It was a cold, windy day down in Mobile, Alabama for the 2026 Senior Bowl. After a long week of practices, interviews, and fanfare, it was finally time to play some football. Here are the major takeaways
from the game.
Only one quarterback is worth consideration
RP: If you were hoping for some fireworks on offense today, you were certainly left wanting by Saturday’s performances. The victorious American team put up 14 points in the first quarter, 17 by the half, but were shutout in the second half. Meanwhile, the National squad was blanked until the final quarter, when they managed to scrouge together nine points to avoid a shutout.
Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was the best performer during the week of practices, and that continued on game day. Once thought to be a future first-round pick, Nussmeier and LSU had a disappointing 7-6. To make matters worse, the quarterback’s season ended prematurely after it became clear he would not be able to play through a core injury. This week in Mobile was a chance for him to rehab some of his draft stock, and to his credit, he made the most of it.
Nussmeier went 5-8 passing for 57 yards, scored a rushing touchdown on a read option near the goalline, and completed a pass to Notre Dame’s Malachai Fields for a 2-point conversion. Nussmeier did have an interception in the game, but that’s misleading if you only look at the box score. The turnover came on a play where he hit a pretty pass in the seam to his tight end, but for whatever reason, the ball went through his intended target’s hands and into the arms of a trailing defensive back.
Nussmeier’s performance was enough to earn him the MVP for the game. Meanwhile, the rest of the quarterbacks were largely ineffective. Diego Pavia ended the day with the most passing yards (77), but he took several sacks, and his best highlight was forcing a fumble on a defender who had scooped up a fumble from the offense. He also got most of those yards after a second playing stint in the second half, whereas Nussmeier’s day was done by the mid-second quarter.
Taylen Green got to show his legs some, but he finished with a net -12 rushing yards and attempted a wild cross-body throw on a scramble drill that was nearly picked.
The running backs put on a show
JB: It is a wide open running back class for the 2026 NFL Draft. After Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love inevitably gets selected on night one, it is truly anyones guess as to the order the rest of the backs get selected. Several guys did their best to show teams why they deserve consideration this coming April.
Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott was the one who stuck out the most to me. After a few injury riddled seasons and lack luster production, Ott’s draft stock was uncertain coming into the week in Mobile, but a few solid practices and his performance in today’s game should have people on notice.
Ott only carried the ball 21 times this past season at Oklahoma. He looked patient and decisive on his eight carries to collect 42 yards on the ground. Ott has the potential to be a much better professional player than he was in college if he can stay on the field. His stock should only continue to rise with a solid combine performance.
Indiana running back Kaelon Black also tallied eight carries but gained 45 yards to just edge out Ott for the games leading rusher. Black arrived in mobile just a week after winning the CFP National Championship with the Hoosiers. Black played more football this year than any other back in Mobile, and put together a solid game after an impressive 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season. His arrow will also continue to point up after the combine. It’s a fun class to grab a late-round running back with massive potential like Ott and Black.
Defense showing out
RP: Despite some of the week’s top defensive performers skipping town — namely, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez and Lee Hunter, as well as Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis — there was still plenty of talent on that side of the ball for both teams. All told, there were eight sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles in this game.
Western Michigan edge Nadame Tucker led the way with two sacks and three tackles for loss. Tucker is an interesting prospect who had a solid week of practices, but is an older prospect. He’ll turn 26 before next season begins, so while I expect him to be drafted no sooner than Day 3, I’m curious how high he might climb on draft boards if he tests well athletically.
Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher was easily the third-best linebacker this week behind Rodriguez and Louis, and there was plenty of buzz this week that he has likely increased his draft stock from a late Day 3 pick to somewhere closer to the middle rounds. He finished the day with 10 tackles, the most of any player.
The lights were too bright for the tight ends
JB: I talked about how impressed I was with the overall body of work the tight end room here in Mobile put together this week in practice in our notebook from Thursday. If you watched the game today you would have though that I was lying.
Stanford’s Sam Roush who has demonstrated his receiving ability all week long in practice dropped an easy one with a good opportunity for some yards after the catch early in the contest. Unfortunately for Roush, this was his only target of the contest, but is still someone to keep your eye on as the combine quickly approaches.
Wyoming’s John Michael Gyllenborg also dropped an easy one from the game’s MVP Garrett Nussmeier that resulted in an interception. Later in the game Gyllenborg caught a pass for six yards to even out his stat line. Alabama’s Josh Cuevas also caught a pass for six yards, but that is all we saw from the tight ends after an impressive week of practice.
Bits and bobs
- Michigan’s Donaven McCulley was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster after missing the week of practices. The 6’4 wideout wound up having the most productive receiving day, securing all four of his targets for 50 yards. He was recently extended an invite to the Combine. – RP
- I was disappointed to not even see a target for USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane after his performances in practice. Lane demonstrated that his route running has become much more refined over the last year. Lane is certainly someone that could be on the Steelers radar given their need for multiple receivers, regardless of who the quarterback is next season. – JB
- Watching Taylen Green was a lot of fun. He has chaotic tendencies in his game, and no play better exemplified that than when he attempted a cross body throw to his left while rolling to his right in an attempt to connect with Georgia State standout Ted Hurst. Lucky for Green, the pass was not intercepted although it probably should have been. When Green is rolling, there aren’t a lot of linebackers who can beat him to the edge. Depending on what situation he lands in, he could be a fun player to watch develop. – JB
- It was a strong showing for several running backs today, especially on the American team. Four different American backs averaged more than 5.0-YPC: Ott (5.3), Black (5.6), Virginia’s J’Mari Taylor (3-41, 13.7), and Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr. (5-26, 5.2). Kentucky’s Seth McGowan (4-35, 8.8) also managed the feat, though most of his yardage came on a single 29-yard carry. – RP
