2026 Senior Bowl Report

The 2026 Senior Bowl is in the books after a sunny yet cold and windy Saturday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama. QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) was named the game MVP after leading the American Team to a 14-point first quarter lead on the way to their 17-9 victory over the National Team on Saturday. The defensive lines and LBs dominated all week and during the game and that’s a reflection of the quality of the defensive front seven that will be entering the NFL next year. There are several prospects who elevated their draft stock significantly this past week – some likely locking up a first-round selection, while other prospects improved their draft stock in either moving up the board or becoming a likely selection in the seven-round, 257 pick NFL Draft that takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 23-25.

*Measurements are measured in 1/8ths. Therefore, 8.4” Hands translates to 8 and ½”.

The 2026 NFL Draft is Likely to be Dominated by the Defensive Line

From the first drill of practice on Tuesday afternoon, the defensive linemen established that they were stronger, quicker, and meaner than the offensive linemen they were facing off against. This was especially true amongst the IDL who consistently bettered their counterparts through almost every drill, individual and team. Four prospects, in particular, stood out and improved their draft standing this past week.

Lee Hunter / Texas Tech

6034 / 320 lbs / 9” Hands / 34.2” Arms

Hunter is a large man who moves extremely well with light feet and good agility. He was arguably the best player on the field on Tuesday afternoon where he consistently whipped the IOL lined up across from him. Hunter flashes tremendous power when his pads are low. Hunter is best on a pitch count since when his stamina wanes, his performance drops. Hunter is a top 50 pick in April since it is hard to find prospects with his combination of skills and upside.

Caleb Banks / Florida

6060 / 335 lbs / 10.6” Hands / 35” Arms

Banks is an athletic freak who flashed as a difference maker in 2024 before missing all but three games last season due to a broken foot. Banks has fantastic length, excellent mass, and surprising agility and burst for a huge man. Banks is still raw and needs additional reps. But there is no denying the immense talent and potential that Banks has to become a Pro Bowl-level player. Like most tall and high cut athletes, especially those carrying the type of mass that Banks possesses, the Gator struggles at times with his pad level. But when he keeps his pads low, he can be a force up front. Banks’ stock is quickly rising as the Combine approaches and there is an excellent chance that Banks goes in the first round in April.

Rayshaun Benny / Michigan

6030 / 296 lbs / 9.2” Hands / 33.4” Arms

Unlike many of the top players who dominated during the practice week but did not play on Saturday, Benny was a force that wreaked havoc in the National Team backfield all afternoon long on Saturday. Benny displayed the combination of quickness and power that he showed on the field the last few seasons in Ann Arbor. Benny is trending up as the Combine approaches at the end of the month and looks like a top 75 prospect for April’s draft.

Bryson Eason / Tennessee

6023 / 316 lbs / 9.6” Hands / 33.5” Arms

The quickest and most explosive IDL at the Senior Bowl – and that’s saying something – was Eason whose first step quickness and closing burst are as good, or better, than any prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. Eason was nearly unblockable during the practices during the week and the game and consistently beat whichever IOL was responsible for blocking him. Eason’s film will be priority viewing for every scout between now and the Combine in Indianapolis later this month.

EDGEs Made Some Serious Cash Last Weekend

Not only did the IDL dominate the Senior Bowl practices and games, but the EDGEs proved their top end quality and depth by consistently whipping the opposing OTs in drills and team exercises last week. Zion Young (Missouri), Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), and Max Llewellyn (Iowa) improved their draft standing headed into the Combine but three EDGE prospects stood head and shoulders above their competition this past week in Mobile.

TJ Parker / Clemson

6035 / 263 lbs / 9.6” Hands / 33.2” Arms

Parker needed an outstanding week to get back into first-round draft consideration after a disappointing season at Clemson. And after the final practice of the week last Thursday, Parker needs to be considered a very likely candidate to be selected in round one in April. Parker displayed the ability to bend, flatten, and close on the QB with an impressive closing burst. Parker also displayed the ability to convert speed to power and walk back OTs to the QB consistently during drills last week. If Parker works out well at the Combine, he looks like a lock as a top 32 selection.

Derrick Moore / Michigan

6034 / 254 lbs / 9.2” Hands / 34.2” Arms

Moore is one of the most well-rounded EDGEs in college football and is a rock-solid run defender who consistently squeezes down outside run lanes. Moore possesses one of the best bull rushes of any EDGE in the nation, including running over gargantuan OT Markel Bell (Miami, Fl) during a one-on-one drill Tuesday afternoon. Moore also displayed good movement skills, agility, and closing burst during several drills where he left the OT in the dust, grasping at air. Moore finished the 2025 season with 10 sacks and 10.5 TFL and looks like a potential top 50 selection this spring.

