2025 Senior Bowl: National Team Standouts
The 2025 Senior Bowl is in the books after another wildly successful event. While the National team fell to the American squad in a scintillating showdown, it was a productive week for most of the team. Who were the National team standouts that made a name for themselves during a beautiful Senior Bowl week in Mobile? Which players made the best of their chances against the best prospects in the country?
For the American team standouts, the link is below:
Offense
Running Back
Damien Martinez | Miami
Martinez proved what he is in Mobile. He’s a powerful runner with a little wiggle in his game. Teams will love the increasing annual production. He looked slimmer and showed off more speed and agility as a result. He likely won’t be a back who consistently hits home runs, but singles and doubles are always effective. The former Hurricanes star had an excellent week and was a winner after the process. If he can prove his speed at the Combine, he can rise as high as the middle of Day 2 selection.
Woody Marks | USC
Much like his predecessor at Mississippi State and USC, Marks had a great week in Mobile to get on teams’ radar. He displayed plenty of speed and lateral agility, along with a great knowledge of the passing game. With the positive week, he had to stand out in a loaded field of running backs, he has launched himself into the discussion for a Day 2 selection.
Bhayshul Tuten | Virginia Tech
Given the hype entering the process, the Virginia Tech running back was impressive throughout the week. He showed off his trademark speed and agility in every drill. Teams will love his collegiate production and athleticism. His pass-catching ability was the one area that needed some answers, and he answered those in Mobile. He’s an explosive athlete who can hit a long-distance run from anywhere on the field. His stock could have accelerated into the middle stages of Day 3.
Wide Receiver
Jayden Higgins | Iowa State
Higgins proved he has more speed and lateral agility than he was given credit for during the week. He was efficient in his routes and showed off an impressive route tree. The Iowa State product is what teams look for in “X” receivers with their speed, lateral quickness, and size. He’s a faster version of Xavier Hutchinson. Higgins had a great week and was one of the better receivers in Mobile. He should be in the Day 2 conversation if he can prove it at the Combine.
Tez Johnson | Oregon
The former Ducks star receiver was the best at his position in Mobile. He dominated nearly every defensive back thrown his way and showed tremendous speed and lateral agility. However, his 5’9 “156 size is an issue, so he must add weight without sacrificing speed. Given his size, he’s likely limited to the slot and special teams duties. Johnson proved to be a monstrous athlete who knows how to gain separation and give his quarterback a target to throw to. He has solidified his stock into the Day 2 range.
Kyle Williams | Washington State
Williams performed well in Mobile, given his athletic traits. He consistently won most of his reps using his short-area quickness and bursting off the line to separate. The Washington State receiver displayed improved route-running ability and set up the defensive back at the top of the break. His speed and quickness were quite evident on every rep. He’s an underrated receiver that teams will fall in love with.
Tight End
Elijah Arroyo | Miami
Miami has another supremely athletic tight end, you say? Arroyo didn’t break out until his senior season but had a great Senior Bowl week. He needed it to offset some production concerns. The Hurricanes prospect dominated the proceedings as the best tight end in Mobile. He should be flying up the rankings in a loaded class. Arroyo could parlay it into a late Day 2/early Day 3 selection.
Terrance Ferguson | Oregon
The former Oregon star tight end was arguably Mobile’s second-best tight end prospect. He holds numerous school records as the best at his position. Ferguson was a key weapon for Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel in his career. He has the athleticism and route running ability to swing between tight end and X receiver. While not known as a blocker, he does make an effort in that area. With a solid week, he should be drafted within the first five rounds.
Offensive Line
Anthony Belton | OT | NC State
Belton quickly proved his talents on Day 1 and has steadily won most of his reps. He’s one of the more underrated tackles in the class and rose up the boards with a great week. The NC State tackle won’t likely go as high as Wolfpack alum Ikem Ekonwu but should be drafted within the first four rounds. He is a rising prospect after a solid week full of winning reps.
Josh Conerly, Jr | OT | Oregon
Conerly entered the week with first-round hype, mostly leaving Mobile with that status intact. He lost or drew several reps but won his fair share as well. The former five-star recruit showed off his tantalizing talent and proved why he should be in the mix for OT1. Can he recover some lost stock at the Combine and write his name in pen for the first round?
Jalen Rivers | OL | Miami
Rivers was consistently good during the week and showed tremendous versatility by winning reps at multiple spots. He has the length to stick at tackle long-term in the league, but teams might use him as a swing guard/tackle in the NFL. The former Hurricanes lineman entered the week with little fanfare but won over a lot of fans for his practices. He should be drafted within the first three rounds if he can follow up with an outstanding Combine.
Grey Zabel | OL | North Dakota State
Zabel was Mobile’s most dominant offensive lineman, rarely losing a rep. After being moved all over the line in college, he settled into center and guard during the week. The former NDSU star lineman was adept in his new professional home. Teams will fall in love with his versatility, and his Senior Bowl week has cemented his stock into the first round.
Defense
Defensive Line
Darius Alexander | Toledo
The Toledo star was nigh unblockable throughout the week, with three consecutive days of consistently outstanding performances. He more than lived up to the billing as the top-rated defensive tackle by PFF and then some. Alexander is a more than capable athlete with a quick first step and the length to keep blockers at bay. He’s an effortlessly smooth operator, no matter the defensive front that he’s placed in. Teams will love his athleticism, production, and Senior Bowl performance to merit consideration in the early to middle stages of Day 3.
Jamaree Caldwell | Oregon
Caldwell stood out for his size and athleticism during the first two days of practice before bowing out of the third due to injury. He was the workhorse for the Ducks defense that won the Big Ten championship and earned the top overall seed in the playoff. He projects as a nose tackle due to his size at the next level. The former Ducks lineman showed underrated athleticism, which should get him drafted higher than most expect.
