MOBILE, Alabama — The 2025 Senior Bowl is underway, with the primary day of observe within the books. A number of notable gamers ended up dropping out of the occasion for varied unknown causes, however there have been nonetheless loads of spectacular performances to open up the week.
Regardless of the record-breaking snow in Cell only a week in the past, it was a lovely, sunny day with a powerful turnout of media people to cowl the occasion. Like at all times, there was a powerful turnout from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision-makers, too.
Johnathan Heitritter and Efram Geller joined me on this 12 months’s journey to offer you each day updates, participant interviews, and dwell observations on X.
ROSS MCCORKLE’S REPORT
Our group of three break up the place teams up, and we are going to rotate all through the three days of observe. As I usually love to do, I spent the primary day getting a superb have a look at the massive guys within the trenches. Because it seems, that’s precisely what Mike Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin have been doing, too.
Tomlin went proper over to the line of defense and caught round there for a superb chunk of observe, and Austin did just about the identical. The line of defense group is broadly considered one of many strongest place teams on this draft.
Right here, Tomlin is nearly as shut as potential to the line of defense drills.
Together with Tomlin and Austin, OC Arthur Smith and GM Omar Khan have been current. For what it’s price, I didn’t spot assistant GM Andy Weidl. He might be a part of later within the week.
NATIONAL TEAM
– Oregon DL Jamaree Caldwell might not have a ton of polished go rush strikes or counters, however his bull rush is sort of unfair. He was wanting nice in people, one-on-one, and group at present.
– FSU DL Joshua Farmer gave offensive linemen every kind of points in group classes and one-on-ones. He’s very fast for a man his dimension and confirmed violence in his arms with extraordinarily lengthy arms. He was strolling offensive linemen proper again into the pocket. His motor runs pink scorching.
– UCLA EDGE Olu Oladejo has a really strong body and instantly stood out as the largest winner of one-on-ones. His actions are explosive, and his pass-rush arsenal appears to be fairly polished. He didn’t have a lot buzz coming into Cell, however he definitely will strolling out.
– Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. stood out among the many Nationwide Workforce tackles. He was capable of shut down energy strikes and velocity rushes. I didn’t see any weaknesses through the one-on-one session.
– Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson had the peak to be a 5-tech, possibly, however his weight mainly disqualifies him from consideration there. He will likely be an EDGE or a 4-3 DE, and he had a very tough day one of many Senior Bowl. He was getting tossed round and misplaced his ft a number of occasions in one-on-ones.
– Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel might need been the best-looking quarterback of the day on both group. I didn’t focus a lot on this group, however he was correct, threw with anticipation, and pushed the ball down the sphere properly. He would have had the play of the day, however it was dropped deep (I consider by WR Jayden Higgins).
– Iowa DL Yahya Black has an unlimited body and really lengthy arms, however he was a bit cold and hot at present. When his preliminary strikes acquired shut down, he didn’t look superb in one-on-ones with no counters. On the flipside, he truly regarded fairly good in group session. At one level, he dropped anchor towards a double group from two offensive linemen and didn’t budge an inch.
– Nebraska DL Ty Robinson confirmed off a pleasant long-arm bull rush just a few occasions in one-on-ones and undoubtedly has the body to carry up at 5-tech DE. He’s surprisingly fast for a person of his dimension, however he had no less than one offsides penalty within the group session and he acquired shut down just a few occasions in one-on-one reps.
– Louisville QB Tyler Shough was spectacular for the restricted time I watched him. He had mobility to flee the pocket and delivered correct passes on the run. He additionally had quite a lot of arm angles he may use to keep away from arms in his throwing lanes.
AMERICAN TEAM
– Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart was explosive on day one. His ft regarded nice throughout some particular person drills, and his one-on-ones have been principally wonderful. He confirmed the flexibility to transform velocity to energy and had a pleasant rip transfer with good bend. He seemed to be aligning as an EDGE participant principally, however he has potential to be a 5-tech for the Steelers if he provides a little bit of weight.
Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart has an excellent body. Tomlin appears to be watching him intently on Senior Bowl day 1. pic.twitter.com/6YUa67xUIz
– Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey was a bit sloppy within the particular person drills making an attempt to indicate off his quickness, however he cleaned issues up for the one-on-ones and the group session. He has very fast and energetic arms, enabling him to win each towards the run and the go.
– Kentucky DL Deone Walker is as huge as they arrive. He’s over 6-7 and 340 kilos. At that dimension, he doesn’t have a sloppy physique kind in any respect. He appeared to have some points together with his leverage and pad degree, however he additionally confirmed plenty of energy that will likely be very tough for offensive linemen to cope with. He was persistently within the backfield through the group session.
– South Carolina DL T.J. Sanders helped himself out at present. He can flat out transfer as an inside go rusher and confirmed that he’s able to changing that velocity into energy. He knocked a number of offensive linemen on their butts at present throughout one-on-ones.
– Tennessee DL Omarr Norman-Lott is fast off the snap. Through the group session, there have been reps the place he was already within the backfield earlier than the offensive linemen have been out of their stance.
– Alabama QB Jalen Milroe struggled fairly closely on day one. I wasn’t specializing in this place, however there have been accuracy points within the group classes and he had a tough time getting by means of his reads.
