2025 Senior Bowl Preview: Wide Receivers

The 2025 Senior Bowl receivers have everything teams want in their receivers and more. Who are the best of the best in this illustrious group, and can anyone rise to the first round? Mobile’s 2024 class of receivers saw several key contributors rise to the top of their games. How will the 2025 class fare under the most intense spotlight in the off-season circuit?

Note: All statistics courtesy of college sports reference.

American

1. Elic Ayomanor | Stanford

2. Jack Bech | TCU

3. Tai Felton | Maryland

4. Chimere Dike | Florida

5. Bru McCoy | Tennessee

6. Jamaal Pritchett | South Alabama

7. Jalen Royals | Utah State

8. Arian Smith | Georgia

Top Prospects

Elic Ayomanor

Of all the 2025 Senior Bowl receivers, Ayomanor has the opportunity to become the best of the two groups. He’s not the most twitchy or athletic receiver, but he knows how to get open. He presents an intriguing blend of size and physicality that flummoxed defensive backs. Ayomanor is gaining serious steam as one of the best in the class. If he can have a good week, he’ll have scouts going back to the tape for more. Stanford had a litany of quarterback issues but produced 800+ yards and six touchdowns. His 2023 tape against presumptive top-five selection Travis Hunter is one Hunter would like to forget.

Jalen Royals

The Utah State receiver came onto the scene in 2023 with 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s the first Aggie receiver to participate in the Senior Bowl since Kevin Curtis in 2003 and the first Aggie overall since Jordan Love in 2020. He was on pace to better those 2023 numbers, but a foot injury derailed his 2024 and caused him to miss most of the season. He’s an intriguing receiver who must prove he’s beyond the injury. He may present the most intrigue among the 2025 Senior Bowl receivers.

Sleepers

Tai Felton

Felton had his finest season as a Terrapin in 2024, finishing with 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns on 96 receptions. He brings a size and speed component to the proceedings with good lateral athleticism. The former Terrapins receiver was a big-game merchant, showing out against Oregon, USC, and Michigan State. One-on-one drills will be crucial for him during the week. His current projection is an early Day 3 grade before Mobile. H

Jamaal Pritchett

Pritchett is this year’s recipient of the annual South Alabama invitation given by the Senior Bowl. He’s a dynamic weapon that plays any receiver position on the field. His size might limit him to the slot, given that he’s a listed 5’8 175. The USA product is a quick and twitchy receiver who can take it the distance on any given play. He has the chance to show out in one-on-one drills but has to compensate against taller and stronger DBs with his quickness.

National

1. Pat Bryant | Illinois

2. Da’Quan Felton | Virginia Tech

3. Jayden Higgins | Iowa State

4. Tez Johnson | Oregon

5. Jaylin Lane | Virginia Tech

6. Jaylin Noel | Iowa State

7. Xavier Restrepo | Miami

8. Kyle Williams | Washington State

Big Names

Tez Johnson

The Ducks’ star receiver was the primary target for two Senior Bowl quarterbacks. Johnson’s adopted brother is Denver Broncos rookie sensation Bo Nix. He is the first Oregon receiver to participate in Mobile since Josh Huff. The Troy transfer burst onto the P4 scene as a junior with 86 receptions for 1,182 yards and ten touchdowns. He profiles as a slot receiver with significant speed and short-area twitch. Oregon’s offense relied on the short to intermediate game, and he took advantage of his athleticism. Johnson is nigh uncatchable once he accelerates. He also provides value in the return game, with some experience as a punt returner. If he has a good week, he can solidify a selection for the latter stages of Day 2 or early Day 3.

Xavier Restrepo

Restrepo is Miami’s all-time leader in career receptions (200) and yardage (2,844), which is no easy feat, given all the talent that has passed through Coral Gables. He’s also the first Hurricanes receiver since Braxton Berrios to participate in the Senior Bowl. His size and athleticism concerns will likely limit him to slot receiver duties. He isn’t the fastest receiver regarding deep speed, but his route running more than makes up for it. He’s a crafty route runner who gets himself open more often than not. Restrepo had to wait his turn behind some good receivers, but he produced consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns to finish his career.

Top Prospects

Pat Bryant

Bryant is the first Illinois receiver to participate in the Senior Bowl since Geronimo Allison in 2016. The receiver improved on his production every season with the surging Illini, culminating in 984 yards and ten touchdowns. He has plus ball skills and spatial awareness, but the deep speed is questionable. Bryant displayed his soft hands frequently and didn’t shy away from contact. The former Illini receiver has a chance to make some noise in Mobile but will need to show off some lateral agility. He can solidify himself as an early Day 3 selection with a good week.

Jayden Higgins

Higgins profiles as an old-school “X” receiver in size (6’4 215) and athleticism. He’s an expert at contested catches and knows how to box out opposing defensive backs. He doesn’t have that breakaway gear but has enough speed to get past DBs. The former Cyclones receiver could follow in the footsteps of Iowa State/Senior Bowl alumni Xavier Hutchinson and Allan Lazard. He needs a good week to dispel speed concerns but has the strength to outmuscle DBs in one-on-one drills.

Jaylin Noel

Noel is a nuanced route runner with a solid route tree and production to go with it. He began breaking out as a junior in 2023 but continued his ascent as a senior. The Cyclones’ star receiver posted over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, playing alongside another Senior Bowl teammate, Jayden Higgins. While he doesn’t have that burning speed, he gets open with his route-running ability and ball skills. He’s built like a running back and seeks out contact like one after the catch. He’s in prime position to settle into an early Day 3 selection with a reasonable Senior Bowl effort.

Sleepers

Kyle Williams

The Cougars standout is an electrifying athlete with the short-area quickness and acceleration to run away from the fastest DBs. Washington State deployed him in various sets, and he excelled in each role. He is probably the most dynamic receiver that hardly anyone knows about due to Washington State’s issues with conference affiliation. Lateral agility isn’t an issue with Williams, but press coverage is, given his size (6’0, 186). He is inconsistent as a route runner, frequently rounding routes off instead of angling them. He knows how to get open but doesn’t move with the passer consistently. If he can prove that he can beat press coverage during the week, he can fly up the boards into the early portions of Day 3.