The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off this week down in Mobile, Alabama, pitting over 100 of the nation’s top draft-eligible players against one another during a week of practice and game on Saturday. The Big Ten conference will be well represented at the event, including several standouts on the offensive side of the football.
Here are the players from the conference that are set to compete, including where they are currently viewed as prospects. It’s going to be a huge week, with potential for players to rise or fall.
PASS CATCHERS
It isn’t a long list when you talk about Big Ten pass catchers who will be down in Mobile. There are zero quarterbacks and no running backs from the conference heading to Mobile, which is pretty crazy to think about.
There is only one wide receiver, although it’s a nice one in former Michigan star Roman Wilson. He had a breakout 2023 campaign, leading the National Champs in receiving. He will be joined by his former teammate, tight end AJ Barner. The 6-6, 250-pound tight end is considered one of the best blocking tight ends in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
Despite sharing the football with future high-round draft pick Colston Loveland, Barner still had his moments in that department. He finished the 2023 season with 22 receptions for 249 yards and a touchdown.
It is less than a stellar 2024 tight end class, both Theo Johnson (Penn State) and Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota) have a chance to rise significantly. Johnson is one of the more physically gifted tight ends in the 2024 class. At around 6-6 and 250 pounds, he is expected to run in the 4.4s in the 40-yard dash when he tests. He broke Mike Gesicki’s 40-yard dash record at Penn State this past offseason, clocking a personal best of 4.51 seconds.
Spann-Ford is too often forgotten in this class, mostly due to a slow start of the 2023 season, a part of one of the worst pass offenses in the country. He is, however, still a very talented tight end prospect. At 6-7 and 265 pounds, Spann-Ford moves surprisingly well and brings a huge catch radius to the table. He is also one of the more high-upside blockers in the class.
Here are the Big Ten pass catchers set to compete at the event:
Roman Wilson (Michigan)
AJ Barner (Michigan)
Theo Johnson (Penn State)
Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota)
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
As a conference that prides itself in toughness and physicality, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the Big Ten will be well-represented on the offensive. In total, there will be five offensive lineman representatives, including two from the national champs.
Former Wolverines LaDarius Henderson and Trevor Keegan will be in attendance. Henderson is an impressive athlete with long arms up front, originally starting his career at Arizona State. He has also played both offensive tackle and inside at guard during his career, which will be appealing to NFL scouts.
For Kegan, there is nothing flashy about him. He is a mauling presence who really flourished in the Michigan style. Him being isolated, a little more individual, and working in space will put his upside to the test.
Heading into the season, Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams was considered one of the top offensive linemen potentially in the 2024 class. Unfortunately, he was needed at right tackle by the Illini, which made his firm a bit underwhelming as a senior. He will be back to his natural position inside at guard this week.
Former Wisconsin center Tanor Bortini and Maryland offensive tackle Delmar Glaze head into the week with an opportunity to rise. Both players are physically gifted but don’t currently have a ton of hype from the media side. That could change after this week of practice.
Here are the Big Ten pass catchers set to compete at the event:
Isaiah Adams (Illinois)
Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin)
Delmar Glaze (Maryland)
LaDarius Henderson (Michigan)
Trevor Keegan (Michigan)