Mbow climbs NFL draft charts, Packers show interest in Amos
By GERY WOELFEL
Marcus Mbow’s original plan wasn’t to attend Purdue University.
No, after graduating from Wauwatosa East High School outside of Milwaukee, the expectations were for him to resume his football career at the University of Wisconsin.
But those plans never materialized. The Badgers coaching staff apparently didn’t feel Mbow met their physical criterion to play for them.
“They never offered,’’ Mbow said of the Badgers declining to offer him a scholarship. “I heard through the grapevine that they felt I was too short.’’
A slew of other major colleges didn’t harbor the same reservations about Mbow’s perceived lack of height as the Badgers. The 6-foot-4½ Mb received several scholarship offers before opting for Purdue.
The Boilermakers gain was the Badgers loss.
Mbow started 32 games at Purdue while developing into one of the premier offensive linemen in the college ranks. He is now regarded as one of the best O-Line prospects for the April draft. He exhibited his athleticism, competitiveness and versatility – he played both guard and tackle at Purdue — in a strong showing before a horde of NFL officials at the recent Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Jim Nagy, a former NFL scout and now executive director of the Senior Bowl, was suitably impressed with Mbow, who started on Wauwatosa East’s Division 1 state basketball championship team in 2021.
“Get familiar with Mbow,’’ Nagy said. “Extremely athletic … fastest rising offensive line prospect in this year’s class.
“Some teams project him as a high-end starting guard.’’
Mbow, who still had one year of college eligibility, is generally projected to be a second-round selection. He’ll have the chance further solidify or even enhance his draft status at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month in Indianapolis.
Intriguing prospect
The Packers are expected to use one of their top picks – No. 23 overall in the first round or No. 54 overall in the second round – on a cornerback.
One cornerback who has piqued the Packers’ interest is Trey Amos., who was outstanding last season at Mississippi. Amos met with Packers officials at the Senior Bowl.
“We had a great conversation,’’ Amos said. “Great vibes.’’
Amos played his first three seasons at Louisiana before transferring to Alabama. Amos only started one game but played in all 14 games for the Crimson Tide, who were loaded with gifted cornerbacks in Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Arnold was the 24th overall pick in the 2024 draft, taken by Detroit, and McKinstry was taken in the second round by New Orleans, the 41st overall selection.
Amos is regarded as an excellent cover corner who isn’t afraid to mix it. He finished with three interceptions last season and then impressed NFL officials during workouts at the recent Senior Bowl.
Amos didn’t play in the Senior Bowl game after suffering a minor ankle injury, but he said he’s is back to being 100 percent again.
Asked what his considered his strong suits as a player, Amos said, “I feel my man coverage is my strength, and my zone coverage has gotten better.’’
And what areas does he needs to improve?
“I got to be stronger at the point of attack,’’ said Amos, who has been working out in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “I need to get some more strength and tackle a little better.’’
Amos said he’s added about 10 pounds since the end of the college season and currently weighs 195 pounds, a weight he intends to maintain.
The 6-foot Amos said he patterns his game somewhat after Denver’s Patrick Surtain II and Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander.
“Those are my two favorites,’’ Amos said. “Jaire makes plays; he’s a playmaker. And Surtain is smooth, really smooth. I’ve watched those guys and seen what they do and try to add it to my game.’’
Amos said he’s eager to participate in the Combine and quiet some of his skeptics who don’t think he has elite speed. Asked what time he was shooting for at the Combine, Amos said, “I’m going to run fast, really fast.’’
Safety plan
While the Packers invested heavily on safeties in last year’s draft, don’t be surprised if they draft another one in this year’s draft, perhaps on Day 3.
Last year, the Packers drafted three safeties: Javon Bullard in the second round, Evan Williams in the fourth round and Kitan Oladapo in the fifth round.
Two safeties in this draft who the Packers have talked with are Jonas Sanker, who earned All-ACC first-team honors with Virginia last season, and Hunter Wohler, who enjoyed a stellar four-year career at Wisconsin.
Wohler’s best season – at least statistically – came as a junior when he amassed 120 tackles. That was the most tackles by a Badger in 34 years.
