If you've been paying any attention to this week's festivities at the Senior Bowl, you already know that it was a great week for Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
After a strong showing in each of his team's three practices this week, McLaurin finished the week strong in Saturday's game, catching four passes for 53 yards and running for a 20-yard gain to help lead the North team to a 34-18 win in the Senior Bowl.
McLaurin got involved in the action quickly on Saturday, starting the game at wide receiver for the North offense and catching a pass on just his second play in the game. After going in motion across the formation, McLaurin caught a short throw just ahead of the line of scrimmage and used his speed to turn the catch into 12 yards and a first down.
Later in the first quarter, McLaurin made a 6-yard catch on a crossing route, hanging on through a big hit from Kentucky defensive back (and one-time Ohio State wide receiver commit) Lonnie Johnson.
McLaurin turned a short catch on a slant route into 10 yards and a 3rd-and-9 conversion in the second quarter. Then, in the third quarter, McLaurin made his biggest play of the game on the receiving end of a flea-flicker, leaping up to make a 25-yard catch with multiple defenders draped on him.
The North brought out the Flea flicker!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 26, 2019
: @seniorbowlonly on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/n3NES7FEzn
Used primarily as a vertical threat at Ohio State, where Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill played the H-back role for the past two years, McLaurin had the opportunity to put his speed on display in some different ways on Saturday. Most notably, McLaurin took an end-around for a 20-yard gain in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game.
While Touchdown Terry didn't score any touchdowns of his own on Saturday, his flea-flicker catch and end-around run both set up touchdowns on the very next play, as did a pass interference penalty he drew in the end zone earlier in the third quarter.
McLaurin was recognized for the plays he made by receiving three Oakland Raiders helmet stickers to go on top of the full collection of Buckeye Leafs already on the Ohio State helmet he wore in Saturday's game. Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who coached the North team, told NFL Network that he and his staff gave Raiders stickers to players during the game to recognize them for making standout plays, much like Ohio State does with its traditional Buckeye Leafs.
Everyone is getting a @Raiders sticker
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 26, 2019
: @seniorbowl only on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/3xLokszKWo
It wasn't a perfect day for McLaurin, who had the opportunity to make a few tough catches that he could not haul in. He had an opportunity to catch what would have been a 26-yard touchdown pass from Missouri quarterback Drew Lock in the first quarter, but the throw was a bit low and behind him, and McLaurin was unable to make the catch on the adjustment despite getting his hands on the ball.
Overall, though, it was another good showing to end an excellent week in Mobile, Alabama, for McLaurin, who certainly appears to have bolstered his NFL draft stock this week.
Now, McLaurin will turn his focus to training for the NFL Scouting Combine, where he will have his next opportunity to impress NFL scouts in March.
