NFL Draft

1/29/25

7 min read

2025 Senior Bowl: Stock Up, Stock Down at Day 2 Practices

Jan 29, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team wide receiver Tez Johnson of Oregon (15) runs the ball after a catch during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The physicality ramped up on Wednesday at Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices.

Offensive linemen and defensive players got a bit more chippy during one-on-ones and in team periods, getting everyone to lock in for a feisty practice from both teams. There were a couple of scuffles, but overall it was a locked in practice with some key players making a real impact.

Like Tuesday, a handful of players helped and hurt their respective draft stocks, so let's dive into the biggest standouts from Day 2.

All rankings are courtesy of Kyle Crabbs' latest big big board.

Stock Up

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall Marshall Thundering Herd logo

Big Board Rank: 32

Scouts have been eager to see what Mike Green would be capable of against top competition in Mobile. He showed exactly what he can do against a potential first-round tackle in Josh Conerly Jr..

One of the highlights of Day 2 came on a bull rush attempt in one-on-ones from Green, driving through the chest of Conerly to throw him to the ground.

Green put up some really good tape against strong competition in Ohio State and Virginia Tech despite playing for a smaller program. That tape is clearly translating to Mobile, where he is holding his own against other potential first-round picks.

That should help secure Green's draft stock going forward.


Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon Oregon Ducks logo

Big Board Rank: 99

There are still plenty of questions about Tez Johnson's size and his ability to handle NFL competition at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds. However, he had no problem cooking defensive backs in one-on-ones.

Johnson's explosive speed and sharp route running allowed him to create separation with ease in one-on-ones. He did a good job of mixing up speeds and not being afraid to attack DBs' toes before getting in and out of his breaks.

On top of that, Johnson got a nice shoutout from the coaching staff for a crack block during team period to seal a run for the offense. That's something that Johnson will need to do to some degree at the NFL level, even as a smaller WR prospect.

Johnson has stacked a couple of nice days to help him boost his draft stock, even if there will continue to be questions about his historically small frame.


Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State Florida State Seminoles logo

Big Board Rank: 73

The top of the cornerback class is littered with players who suffered season-ending injuries, which opens the door for prospects like Azareye'h Thomas to sneak into the first round.

Thomas is a physical press corner with good fluidity and body control, and that showed up in one-on-ones during Wednesday's practice. These drills naturally put the cornerback at a disadvantage without any help, but Thomas held his own and made it difficult for receivers to create separation.

Teams seeking a physical press corner will take a long look at Thomas, who could climb into the top 50 of a lot of big boards as the pre-draft process moves along.


Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M Texas A&M Aigges Logo

Big Board Rank: 16

Shemar Stewart has the potential to be this year's version of Travon Walker, and Wednesday's practice showed why.

After maybe trying to do a little too much on Day 1, Stewart came back on Wednesday and showed what works for him. He generated significant push by bull rushing during one-on-one reps, and then came into team period with a forced fumble on a dominant rep against the right tackle.

Stewart came into the Senior Bowl under a microscope as one of the most high-profile prospects at the end. A dominant day like he had on Wednesday should solidify his draft status as a first-round, and even potential top-10, pick.


Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU LSU Tigers logo

Big Board Rank: NR

Jones was actually on the stock down list during Day 1, but it seems like that might have lit a fire under him heading into Wednesday's practice.

After holding his own in one-on-ones, Jones chose violence in the team period when kicked inside to guard, showing a legitimate nasty streak in the trenches to move bodies on inside run. He even got to compete at the end of the practice after such a strong day, going against Texas EDGE Barryn Sowell in some extremely competitive reps where both put in good work.

His best tape in college came in the run game, moving bodies and using his 312-pound frame to do so.

One bad day of practice shouldn't define a player's draft status, and a strong practice like this one is a great example of the kind of mental toughness a player like Jones brings to the table.


Stock Down

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon Oregon Ducks logo

Big Board Rank: 11

One-on-ones don't tell the whole story for a prospect, but when it goes poorly, scouts are going to pay attention.

It wasn't a great day from Josh Conerly Jr., who lost a couple of key reps on Day 2. Along with the viral Mike Green bull rush, Conerly also got beat around the edge by Donovan Ezeiruaku.

With the margins so thin between all of the top OL prospects, every rep counts in events like the Senior Bowl to get the edge over other potential first-round picks. This wasn't the best showing from Conerly, but his overall body of work should still have NFL teams feeling confident about his long-term potential.


Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss Ole Miss Rebels logo

Big Board Rank: 35

Walter Nolen had a chance to dominate some theoretically weaker competition in one-on-ones on Wednesday, but it didn't go according to plan.

Going against the likes of Jackson Slater from Sacramento State, Nolen wasn't nearly as dominant as scouts might have hoped. The small-school OL did an admirable job holding his own against the potential first-round pick.

The good news is that Nolen's gamehas never been a premier pass rusher, instead relying on dominance at the point of attack to dominate in the trenches, particularly against the run. He's not an explosive or bendy pass rusher, but can with with a bull rush to at least put pressure on opposing QBs.

Still, scouts would have liked to see a bit more from Nolen on Wednesday considered his potential first-round draft status.


Jalen Milroe, QB, alabama Alabama Crimson Tide logo

Big Board Rank: 67

There were some real highs for Milroe on Wednesday, but the lows weren't great.

Milroe showcased great arm strength and very good deep ball placement on a handful of throws from Day 2 of the Senior Bowl. However, he also had some wildly erratic accuracy on the short and intermedia passes, even throwing an interception during the team period of practice.

Those are the same concerns that showed up on tape all year for Milroe. He's immensely talented and has the physical tools to be a potential star at the QB position, but the inconsistency and erratic ball placement can be frustrating.

Quarterbacks have the toughest time of any position at the Senior Bowl, having to learn and master a new playbook while getting on the same page with all of their receivers. Still, you would have liked to see a bit more polish with Milroe given that he's competing for that QB3 spot in this year's draft class.


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