie duo of Troy Pride Jr. and Stantley Thomas-Oliver need a little more time to develop.
Getting quality corners in via free agency isn’t normally cheap, so the Panthers may have to scour the 2021 NFL Draft for a couple of prospects who can immediately contribute. Ifeatu Melifonwu fits the mold of what Carolina is trying to build and has all the makings of a good NFL cornerback if he makes further progress.
His 6-foot-3 frame is matched by a large wingspan and physicality that is sure to go down well with scouts. Melifonwu is a solid contributor in run support because of this and the prospect also comes with some eye-catching ability in press coverage – an area in which the Panthers struggled in 2020.
Melifonwu might be better suited to the safety position over time, but his high athletic prowess makes him an intriguing option for Carolina to consider providing he can build on a promising college career at Syracuse.
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The coaching staff will get to see this for themselves at the Senior Bowl, with route anticipation and coping in zone coverage schemes something for them to monitor closely where Melifonwu is concerned.