Gabe Jacas / Illinois

6031 / 260 lbs / 8.3” Hands / 32.6” Arms

Jacas dropped over ten pounds from his listed weight during the season and this aided his quickness, burst, and agility significantly this past week in Mobile. Jacas is one of the best hand fighters in the nation and that relates to his history of wrestling – he was a state champion – and he really shined during team drills when he consistently shed blocks and closed down the outside run lane. Jacas has displayed the ability to bend, flatten, and close on the QB consistently over the last two seasons and is a proven pass rusher. If Jacas runs well at the Combine, he is a likely second day pick in April.

The Senior Bowl QBs Look Likely to Compete for Practice Squad Spots Next Fall

The six QBs practicing this week had their first opportunity to work with NFL coaches and they all noticeably improved over the course of the week. But even though Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Cole Payton (North Dakota State), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) all had their moments this past week, all of them seemed to struggle operating the two-minute offense and all six were regularly harassed during team drills by the opposing defensive line. All the QBs have enough arm strength to complete every pass in the NFL route tree but all have concerns they need to address between now and the draft. The best QB during the practice week was Altmyer, whose field vision and maturity were on display during team drills. The best QB during the Senior Bowl game was Nussmeier, whose intelligence, arm strength, and mobility make him a potential starter down the road. Nussmeier’s hands measured only 8.6 inches, smaller than desired, and some NFL teams will remove his name from their draft boards over concerns regarding ball security. Nussmeier now looks like he could be off the board early in the fourth round. All in all, none of these QBs look like a franchise savior and only a couple of these QBs are likely to make a 53-man roster or practice squad spot in the fall.

Other Prospects Who Excelled During the Senior Bowl Week

Malachi Fields / WR / Notre Dame

6040 / 218 lbs / 8.6” Hands / 32.4” Arms

Arguably the best offensive performer last week in Mobile was the Fighting Irish WR whose size and leaping ability meant he won every jump ball, displayed the speed and quickness to separate from man coverage, and showed the hands and tracking ability to become a starting WR early in his career. Fields is trending towards a first-round grade for April’s draft.

Max Iheanachor / OT / Arizona State

6055 / 325 lbs / 9.3” Hands / 34.4” Arms

Most OL in Mobile this last week struggled against the athletic and aggressive defensive fronts they faced. But Iheanachor more than held his own during Senior Bowl practices and was the best OL in Saturday’s game. The Sun Devils OT possesses ideal size and power to become a starting NFL ORT as a rookie. Iheanachor looks like a high second-round draft pick in April.

Delby Lemieux / OL / Dartmouth

6050 / 305 lbs / 9” Hands / 31.3” Arms

Lemieux started 25 career games at OLT for Dartmouth and consistently won against FCS-level talent on the outside. But Lemieux’s shorter than desired arms necessitate a move inside. Lemieux played both guard and center in Mobile and looked natural as a pivot. Lemieux played center during the Senior Bowl game and looked like a natural fit there and follows Graham Barton (Buccaneers) and Grey Zabel (Seahawks) as college OTs who became IOL in the NFL. Expect Lemieux to be a fourth or fifth round pick.

Kyle Louis / LB / Pittsburgh

5116 / 224 lbs / 9.3” Hands / 32” Arms

Louis entered the week with concerns about where he would play in the NFL. Due to his size, some teams viewed Louis as more of a safety prospect. But after weighing in at a solid 224 pounds, Louis is clearly a LB. And a very impactful one at that. Louis is a havoc creator with the feet and range to excel as an off-the-ball LB in space. Louis has forced 2 fumbles and has 6 total INTs record over the last two seasons. Louis looks like a late second or early third round selection.

Bud Clark / S / TCU

6010 / 185 lbs / 9.1” Hands / 31.5” Arms

Clark possesses elite ball skills – he recorded 15 INTs during his time at TCU – and the range and speed desired to play everything from a single high safety to a Cover 4. Although Clark lacks some desired strength, his range, instincts, and ability to play the ball in the air are starting quality traits in the NFL. With Caleb Downs having locked down the number one ranked safety spot, Clark is in a neck and neck competition with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) and AJ Haulcy (LSU) to be the second safety drafted in April. Clark looks like a second or third round pick.

Stack ‘N Shed – YOUR Source for Everything NFL Draft!