Senior Bowl 2026 Day 2 winners, losers: Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields shines

Malachi Fields of Notre Dame.

MOBILE, Ala. - Day 2 of practices at the Panini Senior Bowl brought sharper reps, louder pads, and clearer separation between prospects. With NFL decision-makers lining the sidelines in Mobile, several players used Wednesday to boost their draft stock while others left more questions than answers.

WinnersZion Young, Edge - Missouri

Young's versatility showed up again on Wednesday. He handled misdirection well, played with active hands, and flashed the ability to slide inside on passing downs. He looks comfortable against NFL-caliber competition and has quietly solidified himself as a strong Day 2 draft candidate.

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

Fields may not be the flashiest receiver here, but his route discipline is NFL-ready. No wasted steps, clean breaks, and excellent body control. His deep post reception from Taylen Green was one of the cleaner throws-and-catches of the day, showcasing his burst and ability to separate late.

Play of the day, courtesy of Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields.

Good bet he is the top WR drafted from this year's Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/c4VoAU7e6w

- Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 29, 2026

Taylen Green, QB - Arkansas

Green helped himself on Day 2. The arm talent jumps off the field, and his ability to step up in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield stood out. He's still a developmental quarterback, but the tools are undeniable and he's giving evaluators something to look at.

Max Iheanachor, OT - Arizona State

One of the more pleasant surprises of the day. Iheanachor held his own against speed and power, using his length effectively in pass protection. His frame and physicality fit the NFL mold, and his consistency on Day 2 should have scouts circling back for more looks.

Chris McClellan, iDL - Missouri

McClellan's strength showed up again. He's difficult to move at the point of attack and flashes the ability to disengage quickly. He's proving he belongs in this environment and could be pushing himself into a higher tier among interior defensive linemen.

LosersCaleb Banks, iDL - Florida

Banks looks the part physically massive frame, natural power but consistency remains an issue. While he flashed an explosive first step at times, he didn't always finish reps or generate disruption against interior linemen. Scouts will want to see more sustained dominance from a player with his size.

Gracen Halton, iDL - Oklahoma

Halton struggled to separate consistently in one-on-one drills. He showed effort, but his hand placement and leverage were inconsistent, allowing guards to neutralize him more often than expected.

Cyrus Allen, WR - Cincinnati

Allen had moments, but didn't consistently win against tight coverage. With so many receivers shining this week, failing to stand out can feel like falling behind. He'll need a bounce-back day on Thursday to regain momentum.

Jude Bowry, OT - Boston College

Bowry had a rougher Day 2, particularly against quicker edge rushers. Footwork issues showed up in pass sets, and he struggled to recover once beaten. Not a deal-breaker, but something scouts will note.

Final takeaway

Day 2 at the Senior Bowl is where separation starts to happen and Wednesday delivered. Edge rushers and offensive linemen continued to dominate the conversation, while quarterbacks like Taylen Green, Garrett Nussmeier and Luke Altmyer are carving out real developmental intrigue. With another padded practice still ahead, draft boards are already shifting and for some prospects, the climb has officially begun.