Joshua Farmer | Florida State
Despite the Seminoles’ lost season, Farmer was a solid contributor throughout the 2024 campaign. He parlayed his consistent two-year contribution into a Senior Bowl invite and ran with it. Farmer measured in at 6’2 314 with 35-inch arms. The arm length was best in class among interior defenders in Mobile. The former FSU lineman used every bit of that length and athleticism to destroy blockers on nearly every rep. He wreaked havoc for almost every OL he faced during the three practice sessions, with only Grey Zabel battling him to a standstill. With his tremendous week, the Farmer family should hear their name called within the first three rounds.
Aeneas Peebles | Virginia Tech
Peebles immediately impacted during the week, using his athleticism to overwhelm blockers. He’s undersized for the position, but his quickness and first step negate that. The former Hokies star lineman was consistently great throughout the week and made several plays in the game. He has positively elevated his stock after a standout performance. Teams that value quick-twitch, undersized linemen will think of him highly. The possibility of him going higher than his projected late Day 3 grade is trending upwards.
Ty Robinson | Nebraska
Robinson received most of his work on the interior, and he was a surprising entrant as a standout. The former Nebraska lineman measured in at 6’4 “296, which would then be the heaviest of the EDGE group. He was constantly making plays in the backfield from the inside, where he is best suited. He’s a quick short-area athlete with some pass-rush moves who had a great week. Robinson improved his stock from the latter stages of Day 3 into the early to middle of Day 3 after his performance in Mobile.
EDGE
Donovan Ezeiruaku | Boston College
The former Boston College EDGE had a solid week that cemented his stock further after an outstanding 2024 campaign. While he lost a few battles in practice, he primarily showed off his athleticism and won a fair share of reps. He’s a twitched-up athlete who is bendy, similar to Harold Landry. His physical traits are impressive. Can he translate them at the pro level as the primary pass rusher? Expect him to test well at the Combine and solidify a Day 2 selection.
Mike Green | Marshall
Green was the dominant alpha of both EDGE groups, and that’s saying something, given the breadth of talent in Mobile. The Marshall pass rusher was so effective that he pulled out of the event after two days of practice. While he won’t be the first EDGE rusher off the board, the chances are that he will be a top-20 selection. Green entered the week as a potential first-round selection and exited with an improved stock.
Landon Jackson | Arkansas
Jackson started the week slowly but finished with a flourish. He’s not a primetime athlete but wins with his overall versatility. His length and power will usually get him where he needs to go. If he can test well at the Combine and Pro Day, there’s a great chance he could go on Day 2. Jackson showed off plenty of his pass rush arsenal in the practices and the game. Improving daily is the goal at the event, and he achieved that goal with flying colors. Teams will love his scheme and positional versatility.
Oluwafemi Oladejo | UCLA
What is it with UCLA and OO initialed pass rushers in Mobile? Like his Bruin and Senior Bowl predecessors, Otito Ogbonnia and Osa Odighizuwa, Femi put on a show. He won nearly every rep during the practices and flashed a vast amount of upside and traits. The former Bruins pass rusher projects as a swing EDGE and IDL type of prospect. He had a great week and should go in the middle stages of Day 3 with the potential to go higher.
David Walker | Central Arkansas
Walker stole the show during the week, even in a class chock full of talented EDGE rushers. The small school product more than held his own against bigger and better competition. He flashed some immense talent at every practice and showed off his athleticism. He’s a toolsy prospect with tremendous upside. The UCA product has the potential to go in the early to middle stages of Day 3 with the week he had.
Linebacker
Jeffery Bassa | Oregon
Bassa was the best linebacker prospect in Mobile and wore the “green dot” as the defensive general. He showed every bit of his prodigious athletic talent during the week. The former converted safety looked right at home at inside linebacker. Oregon used him in a multipurpose role, so he was comfortable in any situation. He’s built like a modern-day linebacker at 6’1 226 and has the athleticism of a defensive back. Teams will love his quick twitch and burst, along with his versatility. In every team rep that he took part in, he was the one breaking the huddle. Bassa definitively elevated his stock into the early part of Day 3 with his Mobile performance.
Secondary
Keondre Jackson | S | Illinois State
Jackson was another small school defensive back that made a name for himself in Mobile. He did not shirk away from the step up in competition. The former Illinois State product won more than his fair share of reps. As you can see in the clip below, it was just a snippet of his week, where he was always buzzing near the ball. The drills at the Senior Bowl aren’t designed with the safeties in mind, but Jackson passed with flying colors throughout the week. As a result, he has risen on the boards and should find himself in the middle stage of Day 3.
Quincy Riley | CB | Louisville
The former Louisville defensive back had a standout week in Mobile, locking down the receiver during most of his reps. True to his college form, he constantly had his nose around the football during the week. In three seasons at Louisville, he notched eight interceptions and 27 passes defended. Riley made a strong case that he was the best cornerback on the National team. With a solid week, he elevated himself into early Day 3 territory.
Azareye’h Thomas | CB | Florida State
Thomas arguably had the best week of any prospect in Mobile, furthering his rise from the dark days of the 2024 Seminoles season. He shut down virtually every receiver he went up against during the practices. Thomas has the bloodlines and the athleticism to become a true CB1 at the next level. His older brother, Juanyeh, plays safety for the Cowboys. Teams will love his size (6’1 191) and footwork in both man and zone. There’s a chance the younger Thomas will be one of the first cornerbacks off the board in April.
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!