The Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, offers something that most college All-Star games do not have.
For one, the entire coaching staffs of both squads are current NFL coaches. (Wouldn’t it be nice
if the Cleveland Browns had a head coach, at least.) Another aspect is that the entire practice week is attended by approximately 900 scouts and coaches from the NFL, CFL, and UFL. In addition, there are credentials issued to several indoor football league teams.
About 1,100 full media members are in attendance for the practice week. Every aspect of practices, the game, equipment, and uniforms resembles an NFL contest with strict adherence to NFL rules. The entire week is like an NFL convention. Every NFL head coach, GM, and player personnel director from every club is in Mobile for the week. And even an owner or two.
And lastly, the Senior Bowl doesn’t just invite a bunch of college players for a single game. They invite most of the best players in the nation to compete. Which means, if a receiver can go up against some of the best defensive backs from this year’s college ranks, then his draft stock will rise.
A great week of practice at the Senior Bowl will elevate a player’s draft stock from one good week. It’s just that simple. So, blue-chip players come and play, work hard, and play harder for the opportunity to shine in front of most of the NFL.
This year’s Senior Bowl has a new sponsor, Panini America, makers of sports and non-sports trading cards.
The game will air live on NFL Network, Saturday, January 31, 2026, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern). It is played at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama. It can be heard on Sirius XM and FOX Sports radio channels locally in most markets.
Two squads are divided up into National and American, another NFL tradition. To see this year’s rosters, click the above link, then select the “Game” tab, then “Game Roster.”
In addition, both practices are being broadcast live for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday sessions on NFL Network beginning around 2:00 p.m. (Eastern). These are the padded drills. Fridays are just helmet and cleats walk-throughs.
Every year, half of the first round and half of the second round have played in the Senior Bowl. It is rare for a player projected in the Top-15 to appear because a bad week of practice will most likely drop his draft status, but on occasion, this does happen.
QB Baker Mayfield was chosen first overall in 2018 and played in that year’s game. Another QB, Justin Herbert, was the MVP of the 2020 contest. EDGE rusher Von Miller was projected to go around the 15th pick, had a great Senior Bowl week in 2011, and was then taken second overall by the Denver Broncos.
The game has been a hotbed for future NFL superstars and Hall of Fame members such as Dan Marino, Joe Namath, Mean Joe Green, Walter Payton, Jerry Kramer, Sam Huff, Franco Harris, Bo Jackson, Brett Favre, Doak Walker, Puka Nacua, Michael Strahan, Clay Matthews, Jaxson Dart, Cooper Cupp, Brian Urlacher, Curtis Martin, Ray Nitschke, Lynn Swann, Ozzie Newsome, and Philip Rivers, to name a few.
Former Browns head coach Paul Brown coached many of these games as he was able to get to know players on a personal note. Last year’s contest featured Cleveland special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone as one of the roster’s head coaches.
In last year’s game, 10 players were taken in the first round who participated. A total of 110 picks from the draft played in the game, representing 43% of the entire draft process.
Each year, the game features six quarterbacks. Normally, half is well-known. This year’s game is highlighted by: Arkansas’ Taylen Green, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Baylor’s Sawyer Roberson, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Cole Payton from D-2 2024 National Champion North Dakota State, and Luke Altmyer of Illinois.
The Senior Bowl is in full swing. Dawgs By Nature’s Barry Shuck is at the Senior Bowl this week, taking notes, watching position battles, and interviewing players who are in a position of need for the Browns.
Last year, Shuck interviewed two players who ended up being drafted by Cleveland: TE Harold Fannin and QB Dillon Gabriel.
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One position group the Browns will definitely draft a player, or two, is the offensive line. This year’s offensive tackle class is very strong, and there are some good offensive guards available as well in every round.
Here at the Senior Bowl, the talent is thick along the offensive line. One prospect that was on the watch list was OG Emmanuel Pregnon out of Oregon, who used to block for Browns QB Dillon Gabriel. He was unranked coming out of high school and has become a great prospect with a ranking of #26, which is perfect for Cleveland’s second first-round pick. For some reason, Pregnon’s name was scratched from the week’s roster. Haven’t been able to find out what happened.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia measured out at 5’-9 7/8” tall and 198 pounds. He looks it too, in person. His college media guide states 6’-0”, 207. Auburn OT Jeremiah Wright weighed in at 340 pounds. They will have a hard time feeding him this week. He is ranked #273 while the draft only has 257 picks.
The defensive end group is outstanding here. Impressed with Iowa DE Max Llewellyn, although he is a bit lean, sitting at 255 pounds. Did well in the 1-on-1s against the offensive linemen. EDGE T.J. Parker of Clemson has a great first step and violent hands. He is ranked #29, close to where Cleveland is picking in the bottom of the first-round. He has been consistent with getting separation. So far, he is the best defensive lineman.
