2026 Panini Senior Bowl: Thursday Diary

Jan 29, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; American wide receiver Barion Brown (6) of LSU battle for a pass with American cornerback Collin Wright (6) of Stanford during American Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

At the Panini Senior Bowl, several things occur away from the field.

At the Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Alabama, there is a ballroom that is completely sectioned off by teams. Instead, these temporary staging areas are front office folks from that particular NFL club.

RELATED:SENIOR BOWL WEDNESDAY PRACTICE DIARY

This allows teams the comfort, secrecy, and privacy to interview in the mornings between breakfast and practices, and then after practices have concluded, after dinner.

Interview who?

For one: Players. One-by-one, they come in, are asked tons of questions, and are asked to draw out situations of certain plays. The temporary room" is about 30' by 30', and laid out in four pods" deep, then another four pods across the temporary hallway." Coaches, scouts, GMs, player personnel folks, and whoever else the team wants in there. without a job.

For another, prospective coaches are interviewed. Notice how many coaching hires happen during Senior Bowl week. The reason is that everybody is in Mobile this one week at the same place at the same time in person. 10 teams fired their head coach this year. That means 10 coaching staff are looking for work and will be employed for the 2026 season.

They show up on their own dime in Mobile in generic track suits, interview for various coaching positions during the morning and evening, just like the college players, and then are hired because of the face-to-face meetings. Show up in a Nike running suit and leave fitted in NFL team attire and a new job. Newly-hired head coaches will often wait until the Senior Bowl to do their assistant coach hirings so that everyone with the team can do a sit-down and get everything voiced at the same meeting.

Thursday was the last padded practice, and there was a lot of heavy hitting and a focus on Red Zone drills. This is not like a regular team practice where players aren't supposed to destroy their counterparts. This is jobs on the line, and every player here has to prove every moment that he is a preferred player and his draft stock should be greater than when he arrived.

QB Jaxson Dart had a fourth-round grade on him when he attended the Senior Bowl last year, then was taken in Round 1 after wowing everyone in attendance.

Friday is strictly walk-throughs in helmet and shorts, and special teams. It is a tradition for the final practice to have something unusual at the end of practice, and this time it was defensive and offensive linemen fielding punts. That was a hoot.

Then there are local activities such as a community service project, the Coca-Cola meet the players, and finally a Mardi Gras street party since the Senior Bowl goes on smack in the middle of Mardi Gras. Mobile is the home of the first Mardi Gras, so they celebrate hard and heavy with 14 different parades.

LT Overton, Tim Keenan, Rayshaun Benny, and Tyreak Sapp bending and finishing in individual position group drills at #SeniorBowl. @AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/xCDsUJrEdz

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 28, 2026

The game is broadcast this Saturday on NFL Network with a kickoff at 2:30 (Eastern) if you get a chance to tune in. Players who performed the best during the week are declared the starters, but everyone plays at least a quarter. The announced starting quarterback usually plays the entire first half, then the other two will play a quarter each.

Revenge of the Birds staff writer Barry Shuck is at the Senior Bowl, taking note of which players have had a good week.

Defense

Usually the offense gets listed first, but this week the defense at all positions has really shined so they deserve top billing. The defensive line as a whole dominated all week and was the story of the Senior Bowl.

In the defensive backfield, CB Chandler Rivers of Duke was exceptional today and had a great practice week. A bit undersized, but can fly. Has a third-round grade on him, but should bounce into Round 2 after this week. Great in the 1-on-1 drills with several batted passes and never got actually beat." Very tight in press with 4.45 speed. Reliable tackler, which is what a team needs. Good acceleration out of transitions. North Carolina CB Thaddeus Dixon looked really good as well. He was in lockdown mode today in the 1-on-1 drills with a great pick and is looking like an underrated player. Very quick and built like an outside corner. So far, he has shown a lot of physicality and is a bit of a ball hawk. Has displayed some versatility as well as handling multiple coverage responsibilities.

