TCU star LaDainian Tomlinson quieted some doubters with a strong Senior Bowl. (AP)

Each team was coached by an NFL coaching staff; Bill Cowher of the Steelers and Mike Sherman of the Packers had the honor this year of working with the best talent in the nation for a week of intense practices. These practices and game have become a must for every NFL front office with the great majority of the players drafted each April.

Last year's Senior Bowl class had 102 players selected over the seven rounds of the draft with 14 first-round selections. More than half of the top 100 players in the NFL Draft 2000 in the nation performed at the Senior Bowl last winter and this year's class will challenge those numbers this April. In fact, this year's class will most likely pass the 14 No. 1 selections last spring with at least 15 Senior Bowl performers hearing their names called in the top 31 selections on April 21.

More draft analysis

Rising Offensive Players

1. Mike McMahon, Rutgers
QB, 6-2, 215
Unheralded senior passer displayed a fine arm and touch over the week in Mobile and impressed scouts with his command of the offense. He has moved up substantially after two nice efforts at all-star games.

2. David Rivers, Western Carolina
QB, 6-2, 215
Small-college passer had a solid performance over the week, displaying a good arm with the accuracy to hit receivers in stride. He has come out of nowhere in two all-star games to warrant a middle- to late-round grade in April.

3. LaDanian Tomlinson, Texas Christian
RB, 5-10, 220
The nation's only 2,000-yard rusher this past season answered all the questions about his ability to run inside and catch the ball out of the backfield. He completed a fine effort over the week with a huge game that should guarantee him a first-round grade.

4. Kevan Barlow, Pittsburgh
RB, 6-1, 235
Big, physical tailback ran with power and quickness over the week and left many NFL scouts thinking he might be the best runner in this year's class. He has natural running skills and the big powerful frame to be a fine NFL feature back.

5. Lamont Jordan, Maryland
RB, 5-10, 225
Strong tailback had an impressive week after a subpar senior season. He displayed quickness to the hole with the natural running skills to make defenders miss and the power to run through tacklers.

Miami's Reggie Wayne (right) leaped out of Santana Moss' shadow in Mobile. (AP)

6. Reggie Wayne, Miami
WR, 6-0, 195
Sure-handed wideout has played second fiddle to Santana Moss over the past few seasons in Miami but grabbed the spotlight in Mobile and helped his cause immensely. He ran precise routes and caught everything thrown to him that has him rising in a very deep wide receiver class.

7. Chad Johnson, Oregon State
WR, 6-1, 190
Athletic sprinter continues to rise as fast as any player in the nation. Chad had a strong week displaying the extra gear to separate in the deep game and soft hands and the toughness to go over the middle.

8. Pork Chop Womack, Mississippi State
OT, 6-4, 350
Massive left tackle displayed power and agility over the week at practices against the best pass rushers in the nation. He delivers a strong hand punch and the leg drive to move a defender off the line consistently.

9. Steve Hutchinson, Michigan
OG, 6-4, 300
Physical guard completed his college career with another well-rounded performance. Steve is a complete prospect with the level of development to play as a rookie in any scheme. He combines power, mobility and technique with the tenacity NFL scouts seek in a trenchman.

Rising Defensive Players

1. Derrick Burgess, Mississippi
DE, 6-2, 255
Quick pass rusher was one of the best defensive players at the practices. He has the burst off the edge to get after the passer and improved his stock in the draft significantly over the week.

2. Cedric Scott, Southern Mississippi
DE, 6-5, 270
Big, athletic defensive end had a solid performance against the best offensive linemen in the nation. He showed good strength at the point of attack and the burst to the QB to be a playmaker as a pass rusher.

3. Kendrell Bell, Georgia
LB, 6-1, 235
Powerful linebacker displayed top athletic talent over the week including the speed to go sideline to sideline and the big league hitting power necessary to play at the next level.

4. Fred Smoot, Mississippi State
CB, 5-11, 175
Fast corner had an excellent week in pass coverage in addition to his endless trash talking between plays. Fred showed fine recovery speed with the burst to the ball to defend passes that will earn him an early selection in April.

5. Andre Dyson, Utah
CB, 5-10, 175
Quick cover man had a fine performance over the week, showing well-developed cover skills. He has the quick reactions and feet that allows him to break on the ball in flight and separate the receiver from the pass. He improved his stock over the week with a strong overall performance.

6. Ligarius Jennings, Tennessee State
CB, 5-9, 200
Strong, small-college corner proved he belonged at the event with a solid effort against the D-I athletes. He displayed the quick footwork necessary to play man coverage and the speed to match receivers stride-for-stride in the deep game.

Coyle, a full-time NFL scout, has published Draft Insiders' Digest, an NFL Draft and free agency publication for the last 10 years.

He attends practices, games and individual workouts across the country as well as breaking down game films to study the nation's top players. He writes for numerous pro weeklies on the NFL Draft and free agency in addition to game matchups and player profiles.

Coyle attends NFL minicamps in May and June and numerous training camps throughout the summer. He is a frequent guest on sports talk shows from coast-to-coast, and has also been a personnel consultant to several NFL teams in recent years.