Former UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin posted 175 tackles, 18.5 quarterback sacks, 33.5 tackles for losses, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and one fumble return for touchdown in his career. The 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year has a non-stop approach that includes 4.38 speed at 227 pounds. We take a deep dive inside his game after catching up with him during the week of the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Tag Archives: 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Missouri WR J’Mon Moore (VIDEO): Give me some Moore
Moore quietly went over the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two seasons for the Tigers. He and fellow wide receiver Emanuel Hall were a big reason Missouri quarterback Drew Lock broke the single-season record for touchdown passes in the SEC. In DraftNasty’s sit down with Moore at the 2018 Senior Bowl, he talked about his angry run after the catch approach, route running and his overall mentality towards the game.
Q&A with former Michigan OL Mason Cole: ‘Stone Cole’
‘Stone Cole’
DN: You’ve been playing a lot of left tackle this year (2017) and you’ve moved around a little bit all over the place while in school. How has it been getting back to that natural position (center during 2018 Senior Bowl) or a position that at least you’ve had some reps at before?
Cole: Yeah. It felt good. Obviously, at the next level I’ll play wherever I’m needed. But it felt good to be back at center. Something new again, but not really. It just felt good.
DN: In terms of some of your teammates that last year that went through the experience. You had so many of them that actually played down here. How many of those guys have you talked to about some of the thing that they had gone through in the pre-draft process?
Cole: Yeah, almost all of them. Just trying to gather as much intel as possible about this whole process. And they’ve all been helpful. It’s been really good for me to reach out to them and them be really helpful for me.
DN: What was one game you’d want an NFL scout to take a look at in your career?
Cole: I think any of the games against Ohio State. They’ve had a great defensive line the whole four years I’ve been there. Florida State had a great D-line when we played them last year (2016 Orange Bowl). And Florida both years. Anytime you go against a good defense you’d like to have a scout watch that and see what you do against higher-level talent.
DN: What would you say is your biggest strength and maybe the one thing you want to work on too?
Cole: Strengths. Just being versatile. Like I said, I think I can play wherever the team needs me on the line. My weakness. Probably just need to get stronger overall.
DN: Thanks a lot for your time.
Cole: Thank you.
—-DN Staff reports, 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl practices, Day 3
UPDATE: Cole was drafted with the 97th pick of the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Q&A with former North Carolina DB MJ Stewart
There wasn’t a lot that former North Carolina defensive back MJ Stewart couldn’t do in school. He would often change intermittently between positions on drives during games. We caught up with the former Tar Heel during the 2018 Senior Bowl to discuss what he brings to an NFL franchise.
DN: You had so much experience coming into the week having played outside, played inside, sometimes intermittently during games (at North Carolina). And then this week (Senior Bowl), you did a little bit of that as well. You seemed active and comfortable going against a number of receivers and you also looked real comfortable returning kicks. Talk a little bit about that.
Stewart: This is something I’ve been doing for awhile, you know. People didn’t know that. So this week was a good opportunity for me to show people that I could outside and inside. And I can return in the kicking game, too. For me, it’s something I’ve been doing for awhile so it’s nothing new to me, but it is new to a lot of people. I wanted to come out here and turn some heads.
DN: One of your teammates that you were kind of in concert with quite a bit during your career was Donnie Miles. It seemed like you and him on the field were real good in terms of communication. Talk a little bit about that connection and really how that all came about.
Stewart: That’s my boy, man. Donnie’s my boy. This past year we roomed together. We just wanted to build that connection even further on the field. Sometimes we’d be up late studying. We go to the film room together and we see things from each other’s point of view so we’re on the same page.
DN: You go to the NC State game, you’re able to look-and-lean down the field. Made some plays in that game when you were challenged. You had to be the leader on the defense after losing Andre Smith a little bit earlier in the season, and then also (Cole) Holcomb, you lost him a little earlier as well. With those injuries, how much was the onus on you to step up even more as a leader?
Stewart: It was big. With all those vocal leaders down, I had to step up and be the big vocal leader. I tried to encompass that as best as I could.
DN: Who was the toughest receiver that you went against in your career and what was the one game you’d like for NFL scouts to see?
Stewart: Toughest receiver in my career. It’s hard. I’m a big believer in everybody’s good until you prove otherwise. You can’t sleep on anybody. But I’d have to say Justin Hardy (Atlanta Falcons) from ECU. When I played him I was a freshman and still trying to get my feet under me. And he was a veteran receiver so it was nice going against him. He was strong, very active, good routes. It was good seeing that early in my career.
DN: And then what was that one game you’d like for scouts to maybe point to for you in your career? Any year.
Stewart: I’d have to say this past year Miami (Fla.). I definitely was locked in. I’m locked in every game but I turned it up that game.
DN: No doubt man, best of luck in the draft.
Stewart: Thank you.
—-2018 Senior Bowl practices, DraftNasty staff reports
UPDATE: Stewart -ranked 57th on DraftNasty’s 2018 Big Board (No. 2 all-purpose player)- was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 57th overall pick (2nd Round) in the 2018 NFL Draft.