San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
FRANKS-TO-YEBOAH TD SEALS VICTORY
Texas A&M’S Kellen Mond was the Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player but two fellow Southeastern Conference Western Division products made the decisive big play.
Arkansas’ Feleipe Franks threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Mississippi tight end Kenny Yeboah in the fourth quarter to help seal the National team’s 2724 victory over the American team Saturday at Mobile, Ala.
Franks, a graduate transfer from Florida, set up the all-sec West scoring connection with a 29-yard completion to Louisville’s Dez Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick had six catches for 90 yards in the showcase game for senior and graduate NFL prospects, earning offensive player of the game honors.
Mond was the MVP with a huge third quarter when he passed for 141 of his 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns after a slow start.
“It was a great feeling whether it was a simple drop back or making an insane play,” the former Aggies standout said. “Everything was kind of rolling my way. Obviously, kind of shaky at the beginning but it definitely shows a lot of poise to be able to bounce back.”
North Carolina running back Michael Carter also had a big game. Carter scored on a piledriving 12-yard run late in the third quarter to help the National retake the lead after a Mond-led comeback.
Jamie Newman completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Grimes with 49 seconds left for the American team after Franks and Yeboah made it a two-score game. The former Wake Forest quarterback, who transferred to Georgia but opted out before the season, set it up with a 35-yard completion to Bowling Green tight end Quintin Morris.
Tulane defensive lineman Cam Sample was the defensive player of the game.
The American team was without two of national champion Alabama’s biggest offensive weapons. Quarterback Mac Jones dressed out and went through warmups but didn’t play after injuring his left ankle in Thursday’s final practice.
Tailback Najee Harris withdrew from the game after practicing Tuesday and Wednesday because of a lingering ankle injury from the national title game earlier in January.
Notable
T.J. Yates is returning to the Atlanta Falcons as a coach. Yates, a native of suburban Atlanta who spent one season backing up Matt Ryan, was announced as the passing game specialist for new head coach Arthur Smith.