The Real Forno Show: 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl recap

After host Tyler Forness spent time in Mobile, AL at the Senior Bowl, he breaks down everything that happened on The Real Forno Show

As we move forward in the 2024 NFL offseason, we reflect on what was at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL.

The most important part of Senior Bowl week for the media is watching practice. It gets everyone, including multiple small school players on the same playing field. The drills allow them to show what they have in one-on-one situations where the best man wins, allowing traits and ability to shine over everything else.

What stood out in Mobile? What players could end up being Minnesota Vikings?

We are here to break it all down and more on the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, airing Monday and Wednesday nights at 6 pm central on the Vikings 1st & SKOL YouTube channel.

Missouri RB Cody Schrader continues his incredible ascension with a strong Senior Bowl week

Missouri RB Cody Schrader continues his incredible ascension with a strong Senior Bowl week

There isn’t a much more undervalued group over the years than the running back position. Though, with two going in the first round last year, that could perhaps change in the coming years. While it’s unlikely we will see a first-round back in the 2024 draft, a few names have impressed early on in the pre-draft process. One of those names is former Missouri running back Cody Schrader.

Having an extremely productive year at Missouri, Schrader looked to follow that up with an impressive performance against top talent across the country. Not only did he succeed in impressing during practices leading up to the main event, Schrader showed off during the all-star game itself. While he was limited in his rushing, given he only had 12 yards on seven carries, Schrader really showed off his shiftiness in the passing attack, hauling in 54 yards on just five catches.

This is just another major step forward for Schrader’s quite frankly inspiring story. From a starter at division II Truman state to a walk on to Missouri where he became their top offensive weapon. It’s clear Schrader has a massive chip on his shoulder and the grit to make it to the next level. It’s early on but if Schrader continues his impressive rise he could find himself going within the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Purple Daily on Draft: Winners from Reese’s Senior Bowl

Who could be a Minnesota Vikings from the Reese’s Senior Bowl? The Purple Daily on Draft crew discussed in depth

The Minnesota Vikings were out in Mobile, AL in full force taking a look at all of the prospects at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi-Adofo-Mensah were on the field getting a close look at the quarterback prospects.

Seeing players going against their contemporaries is important, especially when they are from smaller schools. Guys like Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and New Hampshire running back Dylan Laube took advantage of the opportunity and showed that they belonged.

Who else stood out during the Senior Bowl? Host Tyler Forness was down in Mobile scouting all of the prospects and seeing who might be good members of the Vikings in 2024.

To finish off the show, the crew discusses the mock draft from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. Who did the Vikings take and how good of a fit is it?

All of that and more on the latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft, dropping every Monday afternoon on the Purple Daily YouTube channel.

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Texas’ Christian Jones, T’Vondre Sweat receive rave reviews from Senior Bowl

Offensive lineman Christian Jones and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat improved their draft stock at the Senior Bowl.

Texas offensive tackle Christian Jones and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat improved their draft stock significantly at the Senior Bowl over the last week. Continue reading “Texas’ Christian Jones, T’Vondre Sweat receive rave reviews from Senior Bowl”

10 standouts from 2024 Senior Bowl week

Here are 10 players who helped themselves for the NFL draft during Senior Bowl week.

The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl is over. On Saturday, the National team defeated the American team 16-7, and South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was named the MVP. Rattler played the first two series, completing all four passing attempts for 69 yards and a touchdown.

The game isn’t the most essential part of the week. It’s the weigh-ins, the three practices and the face time these prospects get with each of the 32 NFL teams. Every NFL team is represented in Mobile, Al. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in town for part of the week and he was certainly checking out Houston offensive Patrick Paul — and, of course, many others.

With the first portion of the road to the 2024 NFL draft over, we look at 10 prospects who helped themselves after a strong showing in Mobile.

10 potential Eagles NFL draft targets that stood out during the 2024 Senior Bowl

We’re looking at 10 potential Philadelphia Eagles NFL draft targets that stood out during the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl

The NFL draft starts in Mobile, Alabama, and as the Eagles and 29 other teams start figuring out a plan to reach the Super Bowl, coaches, scouts, and GMs have descended upon the most storied all-star game going today.

The National Team defeated the American Team, 16-7, in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the University of South Alabama campus.

The game capped off a week-long interview process, including three days of practices, for more than 100 of the 2024 NFL Draft’s top senior (and select underclassman) prospects.

With all eyes now on the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, here are ten potential Eagles draft targets that stood out.

