NFL scouts and coaches will be in Mobile Monday for the beginning of Senior Bowl practices, in what effectively marks the beginning of full-on draft season. The rosters aren't stacked with candidates for the Cowboys' first pick at number nine, but Texas A&M's edge rusher and top-ten candidate Von Miller will be there, as will several other names of local significance.
Texas sends Sam, the elder Acho brother, as well as corner Curtis Brown. Phil Taylor and Danny Watkins of Baylor will be there, along with Andy Dalton and Jeremy Kerley of TCU. Two runners from the state of Oklahoma - Kendall Hunter and DeMarco Murray - who will be interesting to watch in the draft run-up will feature, and OU also has Jeremy Beal and Quinton Carter headed to Alabama. Southlake's Greg McElroy and (temporarily) Prosper's Noel Devine are among those with local high school ties.
Matt Szczur was listed on the initial roster, but I don't believe he'll be there after signing a lucrative deal with the Cubs this week. Jake Locker will be trying to revive his stock. Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, Florida State's Christian Ponder and Iowa's Ricky Stanzi will join McElroy, Dalton and Locker in taking snaps.
NFL Network will be there Monday through Thursday for practices and will have the game Saturday afternoon. The Bills and Bengals will coach the teams.
The East-West Shrine Game was played today, as former North Carolina defensive lineman Marvin Austin - one of 56 underclassmen to enter the draft - tried to make up for lost time after his dismissal from UNC. But it's the Senior Bowl that NFL teams really flood, and we'll begin hearing from Mike Mayock Monday.