Mason's final East-West Shrine Game practice observations

Senat is much lighter on his feet and more agile than you would expect a 322-pounder to be. During Wednesday's practice, he won most of his pass-rush drills, adding an effective spin move to the bull rush that he has the strength to utilize. Senat's play against the run forced the East offensive line to make him the focus of double-teams, but he was still able to disrupt plays, either by forcing his way into the backfield or continuing to move laterally, allowing other front-seven players to make stops.

Most years, some East-West Shrine Game standouts get the call to take part in the Senior Bowl the following week through late invitations. This year,  Toth is the first player to get that call. The 6-foot-6 inch tackle was one of the best run blockers in college football -- which made him particularly effective for the ground-intensive Black Knights. Toth added 85 pounds of mass over the last four years, transforming himself into an effective player -- and Army's first Senior Bowl selection.

Barrett's combination of overall productivity and experience in high-leverage games and situations gives him a good chance of being drafted, even though his overall arm strength does not match that of some other quarterbacks in this year's draft class. At times, Barrett seemed to want to show teams that he would pass rather than run, and he occasionally bypassed wide-open running lanes upfield to get the ball out to his running backs and tight ends. This will serve him well in the long term, but as he begins developing as a pro, he will continue to need to rely on his mobility.

Nothing about the measurables jumps out for Nichols, a 5-foot-9, 186-pound cornerback with the shortest arms of any player at the East-West Shrine Game (29 1/4 inches). But his tenacity, aggressiveness and willingness to attack opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage made him the "plays bigger than he stands" defensive back of this week's proceedings. His one-on-one duels with Northern Iowa wide receiver Daurice Fountain were among the most spirited of the week. Nichols has a chance to develop into a solid slot cornerback.

When the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder is on, he is one of the most difficult players to block in this year's class. He does a good job using his 34 1/8-inch arms to maximum effectiveness working against opposing tackles; his length allows him to keep his distance while his strength gives him the ability to still use the tackle as leverage when he has proper hand placement. Consistency is the biggest knock on Thomas at this point, but if his potential can be harnessed, he could be effective as a defensive end in either 4-3 or 3-4 schemes.

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound West team linebacker was able to make his college production translate to another level this week, frequently winning his one-on-one matchups with a variety of moves. Rolland-Jones' versatility could also project well to a special-teams role if he doesn't work his way into a defensive rotation during his rookie season.

Mizzou's reputation for producing draft-worthy pass rushers looks set to continue with Frazier, who consistently dominated in drills and team periods throughout the week. The 6-foot-4, 261-pound Frazier was also effective against the run, holding his ground at the point of attack.

With players like Senat who arrive at all-star games from FCS, Division II or Division III, you want to find out if their measurables, athleticism and dominance at their levels will translate to a higher caliber of competition. Senat's quickness stood out -- which is what you expect for an offensive tackle who carries 294 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame. He will likely need to get up to or above 300 pounds, but as the game continues to evolve and incorporate more spread concepts that play into the hands of lithe, athletic tackles, Senat could be well-positioned for eventual success if a team gives him enough time to develop.