MOBILE, Ala. — The very best a part of Senior Bowl week — apart from the barbecue and seafood — is the chance to see prospects rise earlier than our eyes.
Final yr, Quinyon Mitchell entered the occasion already within the top-40 dialog, however he cemented himself as a first-rounder together with his play in Cell. In the meantime, extensive receiver Ladd McConkey was uncoverable in drills and gave groups a preview of what was to return in his rookie season. And defensive sort out Braden Fiske created deafening buzz together with his domination in one-on-one drills.
Which prospects will impress and supercharge their draft inventory this yr? Listed below are eight storylines I’ll be watching intently from the sideline:
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1. Tyler Shough is a darkish horse candidate to be QB4
Probably the most fascinating non-first-round quarterback on this class? My vote goes to Shough, and I count on the Louisville quarterback to indicate why throughout Senior Bowl practices. As soon as a high recruit, Shough had his school profession derailed by accidents, and it wasn’t till 2024 that he put a full season on tape. This isn’t fairly a Brandon Weeden scenario, however Shough is already 25 — which can matter extra to some groups than others.
Having engineered a Louisville offense that averaged 36.6 factors per recreation this season, Shough has entry to each inch of the sector due to his arm power and the way in which the ball explodes off his hand. At 6 ft 4 1/2 and 225 kilos, he seems the half bodily, and his practical mobility is an efficient membership in his bag. Shough could be responsible of lingering on most well-liked reads at occasions, however he’s at all times seeking to create explosive performs.
#Louisville QB Tyler Shough is perhaps probably the most fascinating non-1st spherical QB prospect on this class.
Will likely be a 26-yr previous rookie, however he has a professional skill-set. Prototypical dimension (6045v, 225v), passing twitch and drive velocity. Late on this learn, however that is a 30-yd frozen rope. pic.twitter.com/YmqEvJZCdx
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 19, 2024
In some methods, he’s a way more proficient model of Aidan O’Connell, one other former Jeff Brohm quarterback. Shough will want the proper scenario within the NFL to get a professional shake at a beginning job. However if you’re seeking to roll the cube on a quarterback exterior the highest 50, he is perhaps probably the most fascinating possibility.
We’ll see whether or not he lives as much as that billing throughout Senior Bowl week.
2. Can Jalen Milroe persuade NFL groups he must be a first-round choose?
I don’t use the phrase “particular” flippantly in the case of NFL prospects, however Milroe is a particular athlete, particularly at 6-1, 225. He additionally has a rocket arm and the kind of intelligence and character make-up that each NFL workforce desires in its constructing.
However his consistency as a passer was not a power this season, particularly down the stretch. Contemplating he’ll be throwing to unfamiliar receivers all week, nobody is anticipating him to be excellent throughout Senior Bowl practices — however scouts will probably be in search of consistency and progress. Can he present repeatable footwork and throwing mechanics? Will he have an understanding of which throws must be fastballs and which of them require extra contact?
An AFC scouting director this week mentioned the No. 1 factor he desires to see from Milroe is his “targets not having to work for the catch.” He additionally talked about that, with a great week in Cell, he would “doubt” Milroe would get out of the primary spherical.
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3. The expertise alongside the defensive position is as deep as we’ve seen throughout Senior Bowl week
Line of defense is without doubt one of the strongest place teams on this yr’s draft class — and lots of of that group’s high prospects will probably be competing in Cell. Buckle up.
Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced? His violence, quickness and total exercise degree separate him. He’s certainly one of my favourite gamers on this class.
Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart? He’s one of many freakiest dudes within the class — 285-pounders shouldn’t have the ability to explode and transfer like he does.
Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen? With an explosive decrease physique and quick, bodily arms, he has the disruptive expertise to go within the first spherical. His interviews will probably be paramount through the draft course of.
