Tag: Mobile

2025 Senior Bowl: Five prospects I’m most excited about watching

2025 Senior Bowl: Five prospects I’m most excited about watching this week in Mobile

One of the best weeks of the year is finally here with the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama! For me, this is my 7th season covering the event and it’s always such a surreal experience. From the talent on the field to bumping elbows with key personnel members of each NFL team, it’s always humbling.

As we move onto draft season, the Senior Bowl is the first step for the off-season. The players at this event get their first crack at trying to impress NFL decision makers. If there’s any struggles or concerns with a specific player, teams will adjust their draft boards accordingly. The same goes for the players that make a strong impression.

Now that my draft board is starting to take shape, here’s five prospects that I’m most excited about here in Mobile for the 2025 Senior Bowl!

Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr 

Not enough people are talking about Fannin as one of the better prospects in this draft or even at his position. Now, I’m not discrediting Colston Loveland from Michigan or Tyler Warren from Penn State but Fannin should be in the same category as both of them for the top tight end in this draft.

As for the talent at the Senior Bowl, Fannin is near the top for best players here. His production is off the charts with 117 receptions for over 1500 yards and 10 touchdowns. In addition to that, he’s only got a 2.2% drop rate and was asked to do a variety of things in the Falcons offense such as blocking, catching, passing and he even has 33 carries for five touchdowns in his career.

Teams will love his ability to threaten defenses vertically. Going up the seam, getting open and running after the catch is a great perk to his game. When running routes, he consistently dips his shoulders to avoid contact from defenders and it helps keep him clean as he looks to change direction in and out of his breaks. During the draft, he’ll only be 20 years old, so teams should be jumping at the chance to mold him into the next great tight end. Look for him to have a strong week in Mobile.

Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart

The Aggies have three defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl, and two of them have the first name Shemar. I’ll talk about one here and the other in a separate article. For starters, we’ve got to talk about Shemar Stewart. He’s listed at 6’6″ and 285 pounds and he screams first round talent.

Stewart has a nice blend of speed and power to his game but there’s an arsenal of moves that he uses and it’s very impressive. For example, you’ll find him take a post step and create separation with his inside arm but while maintaining that separation, he can counter inside or outside on the opposition.

 

The lack of production will be concerning — only 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in three seasons. However, teams will be chomping at the bit to try and develop his rare physical traits into something that is elite. Stewart will be labeled as one of the better prospects in Mobile, and he’s got a chance to solidify his status as a first-round pick.

USC RB Woody Marks 

There’s a lot of love for running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft and you can add USC running back Woody Marks to that list. Potentially, he’s one of the most underrated players in Mobile and in the entire draft. Highly productive during his 57 games played and five year collegiate career, we saw Marks really take off for USC this season.

After four seasons at Mississippi State, Marks transferred to the Trojans and saw his first season with over 1000 rushing yards. Most importantly, his production as a pass catcher didn’t decline. This season, he had 47 receptions for 321 yards.

 

Overall, Marks will be primarily viewed as a pass catcher. After all, he’s recorded 261 receptions for over 1500 yards in his career. But don’t let that fool you, he’s got good vision and burst to make defenders regret poor angles when he attempting to tackle him. In high school, he was on the track and field team and his PR for the 100-meter dash was 11.16 seconds as a junior. On his scouting report, I wrote down “open field nightmare” so we’ll see if he proves me right this week at the Senior Bowl.

Missouri OT Armand Membou

Just off studying some of the tape of each offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl, it appears that Armand Membou from Missouri is the best one in Mobile. It felt like he may go “under the radar” some with the love for other offensive tackles in this class, but that’s starting to change quickly. Through some of the limited measurements recorded so far for players at the Senior Bowl, Membou checked in at 6036, 332 and 3400 arms.

 

Membou was a 13-game starter at right tackle for Missouri this season. He’s got a thick frame with a strong lower half. He’s consistently square with his base in the run and also the pass game. For a player of his size, he moves well laterally when zone blocking. That lateral movement helps him reach block effectively but it also helps him follow or stay attached to a guard with his drag hand when blocking in zone.

There were times on tape that his foot speed would get tested against line stunts and blitzes. Additionally, his hand placement can hit wide in pass protection. Seeing how those aspects of his game improve throughout the week will be important.

Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas

During the draft process last year, I loved what I saw from Renardo Green at Florida State. Compared to the consensus, Green ranked relatively high for me and it’s trending in that same direction for his college teammate, Azareye’h Thomas.

