One of the most important events on the National Football League calendar is the Senior Bowl. Held the week after the conference championship games, it is the true beginning of the NFL draft cycle.
Not only do scouts and analysts like us get to see over 100 draft prospects in one place competing against each other, but it’s also an opportunity for analysts and personnel alike to get together and have discussions about a number of topics.
As we look forward to this year’s Senior Bowl, managing editor Tyler Forness will be there in person to break everything down.
During the week, these 10 players on the National Team’s offense are worth keeping your eye on.
Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
In a really deep and intriguing offensive line class, Morgan is a player that could be used in multiple ways at the next level. Some want to move him to guard but he was a stalwart left tackle with ample length and size to play the position at the next level. His play at tackle could go a long way to determining if he will play that position in the NFL.
Arizona WR Jacob Cowing
Last year, Tank Dell took over the Senior Bowl with his route running prowess, creating separation with explosion and technique. Could Cowing be the next guy to take Mobile by storm? After being a deep threat at UTEP, Cowing became more of a nuanced route runner for the Wildcats. He might be mainly a slot at the next level, but a great week could prove to teams he is ready for that next step.
Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley
Corley is going to be a fascinating player to watch in Mobile. He is the same archetype as San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel and teams that want that style of player are going to fall in love with Corley. He is a monster at forcing missed tackles and eating up yards with the ball in open space. The real question is how good his route running is. Coming from the air raid, his route tree wasn’t expansive so answering that question is going to be important for him.
Florida WR Ricky Pearsall
Florida has produced some interesting wide receiver prospects over the last few years and Pearsall might be the best of the bunch. After transferring from Arizona State, Pearsall became the do-it-all receiver for the Gators and displayed great hands this season, including arguably the catch of the year against Charlotte. While his projection is mainly in the slot, his size could allow him to play on the outside.
North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
Everybody knows that Walker is a down the field threat with his size and speed but there are questions about the rest of his game. After playing just half a season at North Carolina, there was plenty that was good but the biggest question is his route running and separation ability. With his size and speed, is that enough for him to thrive in the NFL?
Minnesota TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
The tight end class isn’t the strongest one but there are some interesting prospects in this group. One of them is Spann-Ford who is tall and lanky but is a very physical blocker in the running game. Is he a capable enough receiver for the next level to be a viable option on early day three? Will his height at 6’7″ in modern NFL offenses be an issue with leverage? The Senior Bowl will answer those questions.
New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube
The Senior Bowl loves to bring small school guys to the game every year and Laube is the really fascinating one. A running back at New Hampshire, Laube isn’t just a running back. They used him in the slot as a true receiver, even throwing him routes like slot fades and go’s with consistency. There are questions about his athleticism being enough for the NFL and playing well in Mobile will do a lot for his draft stock.
South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis
The Jackrabbits just repeated as FCS National Champions and Davis was a major catalyst in that effort. Davis averaged 6.7 yards per carry in 2023 to pair with 1,578 yards and 18 touchdowns while being the driving force in getting to Frisco the last two years. Can he be a true dual-threat as a running back?
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
We have discussed the idea of selecting Penix multiple times throughout the last month and it’s been an interesting discussion each time. Penix had a great game against Texas but struggled against Michigan when the defensive line took over the game and made things very difficult for him. It didn’t help that he had an apparent rib injury during the game. With his injury history, this is going to be a big week for him to prove that he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Oregon QB Bo Nix
Nix has a lot to prove in Mobile. The last time that Nix played a football game in Alabama, he struggled playing for Auburn and broke his ankle against Mississippi State and made the move to Eugene where he rehabbed his college career. While the numbers look great for Nix, he still struggles to attack down the field and process information. A really good week could do wonders for him, especially playing on the same team as Penix.
