It feels like just yesterday that I was in Mobile watching Aireontae Ersery, Woody Marks, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Smith and Jaylin Noel at last year's Senior Bowl. That quintet left a significant impression on many throughout the week and it showed on 2025's Draft weekend. Now, it's the 2026 NFL Draft class' opportunity in Mobile to show off for the assembled masses. Here are my Harris Hits from day one down in Mobile. Let's GO.
With three days of practice, I have to spread my focus around different positions so Tuesday's practice was spent mostly with the offensive line, defensive line and running backs, with a few notes sprinkled in from other positions.
The most impressive offensive player that I saw all day long, the one player that played the game at a higher rate of speed than any else on the field was Penn State star RB Kaytron Allen. Having seen Allen dozens of times throughout his glorious career, I was not ultimately surprised, but it was still impressive. He hit holes with some serious speed and looked the part of a future bellcow NFL RB. He wasn't as big in person as he looked on TV, but the explosiveness and the running decisiveness he displayed on Tuesday had my attention all day long.
I would love to say that the group of Senior Bowl offensive linemen was overloaded with dudes that could be options for the Texans down the road, but that was not the case in either practice. Last year, I left with strong impressions of Ersery, Seahawks star Gray Zabel and a number of others. I did not leave Hancock Whitney Stadium on Tuesday evening with a similar feeling to this year's OL group. That said, there were still a few that had my attention in both practices.
Florida OC Jake Slaughter seemed very comfortable at center with his two one-on-one pass rush reps, including one of them against his ballyhooed Florida teammate DL Caleb Banks. Slaughter anchored well against Banks' power and locked him up rather easily. The stellar Florida center wasn't near as comfortable at guard when he did a little cross training throughout the drill but he's a center in the future.
Iowa OT/OG Gennings Dunker has the build of a lumberjack - thick legs and trunk and a head full of long red hair. He's a powerful guy and he had a few solid reps in one-on-ones. He's more mauler than he is a technician/athlete, but he has promise to evolve into a quality NFL OL in the future.
Tough guy OG/OC Keylan Rutledge from Georgia Tech plays exactly like I thought he would. He's a little all over the place with his hand placement, aiming points, etc…but he's going to FIGHT on every rep. He did some cross training throughout the day - center and guard, and he has a future at one of the positions in the NFL. His toughness might be his best asset and teams will feel as if that's a great starting point with an interior player.
Miami OC James Brockermeyer had one of the best one-on-one reps of the day when he completely stoned an SEC DL on a pass rush rep. Then, he completely stoned South Carolina DT Nick Barrett on a similar rep a few plays later. He's one of the smallest OL in Mobile, but he was outstanding holding up against stout/HUGE interior rushers.
The most impressive player OVERALL on Day one was Penn State interior DL Zane Durant. A total DUDE on Tuesday. He's just 6-1, 290 lb., but he was a KILLER against these Senior Bowl OL. No one could match his pad level, nor could they handle his quickness. He reminded me of Milton Williams, who has been near dominant the past two playoff seasons for Philly and New England. I don't remember but one rep that Durant lost and even that rep was close. He won with power. He won with quickness. I knew he could play, but seeing him win up close was "OH MY GOD THIS GUY IS A DUDE!" His size, or lack thereof, will probably keep him from being a first rounder, but in the right scheme and system, he could be a strong day two interior selection for an NFL team. Those teams that missed out on Williams and regretted will get another crack at it with Durant.
This group of defensive linemen in Mobile is outstanding, most of them starring on the outside. But, the one inside player who was nearly unblockable on Tuesday was Texas Tech NT Lee Hunter. Now, he's big. He's mostly a nose tackle. But, BUT he plays the position like a lithe, quick 3-technique. He's not going to win with insane power and bull rushes over the top of smaller/weaker interior linemen. He likes to engage with his hands, shock and shed to release and make plays all over the field. He consistently beat interior OL doing that same thing on nearly all of his pass rush reps. He doesn't run through guys as much as he dismantles their technique with his ability to shock and shed with regularity. During team drills, he ran right through on a pass rush pressure on a run play that got everyone's attention. He is pushing to get into the first round, using today's performance to lock in on the rise.
I loved the trio of RBs in the afternoon practice. Indiana's Kaelon Black ran 17 times in the national championship game win over Miami, FL just eight days ago. He was absolutely electric when he had the ball in his hands. He's ultra-quick, runs low to the ground and looks to be in fast motion every time he has the ball.
My favorite RB, though, down in Mobile is Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. He caught my attention early in the 2025 season and I was glad to hear that he was given a Senior Bowl opportunity. Tall. Long arms. Muscular build. And, damn, is he fast! He's also 6-0, 228 lb. He hit the boosters a few times out in space and left defenders grasping air. He could be a total dark horse Day two selection in this Draft. I love his running style.
Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny had a full career in Ann Arbor and yet was often overshadowed by other interior prospects. That said, he was excellent on Tuesday. He's a bit undersized but he's built like a Greek god and is strong as hell. He flashed all day with his combination of quickness and power and his performance will force me to go back to his Michigan film, which is one heck of a compliment.
One guy who has ridden the wave throughout the season was Clemson DE T.J. Parker. Heading into the 2025 season, Parker was thought to be a top ten pick, but after an inconsistent season, there was a thought that Parker would no longer be a first round pick. But, he came to Mobile to make a "don't forget about me" statement. Mission accomplished, at least on day one. He won three different times in one-on-one pass rush reps in three different ways. He won with power. He won with a quick inside move. He then won with great hand placement and hand usage on a swipe/rip manuever for a win. He's built like an Adonis and it was important to see him play like an NFL player. He did and was magnificent. THAT T.J. Parker is a first rounder.
The most impressive rep of the day came courtesy of Michigan DE Derrick Moore. I studied Moore last summer and came out of my study HUGELY impressed. So, today, he lined up against 6-8, 345 lb. Markel Bell. The very first rep of the drill…Moore went speed to power and put Bell on his wallet. Very few reps generated a reaction from the assembled watchers, but that one had everyone buzzing for sure. Moore plays with SWARM-y tendencies and I can respect that all day, every day.
That said, Bell GOT Moore with one of his best reps of the day later in the practice. That rep, bouncing back, showed a lot for Bell. This guy just played last Monday in the National championship game and, unlike a handful of others who declined to compete this week, Bell stepped up to compete and I can appreciate that 1000%
I liked what LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier did on Tuesday. He hadn't played ball in a few months due to an injury, but he looked rejuvenated and was in total control of the offense. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a Senior Bowl offense look like, well, a bad word. But, Nussmeier had the offense in control. Timing was on point. He made sure everyone was lined up perfectly. Then, he threw it fairly well throughout the day.
The most impressive QB on Tuesday, in my opinion, was Illinois QB Luke Altmyer. He ripped throws when needed, threw with touch when necessary and completed nearly every pass throughout team periods. The best throw he made was a fastball to USC WR Ja'Kobi Lane on a deep dig route. That ball was SAUCED UP and he put it on the money for a first down. He threw on the run on bootlegs well. Then after practice, he came up into the stands and hugged his girl and his dog. Okay, I'm sold.
I didn't watch much of the WR/DB one-on-ones, but I did see Georgia State WR Ted Hurst make a superb one handed catch on a deep route over a defender…and oh my god, that was tremendous. Hurst may not have played at a power four school, but this guy is as good as any receiver here.
Mark my words, during three preseason games, a team's fanbase will be clamoring for Arkansas QB Taylen Green (6-6, 215 lb.) to be a team's starter. He's going to do things at the QB position that few other QBs in the NFL can. When he takes off to run, I'm telling you this guy can fly. He has a strong arm, but he's inconsistent with his ball placement and accuracy. When he's ON, though, he's a major problem. He does things that, again I promise you, will have fans of the team that drafts him jumping out of their seats every time he takes a snap in preseason.
For some reason, there were some of the best bodies I have ever seen at the Senior Bowl. Florida DE Tyreak Sapp has tree trunks for legs and a trunk that would make Sir Mix-A-Lot envious. Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor is built like I've never seen an OL - huge legs and calves. Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields looks like a marble statue.
Texas A&M OT Demetrius Crownover was solid for A&M this year, but I never felt like I did watching him today, though. He was excellent. He was as physical as any OL. He popped helmets off, his own as well. His footwork was on point out on the edge. He played behind his pads and moved DL. THIS Crownover can play, and play, WELL at the next level.
Missouri DE Zion Young will talk all day long if you let him and after Tuesday's practice, he's not going to shut up any time soon. I love to see pass rushers have a plan and hit it 100 miles per hour, throwing multiple moves in succession to get to the QB. Young did that and then some on his pass rush one-on-one reps. He was one of the best pass rushers I saw on Tuesday. Power. Quickness. Agility. Football IQ. He put it all together on day one.
If Florida DT Caleb Banks can consistently play with adequate pad level, he's nearly Jalen Carter-like unblockable. He had a rep during team drills where he just threw an OL like a throw pillow and ended up in the face of QB Garrett Nussmeier before he made a throw. On the next play, he literally collapsed the left side of the OL (and the right side of the DL) on his own. It was like six guys just all went down like bowling pins. But, then when he did his first pass rush one-on-one rep, he stood too tall and was stoned by Florida OC Jake Slaughter. He's THAT good, but he has to play with that pad level/leverage at all times.
Alright, I think my eyes started to close after writing that last note. So, I'll finish here and pick it up with much more tomorrow from Mobile's Senior Bowl. See ya then, everyone!
