NFL Draft 2013: Previewing the Senior Bowl Rosters

As the Senior Bowl approaches this weekend, we finally will start to get a look at some of the premier college prospects who are eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson will undoubtedly be looking at a number of these players, who will look to improve their draft stock during practices all week and in game action on Saturday. Here we pick out some of the key names to keep an eye on all week.

North Team

QB - Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
QB - Mike Glennon, North Carolina State

RB - Kenjon Barner, Oregon
RB - Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

WR - Markus Wheaton, Oregon State
WR - Denard Robinson, Michigan

T - Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin
T - Kyle Long, Oregon
T - Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

DL - Jordan Hill, Penn State
DL - Kawann Short, Purdue
DE/OLB - Alex Okafor, Texas

OLB - John Simon, Ohio State

CB - Desmond Trufant, Washington
S - Phillip Thomas, Fresno State

The North team is strong on the defensive line and at running back. Short has dropped from a first-rounder before this season to a second-rounder on most boards, but could be a very useful piece for a 3-4 team like Green Bay. Hill has a solid frame for a 3-4 end. They don't seem to have much at wideout, but this year's crop of receivers is dominated by underclassmen anyway. Simon is a very intriguing propect for the Packers, as he's a great candidate to shift from 4-3 end to 3-4 outside linebacker. A few curiosities for Wisconsin fans will be the play of tackle Ricky Wagner, who went from a top-15 grade to a mid-rounder after this season, and the transition of former quarterback Denard Robinson to a wideout/running back hybrid position.

South Team

QB - Landry Jones, Oklahoma
QB - E.J. Manuel, Florida State
QB - Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

RB - Mike Gillislee, Florida
RB - Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

WR - Tavarres King, Georgia
WR - Terrance Williams, Baylor

T - D.J. Fluker, Alabama
T - Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
T - Xavier Nixon, Florida

DE - Ezekiel Ansah, Brigham Young
DT - John Jenkins, Georgia

ILB - Nico Johnson, Alabama
OLB - Chase Thomas, Stanford

S - Robert Lester, Alabama
S - Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
S - Shawn Williams, Georgia

Both teams are stacked with Tackles this year, but the South team might have the best one in Fluker. A few surprises are the Alabama linemen who aren't playing in this game - namely Barrett Jones and Chase Warmack. Both of them have very solid draft grades already though, and might have more to lose from playing in this week's game than they would have to gain. There are only a few players on the defensive front seven who would likely appeal to the Packers and their 3-4 defense, but John Jenkins is the one guy I'd keep an eye on. He's a massive nose tackle at 6'5, 358, and he certainly could be available in the late stages of round one.

These are obviously just a few names to keep an eye on, and not the full rosters for each team. Check out all the information on the Senior Bowl at www.seniorbowl.com.