The Senior Bowl continued on day two in Mobile and what a wonderful day it was. Here are my Harris Hits for the second competitive day at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of South Alabama. Let's GO!
I was going to start with a few guys that I missed mentioning on Tuesday but a few of those guys had even better days on Wednesday. Let's start with the only Division III player at the Senior Bowl - John Carroll University WR Tyren Montgomery. I know, I know the jokes are going to flow about John Carroll and the Texans and I heard/read all of them when Montgomery was announced as a Senior Bowl participant. But, if THIS DUDE becomes a Texan, my goodness, it'll be a GREAT thing. He was fabulous on day one, but even better on day two. He gets instant separation on his routes. He catches everything in sight. He's tough and fast after the catch. He made an unreal catch on day two down the field. He belongs, no question.
Another player that's had my attention for years, and was similarly better on Wednesday, is Baylor offensive weapon Josh Cameron. He made a wonderful catch downfield against man coverage on Tuesday and was a high volume target on Wednesday. Maybe it's the 34 that throws me, or the RB-like build, but Cameron strikes me as more than just a receiver. He's a tremendous weapon on kick returns, but he's one heck of a deep threat in the receiving game. He just checks a lot of unique/different boxes as an offensive weapon. I thought he was excellent on Wednesday.
Sign up another player in this category - Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton. Like a few different stars in Mobile, Halton doesn't possess prototypical interior defensive lineman size (6-2 ⅜, 293 lb.) but holy cow, he can wreck an offensive line. He dominated team drills on Tuesday, penetrating gaps and making stuffs behind or at the line of scrimmage. On Wednesday, I wrote his name down at least a half dozen times in one-on-one drills or during team periods. He wasn't immune to telling people all about it too, which is a common thread amongst the American Team defensive line. Quick as a hiccup but leveraged to the hilt, he's powerful and difficult to get hands on as a result. I've seen more and more defensive linemen come into the league at Halton's size because they're so damn disruptive. That's Halton's game. I love what he's done thus far.
Iowa OL Gennings Dunker had a solid day, better than what he did on Tuesday. I felt like he was more comfortable and not thinking as much, so he reacted more adequately than he did the day prior. He was more mechanical and stiff on Tuesday, even if the power and finishing abilities were evident. He came to practice on Wednesday to prove he was worth the hype, whether at guard or tackle.
In the first team drill on the day, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia threw probably his best pass of the week when he RIPPED a fastball across the middle to Wisconsin WR Vinny Anthony for a completion. I've been really impressed with the Wisconsin receiver and he's made plays all over the field, including a deep over the shoulder catch that had many people "OOOOHHHH"ing in the stands.
Pitt LB Kyle Louis reminds me so much of Patriots LB/S/ST star Marte Mapu. Similar build. Similar speed. Similar instincts. Louis flies all around the field and seems comfortable out in space, where many linebackers are not. He's a fun watch and was all over the field on Wednesday, playing the run and pass equally well.
One of my favorite collisions throughout the day was when Oregon LB Bryan Boettcher (Houston Astros draft pick) collided with Penn State RB Kaytron Allen on an inside run play. The sound? Oh my, that pleased my heart. Yet, Allen still fought through the hit to pick up a few extra yards after contact. Allen has been impressive, especially in the physical aspect of the run game.
My favorite running back in Mobile and RB3 in my running back rankings (behind Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, both Notre Dame star RBs) is Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. BIG. Long arms. Excellent in the passing game. Speed for days. He has the full package and he caught my attention earlier in the season against Ole Miss. He made a SICK catch today in one-on-ones against one of the linebackers here on Wednesday. He went up over the LB on a seam route and plucked the ball right out of the air as if he was one of the WRs. Hard to find anything to not like about Washington.
But, Indiana RB Kaelon Black has been tremendous as well. I just love the running backs down here in Alabama. I tried to think of the right word to describe Black's running style and I settled on "slithery explosive". There have been numerous times when it looked like Black wasn't going anywhere and then he would shimmy, jump cut and explode through a small gap in the defense. He can accelerate from 0 to 60 in a blink. He's a fun watch for sure and one of the few players who jumps off the screen each time he touches the ball.
Wednesday was a much better day for Arizona State OT Max iheanachor. He was one of the highest rated players heading down to Mobile and it felt like he internalized that pressure on day one. But, on day two, he was fluid, quick and powerful. He had a rep in one-on-ones against Michigan's Derrick Moore. The Wolverine star hit Iheanachor with a couple of moves and the Arizona State star locked him up and told everyone all about it. He locked up most of everyone he faced on Wednesday. He's built like a tank, but can thrive at tackle in the future.
Kentucky RB Seth McGowan is a frenetic runner, but he has some serious juice out in space. He doesn't always find the right hole and he tends to be impatient when he runs. But, give him a sliver and he'll hit the boosters for sure.
Clemson RB Adam Randall is an intriguing BIG running back (6-2, 235 lb). He was a former receiver who made the transition late in the 2024 season. Those receiver traits come through in his play. That said, he's completely foreign, and unaccustomed to pass protection. He struggles mightily in that role, but give him the football and holy cow, he's a different player. He's a long strider who can pull away from defenders. As a receiver, he made a catch on a ball thrown behind him that was nearly as good as anything a WR did this week. But, a rookie RB gets on the field (Woody Marks, anyone?) when he shows he can pass protect adequately. Randall isn't there yet, but he might have a different role on third down given his hands and receiving ability.
