Football: Bentley turning heads in Mobile – 62nd Senior Bowl Saturday

Brady Aymond, Daily Advertiser, Jan. 27, 2012

Dwight "Bill" Bentley has seen the jerseys hanging on the wall in the UL Ragin’ Cajun football locker room.

Names of former Ragin’ Cajun football players who have blazed a trail to the NFL.

Guys like Todd Scott, Orlando Thomas, Charles Tillman, Ike Taylor, Michael Adams — oddly enough all defensive backs.

Bentley would love nothing more to have his jersey one day hanging on that wall.

But he knows in order for that to happen, he has to become a trail blazer himself.

"What Peanut (Tillman) and Ike did for themselves is what got them to where they are now," Bentley said. "It’s great what they’ve accomplished, but it won’t get me where they are. The only thing that will get me to where they are is by working hard and making it myself.

"I just take this as a privilege of being here. I’d like to keep on the tradition."

Bentley has certainly taken the initial steps toward realizing that dream by having a stellar career with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

This week in Mobile, Bentley has taken a few more steps with a strong week at the annual Senior Bowl.

Bentley had three good days of practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in preparation for Saturday’s 3 p.m. game on the NFL Network.

"I have a little bit of a man crush watching him (Tuesday)," said NFL Network analyst Charles Davis, who was an All-SEC cornerback at Tennessee. "I love his footwork. I got a little tip (Tuesday) before practice that said ‘Hey, I think he’s the second best cornerback out of this group.’ That’s high praise considering the guys we have here.

"I took an extra look at him. There was one play he got beat on the play, but what I like is that he got up the very next drill and won it. So I know he’s competitive. There’s a lot about him that I’m going to be keeping an eye out on him. I want to go watch some more film on him. On initial impression, I like him in a big way."

Bentley continued to turn heads in Wednesday’s practice, and had many scouts and draft experts reconsidering their initial evaluations.

He started the week projected to be a sixth-round pick, but could have played himself into the middle rounds of this April’s NFL draft.

"This week is about coming out and getting better every day," Bentley said. "Coming out and improving my stock. That’s what I came out here for, to compete every day and get better every day."

UL coach Mark Hudspeth feels Bentley has all the tools to become that next Ragin’ Cajun cornerback to play his way onto an NFL roster.

"He’s a very big talent," Hudspeth said. "He can really run well, a really good cover guy. I think his cover skills will give him a great opportunity. He’s a big physical football player. I think he’s got the skills to make a team and do well."