The 2025 Senior Bowl is within the books, and we discovered loads about lots of the prime prospects. Traditionally talking, at the least one or two of these gamers will find yourself sporting the Black and Gold come late April through the 2025 NFL Draft.
There have been a number of standouts for the week, and some gamers who didn’t fairly stay as much as the excessive expectations coming into the Cellular, Ala., showcase. School tape in the end guidelines the analysis course of, however the Senior Bowl is one significant piece of the puzzle to assist affirm observations made on tape. The subsequent piece of the puzzle will are available a number of weeks through the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix.
Here’s a temporary checklist of winners and losers from Jonathan Heitritter, Efram Geller, and me. The week of observe carries probably the most weight on this analysis, however the sport itself, which not all people participated in, components in as nicely.
WINNERS
ROSS MCCORKLE’S WINNERS
– Kansas RB Devin Neal: Neal handed his first take a look at when he weighed in at 220 kilos. He has the body to carry up on each down, and his play in Cellular proved that. He was dynamic working routes with smooth palms, confirmed nice toes, and there appears to be loads of pace.
– TCU WR Jack Bech: Bech ended the week with an exclamation level through his walk-off landing within the precise Senior Bowl sport, however he was spectacular all week lengthy. He does every thing nicely, and proved that contested catches could be his defining trait.
– Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa: Bassa did every thing nicely. He was glorious in protection, and confirmed good instincts coming downhill towards the run. He additionally has a formidable body that would make him a steal within the center rounds as an every-down linebacker.
– Ole Miss DL Jared Ivey: Ivey lined up at EDGE loads, however his body screams 5-tech and he seemed good within the few reps that he lined up inside throughout observe. He was full-time 5-tech in 2023 out of necessity. He confirmed off his nice hand utilization as a cross rusher and uncommon athleticism for his measurement.
JONATHAN HEITRITTER’s WINNERS
– Washington State WR Kyle Williams: Williams didn’t have a headliner week throughout practices like Jack Bech did, however the 5102, 182-pound senior was constant all through all three days of observe, constantly getting open and making catches in tight protection. His means to generate separation towards protection was his defining trait and undoubtedly one thing that stood out in entrance of NFL groups.
– Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser: Kiser stood out to me each time I i had my eyes on him, and even after I didn’t imply to observe him. He was the very best linebacker in protection all through the week in my view and was additionally lively within the run sport, displaying good instincts to move to the ball. He has a heads-up interception on one group session, proving he may very well be greater than only a core particular teamer if referred to as upon.
– Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston: Hairston represented himself nicely within the two days that he practiced, sitting out the ultimate day with an undisclosed damage. To be honest, Hairston didn’t want the ultimate day of observe as he seemed strong overlaying receivers in 1-on-1 matchups in addition to in group, displaying off his instincts in addition to his motion talent to transition with receivers out of their brakes in addition to carry them vertically down the sector.
EFRAM GELLER’S WINNERS
– Toledo DL Darius Alexander: Alexander was unstoppable this week in observe. He received with hand utilization, tenacity and pace to energy. He rushed all throughout the road of scrimmage, together with reps from wide-9. Alexander got here in below the radar, however leaves cell as a possible top-100 decide.
– NDSU IOL Gray Zabel: Zabel went undefeated in 1v1 blocking drills this week. He sealed run lanes whereas climbing to the second degree to assist combo blocks. Zabel is flexible throughout the offensive line, and may very well be the primary heart drafted. His stability, energy and anchor are all excellent.
– Miami TE Elijah Arroyo – Arroyo had an throughout profitable week. He separated in man protection with spectacular route fluidity for 6044, 251 lbs. Arroyo confirmed he is usually a downfield goal in a ramification offense whereas blocking nicely sufficient to carry up inline. Arroyo is comfortably a top-4 tight finish heading into the NFL Mix.
LOSERS
ROSS MCCORKLE’S LOSERS
– Oklahoma St. RB Ollie Gordon II: Gordon weighed in somewhat over the place he in all probability ought to at 6011, 233 kilos. He was okay within the Senior Bowl sport itself, however struggled all through the week in cross professional and didn’t stand out together with his athleticism. I used to be excited to observe Gordon getting into the week, and I got here away underwhelmed total.
– Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson: Jackson is a real EDGE with a skinny body for his peak. He was struggling in 1-on-1s and ended up on the bottom as a rule when his pace strikes didn’t work. He performed fairly nicely within the sport, nevertheless.
JONATHAN HEITRITTER’S LOSERS
– USC CB Jaylin Smith: Within the reps that I watched Jaylin Smith in 1-on-1s, he acquired abused in man protection, dropping a number of reps in a row as he was guessing what the opposing receivers have been doing on the prime of their route. He held up higher in group periods, however he didn’t do loads to assist his draft inventory as already a fringe draft decide.
– Alabama QB Jalen Milroe: Milroe struggled with accuracy all through the week, wanting scattershot at instances on the primary day of observe. He confirmed enchancment on Day 2 and Day 3, however nonetheless was throwing excessive balls to his supposed targets, not showcasing nice contact on his passes and made most of his completions on blown coverages on open receivers beneath.
EFRAM GELLER’S LOSERS
– Kentucky DL Deone Walker: Walker got here in with excessive expectations. He struggled to decrease his pad degree, permitting lineman to simply win leverage. His athletic potential is simple, however Walker must be higher in pace to energy and rip strikes alongside together with his total leverage.
– West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum: Milum was checked out as a possible deal with, however this week’s efficiency will doubtless transfer him inside. Millum misplaced to hurry on the skin and gave up the sting a number of instances in run blocks. He fared higher inside, however was outpowered in some 1-on-1’s.