Sometimes wide receivers and quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl take a while to get on the same page since they don't have a history of working together. That was not the case for TCU WR Jack Bech, who flashed with impressive downfield catches and his route running.
"I think I've had two solid days that I've stacked back to back, but now those days are in the past," he said. "Those days don't matter anymore. Now it's time to stack another one and go do my thing out there on Saturday."
Bech is playing in Mobile, AL, with a heavy heart since the death of his brother, Tiger, during the New Orleans mass truck attack on New Year's Day. All the participants are wearing a helmet sticker to commemorate Tiger, who played football at Princeton. Jack Bech, after practice, showed two new tattoos that honor his brother.
"It's my whole left side of my body because he was my other half," he said. "I put the date when he was born until the day he died in Roman numerals across my heart, I put seven [Tiger's and Jack's number] to heaven above it like he's ascending into the air right above it. It's just something for me to be able to show that he's always going to be with me forever in every second of every moment."
More Than a System QB
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, although he played at a high level in the SEC, feels like he's been miscast as a system quarterback.
"I played in the Wing T for three years, I was in a huddle," he said. "Every play I took a snap under center for three years. I went to corner Canyon High School [in Draper, UT] for my senior year and that was more spread. I went to USC my first year where I played in the air raid. Then my sophomore year, transferred to Ole Miss, got introduced to the RPO game, hardcore play action, deep shots, top-down reads. Me and [offensive coordinator Charlie [Weis Jr.] and [Lane] Kiffin would talk about how we're a tempo, pro-style team. So, quite honestly, I feel like I've kind of done it all.
"I've had success everywhere I've been. It shows I'm adaptable and can make things happen in whatever offense that I play in."
Dart leaves college with several of the Rebels' records including passing yards, 300-yard passing games, rushing yards by a QB and most wins by a starting quarterback. He also led the SEC last season with a 69.3% completion percentage, 4,279 yards and 329.2 yards per game. His 180.7 pass efficiency rating and 10.8 yards per attempt led the FBS.
Dart mentioned three quarterbacks as the most influential to his game and they all, coincidentally, have participated in the Senior Bowl -- Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts.
"Those are three guys that I love to watch and how much passion they play the game with," he said.
Two-Sport Collegiate Athlete
Maryland S Dante Trader Jr. was a two-sport athlete for the Terrapins. He originally committed to the school to play lacrosse before he re-opened the door for football.
"When I was in early high school, football didn't look good for me to be to get to my goal of NFL because I didn't have an offer yet," Trader said. "I was already committed to the University of Maryland for lacrosse. My junior year, [head coach Mike Locksley] called me and they gave me an offer. So going into freshman year, I decided not to play lacrosse because I was going to be one of the starters for the following season. Earned the spot, and I was like, 'I'm going to go back and do it.' I ended up playing one year lacrosse. It was '23 in the spring and did pretty well for myself."
Trader was a three-year football starter at Maryland and finished with 190 tackles, 5 interceptions, 15 pass defenses and 1 forced fumble in 47 games. The Delaware native said his two-sport background has helped him learn on the fly throughout Senior Bowl week.
"Coming out here and learning the offense, learning how guys communicate out here, it's been really easy for me because I put myself through a lot of mental strain," he said. "My threshold of 'you can't get to me' is high."
Following in the Footsteps of a Hall of Famer
The 2025 tight end draft class is deep and the Senior Bowl provided a snippet of the talent including Miami's Elijah Arroyo and LSU's Mason Taylor.
Taylor, is the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, who played in the 1997 Senior Bowl.
"It's huge," Mason Taylor said of playing in the game. "Just kind of just following his footsteps and doing it the right way. The way he's done it in his life made him so successful, just knowing that I wanted to be like him and [I'm] following his footsteps."
