2025 Senior Bowl Review - Stars Rise and Draft Stocks Shift in Mobile

Historic Finish Caps Transformative Week in Mobile

In what will be eternally remembered as one of the most emotionally charged finishes in Senior Bowl history, TCU's Jack Bech authored a moment that transcended football. With the American Team trailing 19-16 and time expiring, Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan found Bech in the back of the end zone, delivering a 22-19 victory. The touchdown came exactly one month after Bech lost his brother Tiger in the New Orleans terror attack, with every player wearing a decal honoring Tiger's memory.

"It's simple," an emotional Bech told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero post-game. "My brother had some wings on me. He gave them to me, and he let that all take place." The moment crowned what had already been an outstanding week for the 6'1", 214-pound receiver, who dominated practice sessions with physical route-running and vice-grip hands.

Quarterback Class: Day-By-Day Evolution

The quarterback position, as always, drew the most scrutiny throughout the week. Memphis' Seth Henigan emerged as perhaps the biggest surprise, completing 12 of 14 passes for 132 yards in the game, including orchestrating the game-winning drive with poise that belied his draft projection.

Notre Dame's Riley Leonard showed significant development across three days. Tuesday saw him struggling with under-center exchanges, but by Thursday, he was executing NFL-style progressions with increasing comfort. His perfect 6-for-6 start in the game highlighted his progress, particularly on timing routes where he showed anticipation previously missing from his game.

Louisville's Tyler Shough demonstrated the week's highest highs and lowest lows. His Wednesday practice session had scouts buzzing, particularly a red zone period where he threw three consecutive touchdowns. However, his game performance, including an ill-advised interception to Tulane's Caleb Ransaw, reminded evaluators why consistency remains his biggest hurdle.

Alabama's Jalen Milroe arrived in Mobile hoping to solidify first-round consideration but left with more questions than answers. While his athletic tools remained evident - one scout clocked him at 20.8 mph during scramble drills - his passing mechanics deteriorated under pressure. Thursday's red zone improvement offered hope, but his overall performance likely pushed him firmly into Day 2 consideration.

Position Group Revelations: Three Days That Reshaped Draft Boards

Tight End Renaissance:
Miami's Elijah Arroyo transformed from a fringe top-50 prospect into a potential first-round selection. Beyond his imposing 6'4", 251-pound frame, Arroyo showed remarkable agility in the three-cone drill and dominated red zone periods. One AFC scout noted, "He's showing Travis Kelce-like movement skills at that size."

LSU's Mason Taylor matched Arroyo's ascension with consistent dominance in one-on-one drills. His NFL pedigree showed in his refined route-running, particularly in option routes where he repeatedly created separation against both safeties and linebackers. His triple move against Iowa's Sebastian Castro in Wednesday's practice became one of the week's most-circulated clips among scouts.

Defensive Line Dominance:
Toledo's Darius Alexander emerged as the week's biggest riser, consistently winning one-on-one matchups with a devastating combination of power and technique. His bull rush of Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. during Wednesday's practice drew audible gasps from observers and demonstrated his ability to compete with Power 5 talent.

UCLA's Oluwafemi Oladejo ("O2 Jo") showed remarkable development as an edge rusher despite his linebacker background. His pre-practice meeting with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin became one of the week's most discussed moments, with multiple sources suggesting Pittsburgh views him as a potential solution to their pass rush needs.

LSU's Sai'vion Jones may have made the most money in Mobile, recording two tackles for loss in the game while showing versatility to rush from multiple positions. His inside counter move proved nearly unstoppable, even against double teams in team periods.

Small School Standouts Seize Their Moment

North Dakota State's Grey Zabel delivered perhaps the week's most complete performance. Starting at right tackle Tuesday, sliding to guard Wednesday, and finishing at center Thursday, Zabel dominated at each spot. His pancake block of Marshall's Mike Green during team periods had one NFC scout declaring, "That's a first-round tape right there."

Central Arkansas' David Walker brought his prolific FCS production (39 sacks in 45 games) to Mobile and proved it translates. His compact frame and explosive first step drew Brandon Graham comparisons, while his third-down sack in the game showcased his ability to finish plays.