Bud Clark DB TCU with the deep INT! He is just unreal right now! #SeniorBowl@AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/CudtPnIoKa

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 29, 2026

One of the leaders on defense was S Michael Taaffe from Texas. Very vocal player while on the field, including yelling instructions to his defensive backfield teammates. Will be a steal in Round 3. Quick trigger ball hawk. Want to improve special teams until he is ready for the starting defense? Select this guy. TCU S Bud Clark was the star of the defensive backfield this week. He is one of those stories that came in as a sixth-round grade and will leave going in Round 2 or 3 on draft day. His recognition of receiver routes is uncanny, and he has jumped, I don't know how many routes in three days. Very aggressive and wants to hit somebody. Mature for his age and very coachable.

Kyle Louis for the THIRD TIME in 11s today! Just balling out at the #SeniorBowl! @AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/bi5MSYBteH

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 29, 2026

Mentioned LB Kyle Louis of Pitt yesterday, who the coaches here have moved from safety to linebacker because he weighs 224 pounds. He has found his calling as he was flying all over the field today. Had an interception in the 1-on-1s. Known for this run defense, has a nose for the football and will hit. Exceptional coverage on the tight end. Fifth-round grade right now, but that will change. Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriquez is going to make some team very happy and is an exceptional tackler. Round 3 grade, but it will not surprise anyone to see him go second round. Take him early in Round 2, and thank me later with dinner. Led the nation in forced fumbles last year. It's one of his talents with his patented punch. Four interceptions, so he knows how to tackle and take the ball away. Exceptional character.

Also mentioned EDGE LT Overton of Alabama on Tuesday, but the matter is that he has shown something every day. Solid Round 2 guy that will fill a need as an outside pass rusher with functional power. Nice kid as well. Good closing burst and is also a very good run defender. Jumped out in the team drills. Here is an under-the-radar guy: DE Quintavious Hutchins of Boston College. Get this: 6'2", 229 pounds as an EDGE rusher. Yeah. And being smaller means you have to be fast, which he is. Had a good practice today, but did not show much all week. Day 3 or an undrafted guy.

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork in Mobile: #Clemson edge TJ Parker joined the show to discuss his @seniorbowl experience. pic.twitter.com/DcB2nWGcIb

- Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2026

Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker has been a standout all week and is probably the best D-lineman in this game. Will be waiting at the bottom of Round 1 and maybe the early stages of Round 2. He possesses counters that have miffed some offensive tackles here. He uses his length well and has good upper-body strength. Good hand action, but he isn't going to beat anyone to the ice cream truck. Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton has been the dominant interior force. If a run stopper is in order, Halton's presence will instantly improve the roster. He is also a good pass rusher, an uncommon effect coming from the middle. An under-the-radar guy for the fourth-round.

Derrick Moore, EDGE Michigan talking through his #SeniorBowl dominance, run defense, strengths, and more! @AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/5qmNLUNGGJ

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 29, 2026

EDGE Zion Young from Missouri was a menace all week. His change of direction is outstanding, and his hand play is very physical. I think he is the most polished EDGE guy in this game and is great in push situations in most drills. Don't believe he will start right away, but will develop into a top pass rusher. Ranked bottom of the second round, but should now go at the top of Round 2 and perhaps the tail end of the first round. DE Derrick Moore of Michigan is going to be a great pick, graded in the third round, but expect him to go mid-second. Plays to the whistle with a relentless motor. Electric get-off is his superpower.

Offense

QB Sawyer Roberson of Baylor was running the offense better than anyone today, on both rosters.His accuracy is simply amazing. He has great scrambling abilities as well, and his called run plays are fluid without any fear of gaining yardage, and he can dish out the punishment himself. His play in the 7-on-7 drills showed most defensive coverage guys how to spell frustration" repeatedly. Round 5 grade will be developmental. Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has been impressive all week and is excellent in his pre-snap with checking out of plays, and has great velocity on his throws. He will place a ball where the receiver can get to it and will throw nice touch passes. Most consistent quarterback here.

Taylen Green QB Arkansas to Malachi Fields WR Notre Dame. This connection has been strong this week. #SeniorBowl@AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/7WpTxiIWuZ

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 28, 2026

Arkansas QB Taylen Green is not a good passer, but he showed progress this week. He is 6'-6" and 229 pounds with 10" hands and 35" arm length, and is getting comparisons to Cam Newton as far as size, but Newton could throw and was accurate. Green is picking up on coaching and making better reads. What he does best is the mobility aspect. If the NFL doesn't call about his QB skills, with his athleticism and running ability, he would make a great receiver.

