NFL Analysis
1/28/25
9 min read
2025 Senior Bowl: Stock Up, Stock Down at Day 1 Practices
The 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl kicked off with its first practice on Tuesday, and a handful prospects saw some movement in their draft stock after Day 1.
This year's Senior Bowl might be the most loaded in the history of the college all-star event, with top names like Alabama QB Jalen Milroe and multiple first-round EDGEs in Shemar Stewart, Mike Green, and others participating down in Mobile.
It's only one day of practice, but a few prospects who were there helped and hurt their draft stock. Let's take a look at the biggest risers and fallers after the first day of practice.
All prospect rankings are courtesy of The 33rd Team's latest big board from Kyle Crabbs.
Stock Up
Couldn’t have been more impressed with @NDSUfootball OL Grey Zabel in the @seniorbowl 1-on-1s. Here are three good reps from him at three different positions (C, LG, RG)
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 28, 2025
Strong case for IOL1 in this draft, and a top 50 pick pic.twitter.com/qX2is4UXn6
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State 
Big Board Rank: 89
There might not have been a bigger winner on Day 1 than Grey Zabel.
The North Dakota State prospect needed to prove himself against FBS competition at this year's Senior Bowl to solidify his draft stock, and he did that in a big way on Monday. The coaches let him get one-on-one reps at tackle, guard, and center, and he dominated everyone he went against.
On top of being able to handle power rushers, Zabel also showed great quickness and agility to handle pass rushers attempting to side-step him. He showed technique and tenacity across the offensive line, and continued to get extra work, looking to compete against good competition.
Zabel had generated plenty of buzz with strong film this past season, and being able to continue dominating against a level up in competition is a great look for the potential top-50 pick.
Anthony Belton, OT, NC State
Big Board Rank: 97
Another OL who kept dominating one-on-ones was Anthony Belton.
The NC State prospect looked like one of the strong linemen down in Mobile. One of his best reps came against the elusive Donovan Ezeiruaku, swallowing up a spin move attempt and making the Boston College EDGE regret the decision.
Belton's power showed up with his anchor and ability to finish reps. He'll be another one to keep watching throughout the week.
Great back shoulder grab by Jaylin Noel!! pic.twitter.com/iGwR2ZTlUP
— Jake Schyvinck (@JakeNFLDraft) January 28, 2025
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Big Board Rank: 95
Explosiveness and verticality are where Jaylin Noel wins on tape, and he put that on display in one-on-ones against Senior Bowl DBs in the first on-field practice.
On top of that explosiveness, Noel showed off impressive body control and deceleration to adjust to the ball deep downfield, including in the clip above while keeping his feet in bounds for an impressive haul.
Iowa State has a pair of impressive WR prospects at this year's Senior Bowl in Noel and Jayden Higgins. While Higgins has the more appealing measurables, Noel deserves some love for how electric of a slot receiver he could be at the next level with his explosive play style.
Elijah Arroyo is putting on a show at the Senior Bowl👀
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/BLqWIa1yq6
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)
Big Board Rank: 88
Of all the tight ends running one-on-one routes, Elijah Arroyo was the clear standout.
Arroyo's athleticism made him a matchup nightmare for whoever he went against in the passing game. Along with the deep play speed to push vertically, he also showed good route running and manipulation with his eyes and shoulders to maximize separation.
In a loaded TE class, Arroyo's athleticism and pass-catching will allow him to separate himself as a Jonnu Smith-type prospect who could be an immediate boost to an NFL team's passing attack.
Beautiful catch from @TCUFootball WR Jack Bech to climb the ladder and come down with this one
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 28, 2025
Catch of the day at @seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/14DFuC1uVS
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Big Board Rank: 82
It's been an emotional time for Jack Bech, who lost his brother during the terror attack in New Orleans. The Senior Bowl has been supporting Bech throughout the process, even having players wear helmet decals honoring his late brother.
Despite playing with a heavy heart, Bech came away with the play of the day in the first practice, hauling in an impressive snag outside of his frame during team drills. Bech has steadily climbed up draft boards as an outside WR with good size at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, and big plays like this one will help him attract even more attention going forward.