DT Lee Hunter from Texas Tech is a huge man at 320 pounds, and so far, nobody has been able to move him, so most offensive linemen just push and grunt, and as long as he doesn’t penetrate, they seem to accept this. Very strong man-child. Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton had great bend off the edge. He did well in the running drills, so he’s a complete player. DT Caleb Banks from Florida looks really good and is a huge man, standing 6’-6” and a beefy 330. Natural power and a strong young man. Has an explosive get-off for such a big dude.
Minnesota DT Deven Eastern is projected as a Day 3 prospect, but is giving these guards and centers fits. He is showing he can shed blocks with surprising quickness. Looks like he needs to improve his hand technique and maybe refine his leverage. DE Vincent Anthony, Jr. of Duke has been a roller coaster. His inside moves aren’t working, but he does well around the outside. A bit on the light side at 246 pounds, but he has a very good get-off. Needs a more developed counter-move collection. Missouri DE Zion Young looks good on misdirection, and his hand-fighting techniques are effective. Ranked #52 so late second round. He is a solid player who can slide inside.
In the defensive backfield, CB Colton Hood from Tennessee had a great day. Was not beaten once in the 1-on-1s. His 4.43 speed was on full display today. Very sound technique with very good ball skills. Had the advantage of only guarding one receiver today, but was not fooled by shoulder dips and head bobs. Worked hard at contesting catch situations. Will be a late first-round pick and could reach into the teens.
As far as the running back room, I was impressed with Indiana RB Kaelon Black’s style. He is a productive back. He can dart to a hole as it opens up and decides pretty quickly. Has nice hands as well. Impressive jump-cut ability and is faster than you think. He just screams “big play threat” on every snap. Shifty moves by RB Kaytron Allen of Penn State in the 7-on-7s, and he could be a good find in the fourth round. Has shown good patience before hitting holes with his one-cut ability.
Iowa OT Gennings Dunker is absolutely dominant so far. He got reps at guard and looked very natural there despite playing 37 college games at right tackle with 34” arms. He is ranked #37 and would be a perfect second-round choice. Is showing good footwork and is a bit nasty. Iowa always breeds good offensive linemen, and Dunker looks like a good one already. His teammate, OG Beau Stephens, is having a rough time after getting plastered by Clemson DE Parker. So far, defenders have been overwhelming him.
Texas A&M OT Trey Zuhn needs more power and to get his feet planted better. He has been knocked down without squaring up. He is known for being an excellent pass blocker, though. OG Jalen Farmer from Kentucky looks pretty good, especially in the 7-on-7s. Versatility may be an issue, as he has always played on the right side. He may be a name to watch as he attacks nearly every rep with good determination.
Another good inside lineman who looked good was OG Keylan Rutledge of Georgia Tech, ranked #136. Wide body who can play both sides and took snaps at center for a spell. Versatility within the offensive line is a must. Exceptional arm length and was not bull rushed. Relentless effort from this kid, and he was a finisher. Right now, a fourth-rounder who should bounce up a round. Played all three interior lineman positions and finished with a pancake. OG Sam Hecht from Kansas State looked good at times and did a great job of remaining attached.
Last year’s QB room was all the rage with Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Shough, and Dillon Gabriel. This year, all of the attention has been focused on LSU signalcaller Garrett Nussmeier. But who stole the show on the first day of practice was North Dakota State QB Cole Payton. He has a Day 3 ranking, but Dart last year was ranked in the fourth round and, after a stellar Senior Bowl week, was selected in Round 1. Payton can throw the ball. He is an excellent runner and showed quite a bit today, as the pocket collapsed numerous times. Very accurate with great mobility. Maybe he will crawl into the second round after this week.
The receivers look good so far. WR Ted Hurst from Georgia State has great height (6’-3”) and runs very fluid routes. Has a ranking of #144, but can elevate that stock if he continues to do well here this week. Great speed (4.48) and worked the sidelines well. Good jump ball skills and caught one ball one-handed today. He looks very physical, too. WR Lewis Bond of Boston College had some good moments.
Another good player was WR Malachi Fields of Notre Dame. Again, great height (6’-4”) with exceptional catch point. Another physical guy who would fight through traffic jams and showed some understanding of leverage against the zone coverage he was facing. Missouri WR Kevin Coleman, Jr. had his ups and downs, but overall looked solid. Looks like a crafty slot guy. He fielded punts and did well on a day that had some wind shifts and was pretty breezy. Good body control with strong hands.
Baylor WR Josh Cameron has soft hands and will find the soft spots in the zone. Not blazing speed, but gets the job done and doesn’t miss catches. He was a reliable target all day. Also liked WR Reggie Virgil of Texas Tech, who will fight for contested catches. Good ball tracking ability as well on several wild throws. Some good plays by WR Ty Montgomery of a small school, John Carroll.
If you haven’t heard of this player, write down his name: TE Tanner Koziol from Houston. For one, he is 6’-7”. For another, he is a great blocker. He is currently ranked a Day 3 player, but if he continues his excellence in practices, he may find Round 3 his new home. Has no issue with contested catches and has been using his frame for good separation. Nice route runner.
