This year's event carries particular intrigue with a deep defensive line class and several quarterbacks looking to separate themselves in a crucial evaluation period.
Event Details and Schedule
The 2025 Senior Bowl culminates with the game on Saturday, February 1st at 2:30 PM ET at Hancock Whitney Stadium, broadcast live on NFL Network. However, NFL scouts and executives place far greater emphasis on the three days of practice sessions running Tuesday through Thursday. The National Team practices from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET, while the American Team takes the field from 1:00-3:00 PM ET.
These practice sessions, featuring one-on-one drills, team periods, and individual position work, provide invaluable evaluation opportunities in a controlled environment. NFL Network will provide comprehensive coverage, giving fans unprecedented access to this crucial stage of the draft process.
Quarterback Spotlight
While top prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders aren't participating, the quarterback group remains a focal point.
Jaxson Dart arrives with impressive credentials, having thrown for over 10,000 yards and 81 touchdowns across his career at USC and Ole Miss. Currently ranked as CBSSports.com's 80th overall prospect and fourth-rated quarterback, Dart has a golden opportunity to elevate his stock.
His biggest challenge may be proving he can thrive outside Ole Miss's system, which heavily featured screens and vertical routes. However, his mobility and deep-ball accuracy could shine in the practice environment. As one AFC scout noted, "Dart has all the physical tools - this week is about showing he can process quickly and work through progressions."
Alabama's Jalen Milroe brings perhaps the most intriguing skill set to Mobile. Widely acknowledged as the class's most dynamic runner, Milroe must prove his passing capabilities match his athletic gifts. As he stated during Monday's media session, "I know how hard it is to play the position. All I want to do is put the best foot forward, not be one-dimensional at all when it comes to my playing style."
Defensive Line Dominance
The defensive line group emerges as this year's premier position group.
Walter Nolen, CBSSports.com's 20th-ranked overall prospect, headlines a deep class. The Ole Miss standout's evolution has been remarkable, posting 6.5 sacks in 2024 – exceeding his combined total from the previous two seasons. His explosive first step and refined technique have drawn comparisons to Buffalo Bills star Ed Oliver.
Kentucky's mammoth
Deone Walker brings rare physical traits at 6'7" and 340 pounds. His 2023 campaign showcased his potential, generating pressure on 12% of his pass-rushing snaps - an exceptional rate for a player his size. NFL teams will watch closely to see if he can maintain his pad level and leverage against elite competition.
Nic Scourton, who transferred from Purdue to Texas A&M, arrives as the 15th-ranked overall prospect. His power-based rushing style aligns perfectly with current NFL trends. Meanwhile, his teammate
Shemar Turner brings intriguing versatility at 6'6", 290 pounds, with the ability to play multiple positions along the defensive front.
Rising Edge Rushers
Marshall's Mike Green enters the week with significant momentum after measuring in at 251 pounds, up 15 pounds from his playing weight. His nation-leading 17 sacks in 2024 already have teams intrigued, and Tuesday's weigh-in answered crucial questions about his frame.
Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku brings exceptional measurables with 34.5-inch arms and an 82 3/8-inch wingspan despite standing just 6'2". His combination of burst, bend, and run defense ability could make him one of the week's biggest risers. As one NFC scout commented, "He's got the length teams want and the production to back it up. This could be his week to really climb boards."
Tight End Emergence
The tight end group has emerged as unexpectedly one of the event's strongest positions.
Elijah Arroyo looks to build on a strong 2024 season where he finally stayed healthy. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal offered effusive praise: "Speed, power, size, strength, length, catch radius, ridiculous ability to accelerate and decelerate. Quite frankly, I wish we had him another year." Cristobal went further, comparing Arroyo to Miami tight end legends like Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen.
Mason Taylor from LSU, son of NFL great Jason Taylor, brings NFL bloodlines and refined receiving skills. His father, watching from the sidelines, noted: "He's a natural route runner. Catches the ball naturally... takes the ball out of the air and doesn't fight it." At just 20 years old, Taylor's upside has teams particularly intrigued.
Bowling Green's Harold Fannin Jr. arrives after a record-setting season, having caught 117 passes for 1,555 yards in 2024 - NCAA records for tight ends. Perhaps more impressively, he showed up in big games, totaling 19 receptions for 282 yards against Penn State and Texas A&M combined.
Secondary Standouts
Oklahoma's
Billy Bowman Jr. leads an athletic secondary group. His versatility between safety and nickel positions mirrors the hybrid defenders increasingly valued in modern NFL defenses.
