Senior Bowl Day 3 Risers

The Senior Bowl practices have concluded and the final day ended with a triumphant and chaotic finale. Who rose their stock in their last chance to...

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Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt

Kyle Louis has been one of the best players all week in Mobile, and has been fiercely competing with Jacob Rodriguez for best Senior Bowl LB. The hybrid WLB/SS has been predictably phenomenal in coverage reps and 1 on 1 drills, but has also displayed an impressive ability to find and shoot through gaps in the run.

The combination of range, fluidity, instincts, and closing burst (which can create some major pop at the hit point when needed) all come together for a prospect who is now firmly in the Day 2 Draft Grades across most NFL Teams.

Bud Clark, S, TCU

Bud Clark’s ball skills were hardly a secret heading into Mobile. His 15 INTs with the Horned Frogs is clearly no fluke. The TCU veteran Safety has displayed strong sideline to sideline range, quick hips and a smooth backpedal in man reps, and has made play after play on the ball.

He might not be the biggest player, but he makes up for his lightweight with intensity and physicality. Clark was the Safety that traveled the most distance at the Senior Bowl per Zebra Analytics, and flew across the field from Deep Single High Free Safety, to in the Box as a Strong Safety, and as a nickel Corner. The 6 year TCU Safety has clearly refined his instincts and versatility over the years to be a weapon for a secondary, and has raised his stock significantly this week.

Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina

Dixon was going to be a stock down player after his first two days in Mobile. There were rough reps on both one on ones and in team drills, getting either Mossed or vertically stacked deep. But Day 3 was a giant improvement for the Tar Heel.

This above INT against a comeback route was one of the best plays of the day and got the entire National Team hyped up as a scrimmage sealing pick. On 1 on 1s in the Redzone or inside the 10 and 5, Dixon was physical and mirrored excellently against the best WRs on his team, not allowing a single TD. That bounce-back saved his stock and should keep him holding steady overall.

Owen Heinecke, LB, Oklahoma

Heinecke made the news yesterday with the controversial NCAA ruling that he wouldn’t be granted a 4th year of football eligibility due to playing lacrosse at Ohio State for 3 games in 2021; forcing him to enter to the 2026 Draft class. Heinecke seems to have quickly embraced being a part of this class, as he had his best day of practice.

His instincts in sniffing out the screen and plugging holes in the run game were impressive on Day 3, and on 1 on 1s in redzone work he showed nice ball skills and mirroring Tight Ends or Running Backs to create deflection opportunities.

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

There might not be a more physically impressive prospect in Mobile than Banks. The towering 6’5 and 335 lb. DT has some of the most lean muscle on his frame that I’ve seen for a 330+ lb player. His power profile is sensational, and his great flexibility, explosive burst off the line, rapid feet, and active hands have been a tough matchup to deal with in practice and 1 on 1s.

Pair all of his physical gifts with 35” arms and most interior offensive linemen will struggle to even get into his pads. I’ve been very high on Banks despite his lack of 2025 stats, but he might have secured a top half of the 1st Round pick for himself in Mobile.

He even ended the last practice with a surprise catch on a punt drill that was initially designed for coaches and staff to try to field punts, but the JUGs Machine was a little off center and sent the last two balls too far to the right, hitting one unfortunate teammate in the head (thankfully Keyshaun Elliot is okay afterwards). After trying to correct the trajectory, the final ball went right to the edge of the crowd of players, where Caleb Banks ripped it from a coaches hands at the catch point to, for a lack of a better term, intercept a punt. Safe to say there was a loud and raucous celebration afterwards on the field as Banks stormed triumphantly into the end zone to try to keep the ball from the coach with teammates draped around him in jubilation and laughter.

That’s certainly one way to end a Senior Bowl week of practices, and one of the more entertaining finales I’ve seen.

Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke

Chandler Rivers has a nice day in the Redzone drills, contesting multiple catch attempts against larger Wide Receivers. His quick and active hands in coverage were an asset, and he was disciplined in his eyes on team drills to read QBs in zone and had a nice press technique as well.

He has a nice case to be a top 75 pick in the draft.

Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati

If the Colts want to add another Bearcat Wide Receiver to their room as soon as possible, Cyrus Allen has been a fun watch in Mobile that has surprised onlookers with his route running and hands. He had several good reps throughout the week, but on Day 3 he was able to show off a sensational body control on top of his route running prowess.

One of the most consistent separators in team drills at Mobile, Cyrus has earned much more attention for his performance. It’s easy to see why he got 13 TDs this year, Allen is almost always open.

Max Llewellyn, DE, Iowa

Llewellyn might not have been the biggest name entering the Senior Bowl, commonly being drafted in mocks in Round 6-7 range. But he is moving up for the Day 3 draft boards with constant wins with his spin move.

The leader of the Hawkeye’s Defensive Line, Llewellyn showed off a fun combination of length, burst, and grace with his patented spin move throughout the week, but on Day 3 he was especially impactful with at least 4 pressures in team periods inside and outside.

Expect him to go early on Day 3.

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

How about another spin move winner in the class? I’m feeling sentimental for the days of that move dominating Colts opponents, and Gracen Halton has been doing very well throughout the week to make a case for another Day 2 Defensive Tackle prospect.

The 6’2 and 292 lb. DT is on the smaller side for a DT, but he wins with surprising violence in his hands and a strong finesse move package. He can shoot gaps very well and has been a frequent visitor of backfields in Mobile.