The great thing about the Senior Bowl is that there's always a player that catches my attention that I, admittedly, didn't watch much during the season. That player in Mobile is Western Michigan edge rusher Nadame Tucker. The University of Houston transfer led the nation in sacks per game (1.12/game) and watching him on Wednesday, it was clear why. During one of the first team periods, he had three consecutive plays in which he just wrecked the offense. He threw a SICK ghost move against Boise State OT Kage Casey on first down and was in the face of the QB on the first play. Then, he took on a counter run right at him and spilled it to the outside. Later in practice, he ran right over Washington OT Carver Willis, knocking Willis right into Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson as the Bears QB tried to throw downfield. He's explosive off the edge and the prototypical 3-4 pass rusher. Stand him up and let him go to work on tackles with his explosiveness, bend and cadre of pass rush moves. Steelers edge Nick Herbig immediately came to mind. That 14.5 sack number? No fluke.
Wednesday was an excellent day for Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez. I saw it plenty on film throughout the season, but seeing his speed and ability to decipher the offensive play scheme is mindblowing. He can fly to the ball and that speed shows up ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. J Rod also had a number of reps in one-on-ones against RBs that showed he can stay on the field all three downs and he'll play on special teams for sure.
I mentioned Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker yesterday and he was magnificent, no question. But, something caught my attention today that told me an even more interesting story. During a team period, Parker won off the edge and pushed Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia off his spot. So, Pavia took off and Parker took off too. The Clemson star didn't quit and chased Pavia 30-35 yards downfield, tagging off on him all the way across the field. That was impressive.
The most impressive play of the entire week happened today in the second practice of the day. Arkansas QB Taylen Green dropped to throw and he was pushed off his spot a little bit but he didn't want to leave the pocket because he noticed Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields (aka DK Metcalf 2.0) deep behind the defense. So, Green, off one foot essentially, launched one about 55 yards in the air. As I watched the ball in the air, I thought, damn, he overthrew Fields. Then, Fields hit a different gear, tracked the ball over his shoulder and made a Willie Mays over the shoulder catch, one of the best I've ever seen in Mobile. Scouts, coaches and media went nuts. It was the most NFL "thing" all day, all week. That catch? Damn! But, Green's throw was sublime as well.
I don't typically love undersized interior OL, but Miami, FL OC James Brockermeyer has been excellent at center this week. He holds up well against power, WAY better than I anticipated. He's made an impression on me for sure and to think he hasn't had a break in football since late July, showed up here in Mobile to COMPETE and thrive, that's a big feather in his cap.
I haven't spent much time watching the cornerbacks in Mobile due to the fact that the Texans have two of the best in the NFL, but it's hard not to be impressed by Tennessee CB Colton Hood. Every time that I've seen a QB "try" Hood in coverage, he hasn't given up a yard. He reminds me a ton of Tre'Davious White (Bills/LSU), given his build.
Another SEC player that flashed and immediately brought to mind an NFL comp was South Carolina RB Rahsul Faison. He's a bit bowlegged and has that start/stop hesitation sort of running style like former Texans RB Cam Akers. The Gamecock is bigger than Akers, but, similarly, he's tough to corral and tackle, given his run style, strength, power and speed. Again, this RB group in Mobile is NICE!
One of the great things about seeing players up close is being able to get a gauge on their true build and size because seeing them on film or TV can be deceiving. Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher is exhibit A. I could've sworn that he was 265/270 lb. watching him on film, but he's got a thinner build and is going to be a factor in a team's passing game than the in-line Y-TE I thought he was going to be. Now, he can hold his own in the run game, but he's got pass receiving potential. In the one-on-one competition period at the end of practice, he ran a seam route on Pitt LB Kyle Louis and picked a throw right out of the air off Louis's helmet. Seeing him snatch that ball right out of the air had everyone's attention. I'm a fan of Boerkircher and think he can play any of the varied tight end positions.
The power that Florida DT Caleb Banks plays with is oftentimes jawdropping. During a one-on-one period, he took an offensive guard and swatted him out of the way with one arm. I saw it and just reflexively said "DAYUM!" Banks just needs to play with that power, pad level and intensity on every down. He plays hard, no question, but he has to channel that power to play like a mini-Jalen Carter.
Whoever put the quarter into Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, good on you. He's been turnt up all week long and is telling everyone all about it. He was stymied early on by Illinois OT J.C. Davis. But, a few reps later, Young ran flat over Davis, earning a modicum of revenge. That first rep was really the first time that Young had been stopped all week. His Missouri teammate Chris McClellan has gotten my attention as well. I thought he was excellent at Missouri in 2025, but his power, in particular, has really taken his game to a different level this week.
But, Missouri has some offensive talent in Mobile too. WR Kevin Coleman Jr. has consistently gotten separation and made catches all over the field. He's not big, but he has a knack for getting open anywhere on the field. He might be a true slot in the future as a result, but he can be a good one.
I've been a fan of Texas CB Malik Muhammed for a while and even though he's not a large individual, he's feisty when the ball is in the air. He had a great PBU during team periods later in practice. I think he can play outside, but he might be the perfect interior nickel cover corner for a team in the future.
I won't even try to figure out what happened with Oklahoma RB Jaydn Ott in 2025 as his season was a disaster after transferring from Cal. But, I know what I've seen this week is that of a future NFL contributor at running back. He has insane speed when he's out in space. Again, I don't even know what slowed him down at OU, but he's sped up in Mobile.
Heading into the 2025 season, I was super-high on USC WR Ja'Kobi Lane, in large part, because he catches everything in his area code. He has such soft hands and makes highlight reel catches that no other WR in this draft class can make. During team drills, he caught a ball and I swear I couldn't hear the ball hit his hands. He just absorbed the ball as it hit his hands. Later in a team period, he snatched a fastball from Arkansas QB Taylen Green on a dig route across the middle. That ball had juice on it from Green and Lane just plucked it as if it was sitting stationary on a shelf.
Alright, that's going to do it for day two in Mobile. One more day of practice tomorrow and I'll have more Harris Hits on Thursday! Thanks for reading.
