NFL Draft

1/31/25

11 min read

2025 Senior Bowl: Biggest Risers, Fallers At This Year's Event

American team defensive lineman Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M works through drills during Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
American team defensive lineman Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M works through drills during Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl has seen its week of practices come to a close. There is no shortage of prospects who should leave this week feeling like they helped their outlook for the 2025 NFL Draft, although some players have done exceptionally well this week to change the perception and narrative of who they are as prospects.

Each year, the All-Star circuit marks the official start of the pre-draft process, as most teams have converted into an offseason frame of mind. The league-wide representation this week in Mobile was as strong as ever — with the entire football world descending upon a small Gulf Coast town intent on finding the newest contributors to their rosters for the upcoming season and beyond.

Whether it was powerhouse programs like Notre Dame and Georgia or lower-level schools like North Dakota State and Alabama A&M, this year's Senior Bowl event offered prime opportunities for NFL Scouts and personnel. 

Who made the most of their opportunities? And which prospects may have left some meat on the bone this week? Here are our 12 biggest risers and fallers exiting the week of practices at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. 

Risers & Fallers From 2025 Senior Bowl

National team defensive lineman Darius Alexander of Toledo (9) and National team defensive lineman Junior Tafuna of Utah (58) talks as they go through drills during Senior Bowl practice.
National team defensive lineman Darius Alexander of Toledo (9) and National team defensive lineman Junior Tafuna of Utah (58) talks as they go through drills during Senior Bowl practice. Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images.

Riser: DT Darius Alexander, Toledo Toledo logo

Darius Alexander provided a boatload of pop across all three days of practice. Between his explosive hand power and steadily more dominant pass rush victories against a highly talented offensive line collection for the National Team, Alexander announced himself as a legitimate Top-100 type of talent.

This is a player who has had flashes of dominance throughout his college tape but put together a terrific reel of work in Mobile. Scouts will surely love to see how engaged he was with the entire process, too. He was one of a number of defensive players who were constantly engaged with their teammates after they made plays.

Darius Alexander's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (74) celebrates with fans after defeating the Albany Great Danes at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.
West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (74) celebrates with fans after defeating the Albany Great Danes at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Faller: OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers logo

Wyatt Milum entered this week with a good deal of excitement as a potential guard conversion from offensive tackle. His play this week underscored some of the transitional challenges he may face along that road.

Milum struggled mightily early in the week with his 1-on-1 opportunities and appeared outreached and out-leveraged at times when working in close quarters with opposing defenders. 

Wyatt Milum's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel congratulates teammate Cam Miller on a touchdown at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel congratulates teammate Cam Miller on a touchdown at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Riser: OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State North Dakota State Bison logo

There were no such struggles for North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, however. He and Milum profile very similarly physically. But Zabel flashed strike precision and the active foot speed required to mirror and sustain his blocks.

He illustrated a significantly better anchor than Milum against power and was a standout at both guard and center after playing left tackle for the Bison. 

Grey Zabel's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. William Purnell-Imagn Images.

Faller: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide logo

Jalen Milroe’s week started with a deflating measurement — his hands checked in at 8 and 3/4ths inches. That’s a tough one for quarterbacks, who may struggle with ball security issues amid the increase in ball size when going to the pros.

It’s a statistical outlier that puts Milroe at odds with hearing his name called early — Kenny Pickett is the only quarterback in at least the last 15 years to be drafted in the first round with smaller than 9-inch hands. 

Milroe’s play was, much like his tape at Alabama, up and down. You saw some brilliant passes deep and outside the numbers when he could simply rip big throws. However, you also saw some hesitancy when having to work through progressions in a new offense — highlighted by a tough interception on Wednesday in team period; Milroe threw the ball directly to an underneath linebacker sitting in zone. 

Jalen Milroe's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson goes through drills at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson goes through drills at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Dante Collinelli - The 33rd Team.

Riser: OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M Alabama A&M logo

Carson Vinson entered this week to many as a general unknown, thanks to his level of competition. Who knows how a player will meet the moment upon being thrust onto the field with players from some of the biggest programs in the country? 

Vinson? It was no problem at all. He was impressed with his athleticism, functional strength, balance through contact, and how he framed blocks on the edge in pass protection. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Vinson, after a strong week against a major leap in competition, has put himself squarely into the middle rounds — likely pushing for a spot in the top 100. 


Arkansas Razorbacks defensive linemen Landon Jackson (40) reacts after a made field goal during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Landon Jackson (40) reacts after a made field goal during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports.

Faller: DL Landon Jackson, Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks Logo

To be fair to Landon Jackson, he had his best day of practice on Thursday after breaking out some inside counters as a pass rusher. He was on the ground often in the 1-on-1 setting because he was rushing from wide angles off the outside. That is in direct conflict with where he did most of his damage at Arkansas. 

