The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson plans on taking full advantage. Carson recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Carson also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, playing man and zone coverage, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Carson better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Caelen Carson: My head coach [Dave Clawson] handed me the invite right before practice. That’s how it went down. I kinda knew it was coming at some point (laughs). I was expecting to get an invite this year. I was definitely excited to finally get that invite. I felt more relief than anything.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Caelen Carson: I’m excited for the opportunity to showcase my skill set on the biggest pre-draft stage that is the Senior Bowl. I’m prepared to compete against the best of the best down there in Mobile.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Caelen Carson: I’m looking to prove that Caelen Carson is the best cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
JM: Speaking of your skills, how would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Caelen Carson: I would say that I’m extremely physical. I’m a long player with terrific length. I use length to my advantage to disrupt the catch point. I have quick feet in coverage. I’m great at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. I haven’t reached my potential yet. I feel like the sky’s the limit for me. I’m nowhere near my full potential yet. I have so much upside.
JM: Do you consider yourself best suited to play in press-man coverage?
Caelen Carson: I feel like I can play any position in any scheme.
JM: I’ll put you in a little scenario then. Say it’s 3rd-and-long with the game on the line. Would you prefer to be manned up on the best receiver, or playing zone with a chance to make a play on the ball?
Caelen Carson: I would prefer to be playing man coverage in that situation against the opposing team’s best receiver. I would rather be manned up because I know that’s where the ball is going in that situation (laughs). I want a chance to make a play against the best player on the field.
JM: That’s a great point. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL cornerback, who would you choose and why?
Caelen Carson: I suck at answering this question (laughs). I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure out the appropriate comp for myself. I’ll tell you why I don’t know. I’m not a finished product yet. I’m still working every single day to get better. My game isn’t fully polished. I have a lot of upside. I haven’t reached what I’m going to be. Most of those veteran cornerbacks in the league are polished products.
JM: How about this? Who are some NFL cornerbacks you enjoy watching tape on and learning from?
Caelen Carson: Pat Surtain II and Jalen Ramsey immediately come to mind. I feel like AJ Terrell is very underrated. Jaycee Horn is going to be a beast when he gets healthy.
JM: Those are some outstanding choices. What’s on Caelen Carson’s pre-game playlist?
Caelen Carson: It depends on what type of mood I’m in. Probably some Lil’ Kee. “Change Gone Come” by Lil’ Kee is definitely on the pre-game playlist.
JM: At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Caelen Carson?
Caelen Carson: A successful Senior Bowl means that I showcased my talents. It also means that I got better throughout the week. I just have to improve every single day. By then, it’ll be about a month since I last played an actual football game. I’m looking to quickly shake that time off and show everybody what Caelen Carson is all about.
