Sheldon Day, Nick Martin show well in Senior Bowl loss

New position, same old stellar production from Sheldon Day.

The Notre Dame standout defensive tackle played extensively at end for the North team in Saturday’s Senior Bowl college all-star football game and NFL Draft showcase at Mobile, Ala.

Day was credited with three solo tackles, including a game-high two for loss with a sack, playing unofficially 41 of the 69 snaps in the North’s 27-16 loss to the South.

What the stats didn’t show was how much he disrupted the rhythm at times of the South QBs, and even drew a face-mask penalty from the South on what would have been another sack.

Center Nick Martin was ND’s other representative in the game. With 48 snaps (of 70), he received the second-most amount of playing time of the North offensive players.

Both players drew high praise from NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, the former color analyst for ND’s TV games, as well as scouts and analysts throughout the week.

Notre Dame’s five early draft entries — linebacker Jaylon Smith, wide receiver Will Fuller, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback KeiVarae Russell and running back C.J. Prosise — weren’t eligible to play in the game.

Only early entries who already have their degree in hand are eligible to be selected.

Senior Romeo Okwara, safety Elijah Shumate and wide receiver Chris Brown played in last weekend’s East-West Shrine Game.

All 10 are expected to be at the NFL Scouting Combine, Feb. 23-29 in Indianapolis, with recovering players Smith and Russell at least able to participate in the interview process with teams. The NFL Draft is April 28-30 in Chicago.

Concord High product Jason Spriggs, an offensive tackle from Indiana University, was voted the offensive lineman of the week by NFL scouts in attendance this past week. He’s shown up in the first or second round in most mock drafts so far.

SEC West quarterbacks Dak Prescott, Jake Coker and Brandon Allen each led scoring drives to help the South to the victory.