And it doesn’t finish there. Quite a few different defensive linemen collaborating within the Senior Bowl have the prospect to be chosen within the high 50, together with Landon Jackson (Arkansas), Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston School), Alfred Collins (Texas), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Nic Scourton (Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss), Jordan Burch (Oregon) and Shemar Turner (Texas A&M).
4. Which extensive receiver will obtain the ‘Senior Bowl bump’?
Who is that this yr’s Tank Dell, Christian Watson or Jayden Reed? Which extensive receiver will achieve momentum with NFL groups after leaving corners within the mud all week?
Weighing in at lower than 170 kilos, Oregon’s Tez Johnson has a really slender body with play power considerations. However corners nonetheless need to get arms on him or keep in section to create crowded catch home windows, which school defensive backs struggled to do on tape. An electrical athlete, Johnson can win vertically or decelerate on command, and he has the steadiness to interrupt off routes with minimal gear down.
PUNT RETURN TD FOR TEZ JOHNSON 👀
He takes it 85 yards for an @Oregonfootball TD 🤯#B1GFootball on Peacock 💻 pic.twitter.com/j0HKoY1tXn
— Massive Ten Soccer (@B1Gfootball) September 8, 2024
One of many receivers I’m most desperate to see this week is Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor, a giant, bodily athlete with the instruments to win over defenders. His tape featured a wholesome serving to of slants and go routes, however scouts wish to see extra selection in his patterns throughout practices. Additionally they wish to see him assault defenders on the stem, utilizing sink to transition his weight and create area out of his break.
Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins leads the dialog to be the highest-drafted receiver out of the group in Cell. And his Cyclones teammate, Jaylin Noel, could possibly be this yr’s Roman Wilson — an undersized, speedy slot who performs his approach into the third spherical.
Utah State’s Jalen Royals missed the vast majority of the 2024 season because of damage, so scouts can’t wait to see the projected Day 2 choose again on the sector.
TCU’s Savion Williams (6-4, 225) is arguably the freakiest receiver on this draft class, and I count on loads of buzz round him this week. We’d additionally see him take some reps at operating again/H-back.
5. Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish is my sort of cornerback
Each evaluator has a sort, and cornerbacks who won’t have best dimension however are overflowing with pace, instincts and toughness are my jam. Mike Sainristil and Andru Phillips have been two of my favourite prospects in final yr’s draft class, and I put a giant grade on Trent McDuffie when he was popping out of Washington (No. 12 on my last board that yr).
On this draft cycle, Parrish suits the mould as a “don’t overthink it” sort of prospect. At proper round 5-10, 195, he has big-time pace as a former state champion sprinter (10.47 seconds within the 100 meters) and competes with stunning play power in all areas. Parrish likes to play press man and problem receivers, which is much more spectacular contemplating he informed me that he “by no means performed cornerback” till he arrived at Kansas State — he was a large receiver and security in highschool. He’ll see loads of these press-man reps throughout Senior Bowl practices.
Excessive achievement is a Parrish household trait. Jacob’s older brother, Jevon, was a state champion wrestler in highschool, went on to compete at Nebraska and is now a chemical engineer in Minneapolis. Jacob’s youthful twin brothers, Jason and Joshua, are scholarship monitor athletes at Wichita State — Jason runs sprints and hurdles; Joshua competes in hurdles and jumps.
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6. Who’s the highest offensive line prospect in Cell?
“Greatest offensive lineman I’ve seen thus far.”
That was the textual content I obtained from an space scout who was cross-checking offensive line prospects final week — and clearly got here away impressed with Armand Membou. Primarily based on my analysis, I wasn’t shocked. Membou is certainly one of my favourite prospects on this class, due to his ascending expertise. He doesn’t even flip 21 for one more two months.
First, I’m to see Membou’s verified measurements this week. He’s listed at 6-3, 315, however what’s his official top and size? Although nothing on tape says he can’t keep at sort out on the subsequent degree, some NFL groups gained’t budge on their dimension thresholds, particularly for linemen.