– Sacramento State OG Jackson Slater confirmed off an anchor, the flexibility to maneuver out in house and mirror in one-on-ones. He was very spectacular for the American Workforce OL.
– LSU OL Emery Jones is scrappy as all get out and performed at each guard and deal with at present. He has the nasty disposition to play guard on the subsequent degree.
JONATHAN HEITRITTER’S REPORT
Jonathan Centered totally on the working backs, inside linebackers, and tight ends at present.
NATIONAL TEAM
– Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II, Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa, and Miami TE Elijah Arroyo look the half coming off the bus.
– Miami RB Damien Martinez appears fast going by means of the bag drills, having fast ft for weighing in over 230 kilos.
– Miami TE Elijah Arroyo doing a superb job constructing as much as full velocity in particular person drills, having these lengthy strides as he finishes in the long run zone each rep.
– Michigan RB Donovan Edwards put his foot within the floor to hit the cutback to the left in group, attending to the nook and used his burst up the sideline to get in for the rating.
– Bowling Inexperienced TE Harold Fannin Jr. had a foul drop on a curl route in 7 on 7, having the ball hit him within the arms, however he couldn’t get his fingers on the ball, resulting in the dropped go.
– Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten confirmed some good burst in group, build up velocity as he hit the road of scrimmage and ran by means of some arm tackles into the second and third ranges of the protection on his first run of the session.
– Donovan Edwards did a superb job evading stress within the backfield in group, shuffling to his left to keep away from the diving tackler as he accelerated up into the second degree of the protection.
– Noticed Miami WR Xavier Restrepo do a superb job blocking for his quarterback on a designed attract group, matching the hassle he exhibits as a blocker on tape.
– Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten had a pleasant sideline seize in group, catching the ball with arms outstretched over his head whereas in tight protection with the linebacker, getting each ft down into bounds.
AMERICAN TEAM
– Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser appears easy going by means of particular person drills, not taking any wasted steps as he transitions nicely in a lateral shuffle and dropping into protection.
– Kansas RB Devin Neal and SMU RB Brashard Smith look easy going by means of bag drills in particular person, displaying no wasted steps rounding the obstacles.
– UCF RB RJ Harvey has spectacular quickness in particular person drills, taking some missteps, however his potential to alter course and spin is the highest of this group.
– SMU RB Brashard Smith is unfair in 1-on-1s with the linebackers, having that broad receiver background to get on his opponents’ toes and get away into his route, producing separation with ease.
– Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser isn’t a freak athlete, however he’s heady and has nice instincts, protruding in protection in 1-on-1s to stick with his man whereas forcing a key go breakup.
– Georgia RB Trevor Etienne persistently is profitable in 1-on-1s, utilizing his velocity and burst to interrupt away from defenders and draw back after the catch.
– American group line of defense is dominating the offensive line, leaving little to no working room for the backs. Nonetheless, RJ Harvey in all probability appears the most effective of the bunch together with his burst and get in touch with steadiness.
– SMU RB Brashard Smith actually is displaying his burst and velocity in group, taking considered one of his carries up the left sideline for a giant recreation. He’s an actual weapon with the ball in his arms and can make for a superb scat again within the league.
– LSU TE Miles Taylor had a pleasant one-hand seize within the group session, tipping the ball again to himself whereas managing to get each ft inbounds earlier than falling out of bounds.
EFRAM GELLER’S REPORT
Efram centered on quarterbacks, broad receivers, and defensive backs.
NATIONAL TEAM
– Laurier QB Taylor Elgersma remains to be adjusting; fumbled just a few snaps underneath heart. The ball flies out his arm, however his accuracy has been inconsistent.
– Louisville QB Tyler Shough performs with poise, hitting outlet passes. Clean fundamentals. Performed the most effective of anybody at present.
– Oregon WR Tez Johnson separated simply in 1V1’s. Burst and acceleration are displaying.
– Virginia Tech WR Da’Quan Felton having points with drops
– Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins flashed some good releases. The discharge bundle appears just like Michael Wilson on the Senior Bowl just a few years again.
– Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel confirmed nice arms. He was an actual winner of day one.
– Miami WR Xavier Restrepo was profitable within the slot. Seems to be like the most effective WR to date. Profitable on out routes and comebacks.
– FSU CB Azareye’h Thomas had a disappointing first observe. He was crushed deep three reps in a row.
AMERICAN TEAM
– Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard appears actually snug within the pocket and is quick on the transfer.
– Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart was tremendous constant. Footwork, launch, and ball placement are all on level. He did all the things requested of him in reps.
– Alabama QB Jalen Milroe’s accuracy was everywhere. Plenty of zip. Noticeably stronger arm than the opposite QBs.
– Florida WR Chimere Dike regarded fluid in his routes. He confirmed off nice arms with a tough catch.
– TCU WR Jack Bech had an up-and-down day however secured the most effective catch of day one on a leaping catch whereas crossing over the center.
– Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston is tremendous bodily. Handsy and acquired referred to as for a penalty, however mirroring nicely in 1v1’s. Tremendous sticky in protection.
– Oklahoma S Billy Bowman had a pleasant interception.