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The Florida State corner is listed at 6’2″ and 198 pounds and really looks the part on the perimeter. He’s at his best when playing press-man and he ONLY gave up 94 total yards this season.

Playing with tremendous body control and fluidity, Thomas just always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His arm length is a bonus for how he can break up passes but jamming and redirecting receivers is what he does best. Teams searching for a boundary corner will be intrigued with Thomas’ skill set, and if all goes right, they should go from being intrigued to in love after the Senior Bowl.

Alabama TE Cam Latu receiving high praise at the Senior Bowl

Cam Latu recognized as a practice player of the week at the Senior Bowl

During his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide, it never felt like tight end [autotag]Cam Latu[/autotag] ever got the recognition he truly deserved. Latu always seemed to find the holes in the defense on key third downs or fall forwards to pick up an extra yard or two, and the fact is the Alabama offense didn’t look the same when he missed games this past fall.

This week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Latu has been recognized as one of the most outstanding players. Latu was voted the American team’s TE Practice player of the week by his peers.

Latu is certainly impressing the scouts in Mobile, and hopefully, he can sneak into a Day 2 draft pick.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players preparing for the 2023 NFL draft.

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SKOL Search: What can Vikings learn from Mobile?

The 2022 Senior Bowl was jam-packed with talent. Who should the Vikings keep an eye on?

The Senior Bowl is a fantastic event for many reasons, but the biggest reason is how much you can learn from this class. Over 100 players attend the event in Mobile to show off their skills and speak with teams. Throughout the week, players are put through drills to showcase their skills and traits.

The Senior Bowl staff, led by director Jim Nagy, has done a fantastic job not only finding players from high profile programs, but also standouts from the lower levels. These lower level guys usually have dominant tape, but this platform gives teams the ability to see them compete on an even playing field.

Players like Ali Marpet, Kyle Dugger and Carson Wentz have massively benefitted from being invited to Mobile.

When down in Mobile, there are a lot of different things you can take away from the event. Along with learning about the players, it’s also a major outlet for scouts and media to converse and learn more about what other teams think of the class and to hear what rumors are swirling.

After having been in Mobile this past week, here are the five biggest takeaways for the Minnesota Vikings.

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2022 Senior Bowl preview: Top prospects, biggest sleepers

To get you familiar with the Senior Bowl participants, here is a look at the top prospects and the ones who are flying under the radar.

The Senior Bowl is the biggest college football all-star game. This is the last game they will participate in before heading to the NFL Combine in February. It is also the last chance for league decision-makers to see prospects up close, going up against the best players in the country.

To get familiar with those partaking in the festivities in Mobile, AL, here is a look at the top prospects and the ones who are flying under the radar.

WATCH: Richard Sherman explains why the NFL is punishing Mac Jones

NFL veteran cornerback Richard sherman joins Cris Collinsworth on his podcast and explains why Mac Jones is being punished by the NFL.

Former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones only had one full season as the starter, but that was all he needed to bring another national championship to Tuscaloosa and raise his draft value to an early first-round pick.

Jones has the arm, the accuracy and the leadership, among many other qualities. However, he is continuously knocked for his lack of mobility.

Sure, he’s not as quick or elusive as Trevor Lawrence or others, but neither is Tom Brady, and he just won Super Bowl No. 7.

NFL veteran cornerback Richard Sherman joined Cris Collinsworth’s PFF podcast to dicuss how Jones is being punished by the NFL for not being mobile.

He has high praise for the Alabama product, but calls out NFL front offices for lowering his value based on that evaluation.

‘Good to have both’: Western Kentucky women claim first post-COVID Division I win

Not only is Western Kentucky competing, but the Hilltoppers logged the first Division I win post-COVID stoppage at the USA Intercollegiate.

Most college golf coaches (maybe every college golf coach?) know the uncertainty Adam Gary faced this summer. Would his Western Kentucky team play in the fall or wouldn’t it? Would he get all his players back? The answers depended on the week.

For Gary, it felt like the stars had aligned in Mobile, Alabama, on Monday. Not only is Western Kentucky competing, but the Hilltoppers logged the first post-COVID Division I win. The team finished nine shots ahead of the field at the USA Intercollegiate.

Afterward they piled in the van for the eight-hour drive back north to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Highway miles are a small price to pay, as far as Gary is concerned.

“I don’t know which is better, winning or being back playing golf after this break, but man it’s really good to have both,” Gary said.