Secondary Standouts Reshape Draft Boards

Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas arrived in Mobile with early Day 2 projections and left with first-round buzz. His spectacular one-handed interception during Thursday's practice highlighted his ball skills, but it was his consistent press coverage technique that had scouts raving. "He's showing everything you want in a modern NFL corner," noted one NFC South scout. "Length, speed, and most importantly, the ability to mirror-and-match against different receiver types."

Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston emerged as the week's biggest surprise in the defensive backfield. His fluid hip transitions and explosive closing speed stood out in one-on-ones, where he recorded three pass breakups on day two alone. Despite missing Thursday's session, his previous work was enough to vault him into top-100 consideration.

Notre Dame's Xavier Watts showcased the versatility modern NFL defenses covet, working effectively at both safety spots and in nickel packages. His interception of Riley Leonard during Wednesday's red zone period demonstrated his range and anticipation skills.

Wide Receiver Rankings Shuffle

Oregon's Tez Johnson became Mobile's most discussed receiver, despite weighing just 156 pounds. His precise route-running and explosive acceleration had defensive backs struggling all week. During one-on-ones, Johnson won 11 of 12 reps, with his only "loss" coming on a disputed push-off call. His comparison to recent NFL success stories like Tank Dell and Tutu Atwell gained momentum as the week progressed.

Georgia's Arian Smith showed the vertical speed that made him a track star, reaching 21.3 mph during practice according to Zebra tracking data. However, concentration drops remained an issue, with three drops during Wednesday's session alone casting doubt on his reliability.

Running Back Revolution

Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II transformed perceptions of his versatility, not only showing power between the tackles but displaying unexpected passing ability with his 32-yard touchdown throw. At 6'1", 233 pounds, Gordon showed rare movement skills for his size, particularly in pass protection drills where he stonewalled several blitzing linebackers.

Kansas's Devin Neal significantly boosted his stock by showcasing receiving skills out of the backfield. His one-handed grab during Thursday's practice highlighted his natural hands, while his pass protection during team periods demonstrated three-down potential.

Scheme Fit Projections

Several prospects showed traits that could make them ideal fits for specific NFL schemes:

• O2 Jo (UCLA) profiles perfectly for Pittsburgh's aggressive 3-4 defense
• Tez Johnson could thrive in San Francisco's YAC-heavy passing game
• Grey Zabel's versatility would be valuable in New England's multiple-look offensive line
• Jack Bech projects as an ideal slot weapon in Kansas City's offense
• Azareye'h Thomas fits seamlessly into Seattle's press-coverage scheme

Draft Stock Implications

Major Risers:

• Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami) - From mid-second to possible first round
• Grey Zabel (OL, NDSU) - From Day 2 to potential first round
• Tez Johnson (WR, Oregon) - From Day 3 to solid Day 2
• Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo) - Into top-75 discussion
• Jack Bech (WR, TCU) - Solidified Day 2 status
• David Walker (DE, Central Arkansas) - From unknown to Day 2 consideration

Combine Focus Areas:

• Jalen Milroe - Throwing mechanics consistency
• Arian Smith - Hands drill performance
• Mac McWilliams - Change of direction drills
• Grey Zabel - Agility testing to confirm mobility

Looking Ahead: Combine Implications

As attention shifts to Indianapolis (February 27th), several Senior Bowl participants are positioned for potentially explosive performances. Tez Johnson aims to quiet size concerns with expected sub-4.4 speed, while Grey Zabel looks to confirm his athleticism with strong agility testing numbers.

The tight end group, particularly Arroyo and Taylor, could continue their ascension with strong athletic testing. Meanwhile, defensive prospects like Azareye'h Thomas and David Walker have set themselves up to solidify their rising stock with strong performances in Indianapolis.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Senior Bowl will be remembered not just for its dramatic finish, but for how it reshaped the draft landscape. From small school stars proving their worth against top competition to Power 5 prospects answering lingering questions, the week in Mobile provided clarity for many prospects while raising new questions for others.

Bech's emotional game-winner provided the perfect exclamation point to a week that saw numerous prospects significantly alter their draft trajectories. As the pre-draft process continues, the performances in Mobile will serve as crucial data points in war rooms across the league. The combine may confirm what we saw in Mobile, but for many prospects, their Senior Bowl performance will be the moment their NFL dreams began to take shape.