Xavier Watts from Notre Dame brings ball-hawking skills, while
Malachi Moore offers experience in Nick Saban's complex defensive schemes.
Toledo's Maxen Hook could emerge as this year's small-school sensation, following the path of previous Senior Bowl defensive back risers like Kyle Dugger and Jeremy Chinn. His combination of size and movement skills has already caught scouts' attention during early measurements.
Notable Opt-Outs and Implications
The event has seen several high-profile opt-outs, particularly from teams coming off playoff runs. Ohio State's contingent including Will Howard,
Jack Sawyer, and
Donovan Jackson have declined invitations, citing the quick turnaround from the championship game.
Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy addressed the situation diplomatically: "We anticipated likelihood that players who participated in CFP could/would be too banged up physically to be on short six-day window." He also clarified the event's firm stance on participation: "We don't allow players to attend just to do interviews. NFL decision-makers attend our game to watch players compete on the field."
Some playoff participants have chosen to compete despite the short turnaround. Notre Dame's contingent of
Riley Leonard,
R.J. Oben, and
Jack Kiser will all participate, demonstrating their commitment to the evaluation process.
Offensive Line Battles
The offensive line group, while not as deep as recent years, features several intriguing prospects. North Dakota State's Grey Zabel looks to continue his program's tradition of producing NFL talent, having played four different positions during his collegiate career. NC State's
Anthony Belton brings impressive size at 6'5" and 345 pounds, while
Miles Frazier aims to prove he belongs among the top prospects.
One of the more fascinating stories is North Carolina's Willie Lampkin, who measured just over 5'10" and 270 pounds. Despite his undersized frame, Lampkin's versatility across interior positions and potential special teams value have teams intrigued. As one defensive lineman noted after practice reps against him, "You have to get low, real low. That ain't easy. He played me tough."
Small School Standouts
Beyond Hook and Zabel, several other small-school prospects aim to follow the path of previous Senior Bowl success stories. Bowling Green's Fannin has already shown he can compete against Power 5 competition, while multiple FCS and Division II prospects look to prove themselves against elite competition.
NFL Team Involvement
All 32 NFL teams have sent significant contingents to Mobile, with particular focus from teams holding high draft picks. The Carolina Panthers' new head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan will be evaluating closely, while the Tennessee Titans' brass arrives fresh off meetings with Shedeur Sanders at the Shrine Bowl.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, holding multiple early picks and potentially in the quarterback market, have shown particular interest in the signal-callers. Team president Art Rooney II recently noted, "We've got a whole quarterback room to fill. So there's jobs open in there. So I wouldn't be surprised if we look in the draft."
Practice Format and Evaluation Process
The practice structure emphasizes one-on-one competition and situational work. Offensive and defensive linemen face off in pass-rush drills, receivers and defensive backs compete in coverage drills, and quarterbacks work through progressively more complex passing scenarios.
Coaches have adapted the format to maximize evaluation opportunities. After an incident where Kentucky's Deone Walker's power rush sent a coaching assistant tumbling during drills, they quickly adjusted to having players hold blocking pads - just one example of the intense competition level.
Path to the Draft
The Senior Bowl launches an intensive pre-draft process continuing through the NFL Scouting Combine (February 27-March 2) and individual pro days. This year's draft, scheduled for April 24-26 at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, could see numerous Senior Bowl participants selected in premium rounds.
Nagy emphasized that while the Senior Bowl represents a crucial evaluation opportunity, teams will have plenty of additional chances to interview prospects: "There's plenty of time between now and draft weekend to do interviews (Combine, pro-days, individual workouts, 30 visits, and zooms)."
Looking Ahead
As practices begin Tuesday, all eyes will be on how prospects handle the transition to NFL coaching and elevated competition. The one-on-one drills during practice sessions often reveal more than game action, with players adapting to new techniques and facing the highest-level competition of their careers.
For players like
Jaxson Dart,
Walter Nolen, and others straddling the first-round bubble, performances in Mobile could significantly impact their draft position. Several prospects will likely emerge as "winners" of the week, following the path of previous Senior Bowl standouts who dramatically improved their draft status through strong showings in Mobile.
The event's mantra that "the draft starts in Mobile" rings particularly true this year, as a deep and talented group of prospects begins their journey toward NFL careers. With the draft landscape still taking shape and several position groups lacking clear hierarchy, this week's practices could prove especially influential in determining the ultimate draft order come April.