I said it in my scouting report on him, Omarr Norman-Lott’s get-off & snap-timing makes him one of the most disruptive DTs in this draft class. pic.twitter.com/PO40ZlF0Eh
— Nader Sabet (@CoachMadProphet) January 28, 2025
Omarr Norman-Lott, DL, Tennessee
Big Board Rank: 58
Unlike a lot of players on this list, Omarr Norman-Lott's biggest flashes came during team periods.
Norman-Lott showed impressive explosiveness and snap timing to disrupt plays for the offense during team period, even forcing a fumble with his disruptiveness. That made things a whole lot harder for the offesne to work their plays, forcing the issue on the team's guards.
He's not the most well-known DL prospect on his own team, but Norman-Lott certainly made a strong first impression on Tuesday.
Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky) with the diving pass defended near the end of 1v1s at the #SeniorBowl! @AtoZSportsNFL pic.twitter.com/ZhLHqQOamC
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 28, 2025
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Big Board Rank: 57
Cornerbacks are naturally put in a difficult position in one-on-one drills, but Maxwell Hariston really held his own on Tuesday.
The feisty Kentucky CB was sticky in coverage, but also showed impressive body control on plays like the one above to make plays on the ball. His film shows a fearless cornerback capable of attacking receivers and running backs alike, even with a 179-pound frame.
Along with the competitiveness, Hariston showed off his length, fluidity, and speed during the first day of practice to have perhaps the best performance of any defensive back on Day 1.
Stock Down
#Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery with patient hands and doesn’t give up outside shoulder against Landon Jackson. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/npZdeZZ5yK
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 28, 2025
Landon Jackson, DL/EDGE, Arkansas
Big Board Rank: 23
Landon Jackson was listed as a defensive lineman heading into the Senior Bowl, but still tried to get some work in on the edge during one-on-one reps.
Unfortunately, those reps didn't pan out for the Arkansas prospect. Jackson routinely ended up on the ground, struggling to win with speed or bend, losing balance and getting locked up on essentially every rep.
Jackson projects best as more of an interior defender with his 6-foot-5, 273-pound frame. He still has some versatility with his frame and explosiveness, but there are some concerns about his fluidity to be a full-time EDGE.
Jaylin Lane has the twitch and burst.
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 28, 2025
Burns Darien Porter here! #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/87R27YUTj4
Darien Porter, CB, iowa State
Big Board Rank: 46
It wasn't the best day for Darien Porter, but that should be expected.
Going against some explosive route runners, Porter struggled to play press coverage, whiffing or being impatient with his jam attempts, giving up separation. For as dominant as he was this season for Iowa State, Porter relied on his size, length, and athletic ability to win.
That won't be as easy to do at the NFL level, so Porter will need to continue working on his technique to eventually become a lockdown press corner as a pro.
Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE5, 19th overall) showing off his moves against Wyatt Milum (OL14, 85th overall) 💥
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 28, 2025
(prospect rankings via @KyleCrabbs)
🎥: @DanteCollinelli pic.twitter.com/6kfDejqd2z https://t.co/8aPfrU1OrS
Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
Big Board Rank: 85
Like Zabel, the coaches at the Senior Bowl tried to get Wyatt Milum some work at multiple spots on the offensive line. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as well for the West Virginia lineman.
Milum got beat multiple times in one-on-one reps, including undersetting after getting baited by an inside-out move from Ezeiruaku. The frustration eventually boiled over for Milum on a rep against Yahya Black, resulting in a little bit of a scuffle during the period.
It's understandably a frustrating moment for Milum, but he still has the rest of the week to turn things around.
Texas A&M Edge Shemar Stewart vs LSU’s Emery Jones #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/6FbxCPpYiD
— Mason Kinnahan (@Mason_Kinnahan) January 28, 2025
Emery Jones, OL, LSU
Big Board Rank: NR
It was a tough season for Emery Jones' draft stock after a promising 2023 campaign. The first practice of the Senior Bowl didn't help his stock, either.
Going against tough competition like Shemar Stewart and Jared Ivey didn't help Jones much, but the two talented EDGEs had him losing reps in a variety of ways. From getting caught inside, getting beat around the edge, to even being bull rushed into the pocket, it was a rough stretch of matchups for the LSU tackle.
It's not the best look for Jones, who allowed 28 pressures this past season. The good news is that the LSU prospect turned things around quite a bit in the team period, showing some nice reps, but the one-on-ones weren't awesome against top competition.
