Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins, Oklahoma defensive end Charles Tapper and Louisville defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins are among the top NFL draft prospects to accept an invitation to the 2016 Reese's Senior Bowl.
The Senior Bowl announced 19 accepted invitations on Tuesday. Others include Stanford OL Josh Garnett, Temple LB Tyler Matakevich, Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell, Illinois DE Jihad Ward and North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz.
"He's physical and tough. He can play potentially the strong side or the weakside 3-4 outside position," said NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein of Jenkins. "He's no worse than an early third-rounder, probably a second-rounder. Rankins is a little undersized but strong. He's built low and he's able to use his squatty frame to his advantage, but he's athletic and quick. He could have a good week at the Senior Bowl because of all the one-on-one stuff they do."
The annual all-star game will eventually fill two rosters of 55 players each, drawing from the nation's top seniors and fourth-year junior graduates. NFL coaches, executives and scouts flock to Mobile, Ala., each year to the Senior Bowl practice week to begin the scouting process.
The 2016 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 30.
While the Senior Bowl hasn't announced which other players have received invitations, some of the nation's other top senior prospects include Michigan State QB Connor Cook, Oregon DE DeForest Buckner, Baylor DE Shawn Oakman, Michigan State DE Shilique Calhoun, Duke DB Jeremy Cash, Alabama DL Jarran Reed, Alabama LB Reggie Ragland, Houston CB William Jackson and Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard.
Senior Bowl rosters generally aren't finalized until the week before practice begins.
Last year's Senior Bowl included five eventual first-round draft picks: Arizona State DB Damarious Randall, Duke OL Laken Tomlinson, Washington DL Danny Shelton, Miami WR Phillip Dorsett and Clemson LB Stephone Anthony.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