It isn’t a kiss of death for Jackson, but he did have the opportunity to come in this week and create a bigger appeal for his game had he performed better outside of his “sweet spot” as a defender. That did not happen, and instead, he’s likely to be perceived as a scheme-specific talent who plays base end overtop of tackles. 

Landon Jackson's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) in action during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field.
Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) in action during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports.

Riser: DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M Texas A&M Aigges Logo

Among all the players who practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading home early, none boasted a better two days of practice than Shemar Stewart. Already perceived to be a top-20 prospect by most coming into the week, Stewart promptly checked in lighter than expected at 281lbs and still overwhelmed many with his length and hand power, plus his speed off the edge. 

Stewart won in every way imaginable, from power rushes that put tackles on the ground to overwhelming speed rushes from width. 

And remember, based on his film, Stewart is generally perceived to be a better run defender than a pass rusher. Stewart could feasibly work his way into the top-10 or top-12 picks by the time the draft rolls around. If he does, the Senior Bowl will be a launch point. 

Shemar Stewart's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr. catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr (0) catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Faller: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Bowling Green logo

This ranking is a little less about Harold Fannin Jr. himself and more about the rest of the tight end class in attendance. Fannin was, generally speaking, fine. He didn’t wow across his 1-on-1 opportunities but showcased the ball skills you would expect from a 100+ reception player and illustrated some slipperiness through contact at the top of routes. 

But he wasn’t as smooth in his routes as Elijah Arroyo (Miami) or Mason Taylor (LSU). He wasn’t as powerful and impactful as a blocker as Jackson Hawes (Georgia Tech) and Moliki Matavao (UCLA). Considering that, plus that arguably the three best tight ends in the class weren’t in attendance between Tyler Warren (Penn State), Colston Loveland (Michigan), and Gunnar Helm (Texas), it wasn't an ideal week for Fannin Jr.  

Fannin Jr. was fine this week. But the tight end class is full of risers.

Harold Fannin Jr.'s Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jack Bech (18) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the UCF Knights at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jack Bech (18) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the UCF Knights at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images.

Riser: WR Jack Bech, TCU TCU Horned Frogs logo

May as well call him “Big Play Bech.”

Jack Bech exploded this season at TCU with explosive plays down the field and brought the same to the Senior Bowl practices, where he logged at least one big play down the field in each of the three days of practice. Bech has strong hands and is an uber-physical player, including in the run game, where he helps carve out added running room on the second level. 

Bech was shredding defensive backs all week, whether it came in 1-on-1s or in team drills. He’s a rising talent who does the dirty work to help improve the whole offense and should be targeted accordingly come April. 

Jack Bech's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


LSU Tigers offensive linemen Garrett Dellinger (72) blocks during the second half  against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
LSU Tigers offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (72) blocks during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Faller: OG Garrett Dellinger, LSU LSU Tigers logo

Garrett Dellinger entered the Senior Bowl as a perceived early Day 3 talent by many, but he struggled with power and anchoring during Senior Bowl’s practices as a member of the American Team. Too many pass rushers quickly got into his frame and were able to collapse him backward because he lacked the ability to sink his hips and absorb the momentum. 

Contrasted to former teammate Miles Frazier, who had a very successful week, Dellinger leaves the Senior Bowl looking to infuse his draft profile with more enthusiasm in the weeks to come. 


National team defensive lineman Junior Tafuna of Utah (58) works through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team.
National team defensive lineman Junior Tafuna of Utah (58) works through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team. Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Riser: DT Junior Tafuna, Utah Utah Utes logo

Junior Tafuna entered this week as an underproductive talent out of Utah, but if we were playing for keeps in a live setting, he likely would have finished the last three days of practice with as many sacks as he’s had in the last three seasons at Utah combined (3).

He’s a twitchy, undersized spark plug who showcases quickness and super-heavy hands, a delightful combination that should have him rising up boards in the weeks to come. 


Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) runs with the football against Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (1) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) runs with the football against Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (1) at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

Riser: TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami Miami Hurricanes logo

Arroyo showed up in Mobile while carrying some added weight. He checked in at 251 pounds and then proceeded to showcase every bit of the same explosiveness and fluidity that he had on film at Miami.

Moving as well as he did while sustaining the added weight did well to change some of the perceptions about how much of a “finesse” player he is. Given Arroyo’s explosive speed ability, ball skills, and fluidity at the top of routes, look for him to be a buzzy riser among the top-five tight ends eligible for this year’s draft.

Elijah Arroyo's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp


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