Second, does the athletic footwork and physique management that Membou placed on tape translate to one-on-one pass-rush drills? Membou is on the quick listing of candidates to be the highest-drafted participant from this yr’s Senior Bowl roster.
I am on the eighth tape for #Missouri RT Armand Membou and I can depend the variety of pressures allowed on one hand (zero sacks). Love this dude. 📈📈
Appears like a 1st spherical participant. Explosive + managed in move professional. Finisher within the run recreation. Nonetheless simply 20 years previous. pic.twitter.com/HorFXIQSEn
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 12, 2024
Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. and Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery are two different prospects competing for the designation of “high blocker” in Cell. I used to be anticipating William & Mary’s Charles Grant to be a riser, too, however he needed to pull out of the occasion because of an damage suffered in his season finale.
7. How do gamers making place switches maintain up at their new spots?
Senior Bowl govt director Jim Nagy does an important job constructing his occasion’s roster based mostly on what NFL groups wish to see — and that interprets to the sector with gamers whom scouts wish to see work out at completely different positions, totally on the offensive line. The very best instance of that was Zack Martin, a school left sort out who moved inside for Senior Bowl practices and performed at a excessive degree. (He additionally gave us some legendary battles in opposition to Aaron Donald that yr.)
This yr, North Dakota State’s Gray Zabel could possibly be a type of intriguing prospects to swap positions. Regardless of taking part in sort out and guard, Zabel is perhaps the highest middle on this draft class. He performed the place in highschool, so he gained’t be utterly unfamiliar snapping the soccer, however groups are hoping to see him line up there throughout drills this week.
Purdue’s Marcus Mbow is an athletic blocker and has the ft to remain at sort out, his main place in school, however some groups undertaking him greatest inside at guard or middle. It’s an analogous story for West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum, who began 43 video games at sort out in school however — with sub-33-inch arms — will probably be projected by most groups as an inside lineman. In contrast to Zabel and Mbow, Milum solely performed sort out in highschool and school, so the power to maneuver inside is extra of a projection till scouts see him do it.
I’m additionally to see whether or not Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea takes extra snaps at sort out or guard. He’s thought of extra of a guard, however he performed largely exterior in school.
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8. Want a good finish? Senior Bowl practices will probably be an important probability to window-shop
Working again? It’s arguably the deepest place this yr. Line of defense? Completely loaded. However tight finish is also within the dialog as one of many strongest place teams within the 2025 NFL Draft.
LSU’s Mason Taylor (son of NFL Corridor of Famer Jason Taylor) is my highest-graded tight finish in Cell. Along with his fluid athleticism and ball expertise, he can line up anyplace on the sector and earns a simple “NFL starter” grade.
Bowling Inexperienced’s Harold Fannin Jr. has manufacturing that speaks for itself. He’s awkward athletically however has straight-line explosiveness and catches every part.
A 🎥 glimpse of when @JimNagy_SB and the @seniorbowl stopped by our @68VenturesBowl observe to formally invite @fannin_jr to the 2025 recreation on Feb. 1 💪#TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/ALebzZKGha
— BGSU Soccer (@BG_Football) January 7, 2025
Texas’ Gunnar Helm and Miami’s Elijah Arroyo have beginning potential on the subsequent degree due to their mismatch potential as move catchers.
Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson and UCLA’s Moliki Matavao, former teammates in Eugene, are two of my favourite underrated tight-end targets on this class. I don’t know whether or not both will crack the highest 100 — but when they’re accessible Day 3, I’ll guess each will find yourself outplaying their draft spot.
I’m additionally desperate to see Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone II, who was ranked one spot forward of Brock Bowers within the 2021 recruiting class. Again-to-back ACL accidents derailed his profession throughout his first two seasons in Lincoln, however he performed all 25 video games the final two years — and the expertise remains to be there. His greatest soccer is forward of him.
(Picture of Tyler Shough: James Black / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