How former Wisconsin Badgers performed in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl

How former Wisconsin Badgers performed in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl

The Wisconsin football program sent just two alumni to the Reese’s Senior Bowl this year — versatile offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini and long snapper Peter Bowden.

Bortolini made some headlines throughout the week with his work during the open practices. Bowden, on the other hand, flew more under the radar as there isn’t much focus paid to long snappers.

In the game itself, which took place earlier today, the National Team defeated the American Team 16-7. Bortolini and Bowden both were victorious on the National Team, Bortolini seeing time at both guard positions and center while Bowden snapped for several kicking situations.

Related: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten football programs after the 2023 season

Bortolini’s value is in his versatility and experience at multiple positions, so consider it a positive sign that he played all across the line during the game. I’m no draft expert, but it appears many are applying a ‘sleeper’ tag to his status.

Both former Badgers are sure to be in action during Wisconsin’s NFL Pro Day later next month.

Duck fans, NFL draft analysts react as Bo Nix, Evan Williams show out in Senior Bowl

Both Bo Nix and Evan Williams put on a show during the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday, drawing a nice reaction from Oregon Duck fans online.

It’s been a great week for former Oregon Ducks down in Mobile, Alabama while the Reese’s Senior Bowl practices went on, with many of the players improving their draft stock a ton leading up to April.

However, it was only quarterback Bo Nix and safety Evan Williams who ended up playing in the actual Senior Bowl on Saturday, with Jackson Powers-Johnson, Khyree Jackson, and Brandon Dorlus choosing to sit out for various reasons.

That didn’t stop the highlights from pouring in, though.

In just a couple of series under center, Nix was impressive, completing four of his five passes with a touchdown and only one incompletion that came on a perfectly thrown deep ball that was dropped.

Meanwhile, Williams was all over the field making tackles and he came up with a big-time interception in the first half as well.

Here’s how Oregon fans and NFL draft analysts reacted to the Oregon Ducks’ performances on Saturday afternoon.

Evan Williams, Jackson Powers-Johnson earn honors at Reese’s Senior Bowl

Oregon Ducks OL Jackson Powers-Johnson and S Evan Williams earned honors this week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The five Oregon Ducks who went on to play at the Reese’s Senior Bowl this week have certainly made good impressions.

On the offensive side of the ball, Bo Nix dazzled with his arm talent and accuracy, while Jackson Powers-Johnson boosted his draft stock as arguably the best interior offensive lineman in the class. Defensively, Brandon Dorlus displayed an array of dominant pass-rushing moves, while Khyree Jackson and Evan Williams locked things down in the secondary.

With the Senior Bowl officially kicking off on Saturday morning, airing on NFL Network, a pair of Ducks have been given honors from the past week of practice.

Williams was honored as the Defensive Specialist Player of the Week, which is an award voted on by players and coaches at the Senior Bowl.

Meanwhile, Powers-Johnson was named the Offensive Player of the Week by Pro Football Network, even though he left before the week was done with a mild hamstring injury.

Talk to folks on the ground or watching the tape from home, and there’s little disagreement that Jackson Powers-Johnson was the best offensive player in Mobile, Ala. The Oregon center only played for two practices, but that was all the 6’3″, 330-pound blocker needed to leave a lasting impression.

In 1-on-1s, playing at both guard and his natural position of center, Powers-Johnson was dominant — anchoring with violent hands, matching with athleticism, absorbing power with stellar leverage, and finishing with his trademark physicality.

We will see where the former Ducks end up getting drafted in April, but it’s fair to say all in attendance this week did a great job of improving their draft stock.

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10 NFL draft prospects whose stock rose during Senior Bowl week

Who were the biggest winners from the Reese’s Senior Bowl for the 2024 NFL Draft? Roman Wilson and Spencer Rattler highlight the group.

The 2024 NFL draft process isn’t just fun, but it’s also complex and in turn, fascinating.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the first of many different NFL draft events and it’s arguably the most important of them all. Jim Nagy and his team invite around 120 prospects to Mobile, AL for an all-star week filled with practices, media availability and the game itself of Saturday afternoon.

The most important part of the week for the media is watching practice. It gets everyone, including multiple small school players on the same playing field. The drills allow them to show what they have in one-on-one situations where the best man wins, allowing traits and ability to shine over everything else.

There were plenty of standouts across both teams, including some first round talents like UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu and Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell. While they helped their stocks, this list isn’t going to include players who have been projected in the first round. The real joy of Senior Bowl week is seeing players take a massive step forward in their process.

These 10 players that weren’t projected to be first round picks improved their stocks the most during the week.