LINK: SENIOR BOWL PLAYER MEASUREMENTS

Garrett Nussmeier buys himself some time again and finds Ted Hurst in 2-minute to wrap things up. #SeniorBowl@AtoZSportsNFLpic.twitter.com/vrYvILpptI

- Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 29, 2026

QB Garrett Nussmeier from LSU is the most gifted QB here. Take him in Round 3, stash him for a season, allow him developmental time, and watch him suit up Week 1 in the 2027 season. Natural arm talent and doesn't freak out when his pocket begins to collapse. Steady head and can throw a pretty ball on the run. Nice, accurate throws, and can fling it when called to do so. Coming off a horrible injury in college and wasn't sure he would play in the Senior Bowl, but instead has shone with his skills, which don't include an elite arm.

Another great play in a very solid week for Cincinnati WR Cyrus Allen!

@PaniniAmerica Senior Bowl Day 3, American Practice 3 pic.twitter.com/X84gBtxhXM

- The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) January 29, 2026

Cincinnati WR Cyrus Allen will catch most balls and then drop a few, but is a consistent route runner and seems to work best in press coverage. Has good body control. Day 3 guy. Missouri WR Kevin Coleman finally showed something today, especially in the 1-on-1 drills. Very good change of direction with great feet. Is also a return man. Shifty player who looks like a slot guy. Physical guy with strong hands in traffic. Fifth round.

Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields continued his good week with a good practice, although he did drop a couple of passes. Probably the best receiver all week with great size (6'-4") and runs great routes. Functional athleticism, and has a good transition after the catch into a runner. He does a great job selling his routes when he knows the ball is coming his way. And will take the deep route on occasion. Round 3 guy who could see the second round now. He is definitely in that second tier of receivers who will fall off the board. Baylor WR Josh Cameron has very strong hands and will fight any defensive back, but he has ball control issues.

WR Ty Montgomery from John Carroll has been the standout all week and continued to shine in all drills. He gave DBs fits with his shiftiness. He has great separation and is an exceptional route runner, which is his superpower because he sells every route, whether the ball is being thrown his way or not. He is very consistent with this aspect of his game. Every time you look up, Montgomery is making a play. Still, the best receiver all week has been WR Ben Hurst from tiny Georgia State. Fluid and smooth are the two words to use. Came in as a fourth-round prospect and will leave hearing his name called in Round 2. Playmaker at 6'-3".

Syracuse TE Dan Villari finds the end zone and gets both feet down for the TD

@PaniniAmerica Senior Bowl Day 3, American Practice 3 pic.twitter.com/FFAOKlXEEF

- The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) January 29, 2026

TE Dan Villari (6'-4", 243 pounds) of Syracuse has been difficult to cover this week by any unlucky linebacker or safety. The former quarterback has a lot of versatility and has taken snaps in the Wildcat and lined up at fullback a play or two. Reliable receiving option with a high catch point. Plays very physically with high character.

RB Jadyn Ott of Oklahoma has great hands and is an excellent pass protector. Not afraid to take on a linebacker on a blitz. Arkansas RB Mike Washington had a great day as well. 4.45 speed, who seems to always be falling forward. Big dude with power, but when he hits the second level, he shifts into another gear, and he is off. Rated the eighth-best RB in this class. Kentucky RB Seth McGowan also had a great week and looks like a Day 3 pick.

Another Max Iheanachor takedown lol. pic.twitter.com/XHxDNs6Skp

- Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 29, 2026

Offensive linemen who had a great week are OT Max Iheanachor (6'-6", 330 pounds) of Arizona State, OG Gennings Dunker (6'-5", 316 pounds) from Iowa, and undersized OG Sam Hecht (6'-4", 300 pounds) of Kansas State. All three barely lost any reps.

Iheanachor's first practice, he appeared antsy and intimidated by the stiff competition here, but somebody must have reminded him that he was chosen for a reason. He has impressed more each day and not dominated, but has stood his own, especially in the 1-on-1 drill, where he basically stonewalled everyone. Would draft this guy in five seconds. Very intelligent player. Dunker is a class by himself and has dominated most drills. Is a nasty guy. Hecht showed good stuff all week and is a thick dude with an alert presence.