Every year the Reese's Senior Bowl showcases a wide range of nation's top prospects from Power-5 programs to schools that have produced little-to-no NFL players.
Below are five storylines and/or prospects to follow next week through the eyes of the Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, and NFL Draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
Top Position Group
Daniel Jeremiah believes the defensive line will be "the star of the show" in Mobile, AL.
The group includes players from top programs such as Michigan's Josaiah Stewart, who registered 12.5 sacks as a freshman at Coastal Carolina in 2021 before he played the last two seasons for the Wolverines.
"When you say that name, the word violent comes to mind," Jim Nagy said. "When you see this guy taken on pullers, he buckles people. Really fun guy to watch, high-effort player, explosive player. He's a guy who I think is really going to tear people up in the 1-on1- stuff."
Jeremiah mentioned Arkansas' Landon Jackson as a defensive lineman who will also be productive in the 1-on-1's. Jeremiah said Jackson's numbers (6.5 sacks, 49 tackles) don't accurately depict his impact.
Bucky Brooks mentioned Marshall's Mike Green, whose 17 sacks this season led the FBS. That's the most sacks for any player since Will Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick out of Alabama in 2023, had 17.5 in '21.
"When you dig into [Green's] background, you see he was a decorated wrestling participant in high school" Brooks said. "A guy who has that first-step quickness and burst that you like. We always talk about in college, sack production translates really well to the NFL."
Honoring Jack Bech's Brother
While the prospects will wear their school helmets throughout the week, they'll all wear a helmet sticker to commemorate TCU WR Jack Bech's brother, Tiger, who was killed in the New Orleans shooting early on New Year's Day. Jack Bech, who played two seasons at LSU before transferring, is coming off his best season with 62 receptions, 1,034 yards and 7 touchdowns.
"Probably was the biggest riser of anyone at the wide receiver position for us," Jim Nagy said. "I don't know what his top-end speed is going to be, but this guy gets to the top end fast. He's big, he's physical, he'll block. I think teams are going to love this guy, what he's all about. He's a good receiver, yes, but he's just a football player. Everyone is looking for the next Puka Nacua, that's kind of been the thing the last couple of years. I see some of the same stuff that made Puka a great player in Jack Bech."
Small School, Big Impact
There's seemingly an offensive line prospect from an FCS school whose draft stock catches heat after his performance at the Senior Bowl. Recent examples include Broncos All-Pro RG Quinn Meinerz (Wisconsin Whitewater) and Bills RT Spencer Brown (Northern Iowa), who participated in 2021.
This year it could be North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel, who grew up in Mound City, SD, which had a population of 69 in the 2020 US census.
"You know there's going to be a lineman who's going to end up ticking off the defensive linemen because he's such a nasty finisher and how aggressive he is," Daniel Jeremiah said. "Grey Zabel is my selection to be that guy this year. You watch him in the run game and he moves people, he finishes people. In pass protection, he's really strong and firm.
"He might have a degree in agriculture, but he's got a Master's in aggravating."
Back Story
Every year there are players that the scouts hold in a higher regard than the media at the beginning of the draft process. This year, according to Jim Nagy, that player is South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight. Knight played four seasons at Georgia Tech and one at Charlotte before this past season at South Carolina.
When Knight played at Charlotte, he worked for DoorDash after games to make extra money for his wife and child because the school didn't have significant NIL funds.
"Two things -- speed and aggression," Jim Nagy said of Knight's play. "This guy plays with an edge, he covers a ton of ground, he's super physical and I love the makeup of the guy. … This guy just flies around and plays his butt off."
Jets Connections
LSU tight end Mason Taylor is the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, who played the 2010 season with the Green & White in his 15-year NFL career after 12 with Miami and 1 with Washington.
Mason Taylor (6-5, 255) leaves Baton Rouge as the Tigers' record holder among TEs with 129 receptions, 1,308 yards and 6 touchdowns. He's following in his father's footsteps. Jason Taylor played in the 1997 Senior Bowl before he was drafted in the third round out of Akron.
"I'll take you back to last year's [LSU] Pro Day," Jim Nagy said. "It was Jayden Daniels [No. 2 overall pick in 2024, won 12 games and led the Commanders to their first NFC Championship game in 33 years], WR Malik Nabers [No. 6 pick, whose 109 receptions were the third most among wideouts this season] and Brian Thomas Jr. [No. 23 overall, who finished No. 3 in receiving yards]. To me, [Taylor] stole the show. They didn't use him in a lot of varied routes two years ago and to see him run a full NFL route tree during that workout, I was blown away."
Another Jets connection is Miami WR Xavier Restrepo. Restrepo surpassed former Jets WR Santana Moss, drafted No. 16 in 2001, as Miami's career leader with 2,844 career receiving yards.
Restrepo (5-10, 195) became the first Hurricanes wideout with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He totaled 2,219 yards over his final two seasons and led the ACC with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 to go with his 69 receptions.