Scores: USA Intercollegiate

Western Kentucky competes in Conference USA, which left it up to individual institutions to decide whether or not fall sports would play. Gary credits a supportive athletic director for letting the season go on.

It’s a particularly good thing considering that Gary thinks he might have one of the strongest teams of his seven-year tenure. A 6-under 858 total at Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course was the Hilltoppers’ second-best 54-hole total in program history. This is Gary’s eighth career title at Western Kentucky, making him the winningest coach in program history.

“It was a total team effort really from top to bottom,” Gary said.

Western Kentucky placed three players in the top 10 at the six-team USA Intercollegiate. Gary brought two freshmen to Mobile – Rachel Rich and Rylea Marcum, winner of the AJGA Justin Thomas Junior Championship last month. They had perhaps less rust to knock off than their older teammates – many juniors tournaments carried on throughout the summer – and Marcum played second individually in Mobile with her 5 under total.

South Alabama junior Julie Hovland won the individual title with a remarkable 12 under performance for 54 holes, which included a closing 66.

At this point, it remains a privilege simply to compete.

“I felt like we really couldn’t lose because we were back playing,” Gary said. “There are not many teams in the country that are going to have this opportunity this fall. To help us learn and prepare for the spring, I always felt like you learn more form a tournament than you do at home practicing.”

Every player in the field had to pass a COVID test within 72 hours of the start of the tournament. Players used golf carts (riding as singles) and all three rounds began by tee time as opposed to shotgun to limit crowding at the practice facilities.

Flagsticks remained in the hole and players played the ball up in bunkers, considering there were no rakes.

The season will continue to look different in many ways and require an extra checklist – from remembering to bring your mask in case you need to enter an indoor area to knowing whether or not a hotel is offering a continental breakfast.

“I felt safe the entire time,” Gary said. “My team did also. It’s just good to be back.”

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How to Watch the 2020 Senior Bowl Featuring Four Former Notre Dame Stars

Care to watch Chase Claypool, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman or Troy Pride, Jr. one more time in their iconic Notre Dame helmets?

Care to watch Chase Claypool, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman or Troy Pride, Jr. one more time in their iconic Notre Dame helmets?

Saturday afternoon is your chance as all four will be participating in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl that we’ve kept an eye on for you all week long.

The Senior Bowl kicks off at 2:30 pm E.T. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama and can be seen on NFL Network.

Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals will be the head coach for the North team while Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions will coach the South.

Earlier this week each Claypool, Elliott and Pride had impressive showings at their respective positions.

The Cincinnati Bengals hold the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft but their most likely selection, Joe Burrow of LSU, will not be in attendance.

2020 Senior Bowl: Winners, losers from Day 1 practices

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out his winners and losers from Day 1 of the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The 2020 Senior Bowl kicked off on Tuesday with the North and South teams starting their first day of practices.

Which players impressed? Which players disappointed?

Here are my picks for the the biggest winners and losers from Tuesday’s on-field action:

Winner – Javon Kinlaw | DT | South Carolina

Labeled as a projected top-20 going into the week, there was only so much to gain for Kinlaw. Many were wondering why he decided to still play this week despite being slotted to go high in the upcoming draft, and he said that he wanted to just come out and compete in his presser on Monday night.

Compete might be an understatement to describe Kinlaw’s showing on Tuesday afternoon, as he dominated some of the top interior offensive linemen. He used his power, length and explosive quickness to get into the backfield on every single.

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Notre Dame Captain Headed to Senior Bowl

The Reese’s Senior Bowl announced Tuesday night that senior-captain, safety Jalen Elliott will participate in the 2020 Senior Bowl at the conclusion of this college football season. We are proud to announce @NDFootball DB Jalen Elliott ( @Jae_Uno_) …

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The Reese’s Senior Bowl announced Tuesday night that senior-captain, safety Jalen Elliott will participate in the 2020 Senior Bowl at the conclusion of this college football season.

Elliott has started all nine games this season and recorded 35 tackles along the way while also picking off a pass against New Mexico and Bowling Green, both.  He also intercepted four passes during Notre Dame’s 12-0 regular season in 2018.

The Lloyd C. Bird High School (Virginia) product was recruited as a three-star safety in the 2016 class and has appeared in all 47 Notre Dame games since stepping foot on campus for the first time as a student-athlete back in 2016.

He will undoubtedly be missed next year, although Kyle Hamilton’s start and Isaiah Pryor’s recent commitment makes you feel pretty good about where the safety position will be headed into 2020.