2023 Tropical Bowl Day Four Notes

The final day of practices concluded here in Orlando for the 2023 Tropical Bowl, and now the teams are preparing for a game in Camping World Stadium. We’ve got notes that I collected during the practices today.

Several other NFL teams made appearances on Friday, adding to the list from Thursday:

Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
New York Giants
New York Jets

Let’s get into the notes!

National Team (Blue)

Kutztown running back (or should I say fullback) Jeremiah Nelson looks like an absolute unit, bringing back up memories of former NFL running back/fullback Mike Tolbert throughout practice. Nelson weighed in at 262 pounds and has every bit of power, but he also showed extraordinary hands throughout practice. I don’t know if he has anything more than a practice squad player in the NFL, but he looks like a guy who could star in the lower leagues.
Florida State tight end Camren McDonald continued to shine and received an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, California. He will not play in the game on Saturday.
Some NFL teams really liked Arizona offensive tackle Josh Donovan and some of the refined techniques he has. Donovan has played every position on the offensive line while at Arizona and offers good, impressive versatility.
Teams were also looking into defensive tackle Xack Gill because of his size and profile. Gill measured in at 6046/299 with 35″ arms and over an 85″ wingspan. He should get a camp invite based on his size alone.
Pittsburgh linebacker Tylar Wiltz bounced back with some solid 1v1 coverage reps, including a couple against Camren McDonald. Overall, he played well and loose on day two.
UAB safety Grayson Cash has not practiced all week but has the attention of NFL scouts from his tape, which could make him a priority free agent after the draft. Cash spoke with several teams standing on the sideline extensively this week.

American Team (Black)

Mercer quarterback Fred Payton stood out in practice Friday, making some good throws on the run and showing the skillset he needs to be a solid backup in the NFL. A couple of scouts that I spoke with hanging around on the sideline liked him, but weren’t sure if the rest of the department would. Payton might be a USFL guy next year who can play up.
Marshall offensive tackle Kendrick Sartor has an NFL prototype body, standing tall at 6061/330 with 3458 arms and an 8478 wingspan. He should make a camp and possibly make a roster as a backup player.
Southern Mississippi offensive lineman TyKeem Doss too, had the attention of scouts for his size and frame. After measuring in at 6044/368 with 35″ arms and over 85″ wingspan, teams thought Doss could potentially be a guard at the next level. He might have to lose a little weight to fit in but it’s nothing an NFL weight room and training program can’t fix.
Several teams are interested in Southern Utah defensive end Francis Biemy Jr, a native of Canada. He’s got a great lower half, already standing at 6035/264, and has room to fill his upper frame. Several teams are intrigued by his skillset, and he has a good chance of being in the NFL this year.