27 Senior Bowl observations from Day 1 at apply for 2025 NFL Draft hopefuls

The Senior Bowl is a pivotal cease on the street to the 2025 NFL Draft, and starting on Monday, the NFL world descended on Cellular, Alabama to do some analysis of the subsequent technology of NFL expertise.

I’m in Cellular as nicely, and am going to be giving out observations from every day of the 2025 Senior Bowl, full of guys who stood out. Tuesday was the primary day of apply, and, as anticipated, there have been a number of hiccups. Each the American and Nationwide groups had operational penalties like false begins and offsides, and with the QBs transitioning to extra underneath middle work with guys they’ve by no means labored with, there have been a number of bobbled exchanges. Nonetheless, there have been a number of actually cool issues that stood out from the opening day.

It was a day dominated by the offensive and defensive strains, a bunch that may be one of many extra gifted ones put collectively on this recreation. There have been routine performs being blown up by all of the expertise up entrance, and it’s a mirrored image of the expansion within the sport at defensive deal with and defensive finish.

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• Within the morning apply for the American crew, Marshall EDGE Mike Inexperienced may’ve been the most effective particular person participant. He received weigh-ins by coming in at 251 kilos, and he seems to be like he placed on a number of good weight. That added mass didn’t make him lose velocity in any respect, although. He routinely busted via into the backfield in one-on-ones, hitting a nasty inside transfer on Purdue’s Marcus Mbow (a great participant in his personal proper) and flying previous others. The place he made probably the most progress was as a run defender, with the ability to persistently set the sting and was forceful within the run recreation. I’ve had him within the first spherical for the reason that school soccer season, and on the primary day he completely proved that he ought to stay there.

• Boston Faculty EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku additionally had an excellent day. He’s a bit small at 6’2 and 248 kilos, however he’s additionally a blur coming off the sting and with 34-inch arms he has extra size than I anticipated. He put Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. on his butt within the run recreation, bought me out of my seat.
• Exterior of that one play, Conerly Jr. had a pleasant day. His motion abilities are uber spectacular for a man his measurement, and he was tremendous efficient reducing off bottom gamers on run schemes. He was chosen for the most effective on greatest portion of the apply, and completely housed UCLA EDGE Olu Oladejo. Conerly goes to be a man which may rise even greater, in a deal with class that wants true tackles.

• The most effective offensive lineman from the Nationwide crew portion of practices was both North Dakota State’s Gray Zabel or NC State’s Anthony Belton. Zabel is a man I got here in excessive on, and he did nothing to make me come down. He bought reps throughout the offensive line, and easily dominated at each spot. His capability to anchor was examined, and he handed with flying colours. He bought popped for a false begin in crew drills, however aside from that, was tremendous spectacular. Belton is a man I’ll have to return and watch extra of, as a result of whew man he completely cooked. Line him up at guard or deal with, doesn’t matter. He crushed the competitors right now, exhibiting the foot velocity to close down outdoors strikes and the facility to anchor and redirect cross rushers. Quick begin for him.
• USC C Jonah Monheim may be a fish out of water on this state of affairs. He had some good moments, however when he misplaced, he appeared utterly overwhelmed. He solely has 30-inch arms, which is abnormally brief for a lineman, so that you simply surprise what he can do on the subsequent stage.
• I used to be anticipating extra from Arkansas’ Landon Jackson right now. His lack of bend is admittedly regarding, and he doesn’t actually have a cross rush plan.
• Toledo DT Darius Alexander had some REALLY good moments right now. He’s bought MASSIVE arms and lengthy arms, and when he packs a punch, it appears like a thunderclap. Received a number of reps within the cross and run recreation right now, however he actually stood out as a run defender.
• Miami TE Elijah Arroyo has bought JUICE. Was ignored due to QB Cam Ward and WR Xavier Restrepo, however he’s a straightforward mover who persistently created separation.

• Virginia Tech DT Aeneas Peebles had some fairly unimaginable reps right now. He’s a sawed off DT with shorter arms, however he was a monster within the run recreation, effecting the apply with quickness and go off the ball.
• Syracuse LB Justin Barron was a late add to the roster, however his motion abilities intrigue me. Seemed actually fluid in protection.
• Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa was the vocal captain of the Nationwide crew. Took the position of calling the performs and getting everybody organized. Additionally had some good reps within the passing recreation.
• The depth was THERE for the Nationwide crew, far more than the American crew. Iowa DT Yahya Black and West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum bought into it and needed to be separated. The American crew minimize the music off midway into apply, which is why I feel the depth was down.
• For the American crew, Kentucky DT Deone Walker did this to a poor assistant coach. They switched to gamers holding the bag after this.

• Walker had a reasonably good day after this as nicely. I fear about his pad stage at 6’7, however he had reps the place he was merely dominant. He must string collectively extra constant days.
• The most effective defensive lineman on the sector was Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott. One other man who’s a bit undersized at 297 kilos, however his lateral quickness and agility was jaw-dropping right now. He was within the backfield a lot he pressured a foul snap together with his quickness off the ball. For a crew needing a penetrating three-technique, Norman-Lott goes to be their decide on Day 2. He left early, nevertheless. Marvel if he bought dinged up.

• I assumed Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart was simply…tremendous right now. Had some spectacular reps, but in addition had some tough ones. He may be the best rated prospect right here, however he’s going to want a robust second day.
• Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen has a powerful construct. He got here in at 6’3 and 293 kilos, and he seems to be lean. He’s tremendous fast off the ball and flashed quite a bit within the run and cross. His consistency must iron itself out, however he’s similar to Buffalo Payments’ DT Ed Oliver.
• Usually ignored due to his star teammates round him, LSU OL Miles Frazier had an important apply. He stonewalled Nolen on repeated performs in crew drills, and confirmed some spectacular play energy. Tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr (who was additionally tremendous right now) stole the present, however Frazier was spectacular in his personal proper.
• Alabama A&M deal with Carson Vinson goes to speak money shit, and I like it. Was hyping himself and the remainder of the offensive linemen up after huge performs, and his excessive reps appeared very nice. His lows had been low, however at his measurement together with his motion abilities, he’s going to get drafted on Day 3.
• RJ Harvey has tree trunks for legs:

• LSU TE Mason Taylor was excellent right now. Showcased a number of abilities within the run recreation, and created separation vertically as a receiver. One other ignored participant due to his teammates round him, Taylor goes to rise huge time after this week.
• South Carolina DT TJ Sanders is one other undersized deal with who wins with velocity and quickness, but in addition was ready to do that right now, in what’s probably the most effective rep of the day for both aspect:

• Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser determined to play on this recreation regardless of taking part in within the nationwide title recreation one week in the past, and he made some good performs in protection on the backs. With the ability to do that may maintain him on the sector.
• Florida LB Shemar James can MOVE. He was a bit miscast at Florida, however made some good performs in protection right now
• SMU RB Brashard Smith was COOKING within the passing recreation right now. Former WR from Miami, transferred to SMU and switched to RB. Profile is similar to Giants’ RB Tyrone Tracy.
• DO NOT WEAR TIMBS BECAUSE YOUR FEET WILL HURT INSTANTLY
• The music alternative total was actually good, however we hit a stride throughout Nationwide crew practices. Hopefully we stick with it.

Tomorrow, full pads go on. Anticipate the depth to go up, and for extra folks to face out from Cellular.