2026 Senior Bowl Preview: Wide Receivers

The 2026 edition of the Senior Bowl prepares to kick off the much-anticipated practice sessions in a couple of days. We’ll be taking a look at how each position could fare in Mobile and how it could affect each prospect’s future. The wide receiver class in 2026 is loaded once again to make an impact in the NFL come fall. Which receiver prospects could shine at the 2026 Senior Bowl? Who will need to impress scouts to get themselves on the radar? There have been several Pro Bowlers, like Puka Nacua, Chimere Dike, and Romeo Doubs, who graced Mobile before making it to the NFL.

Here are the previews by position as we go along

Running Back

American Team

1. Aaron Anderson | LSU

2. Cyrus Allen | Cincinnati

3. Lewis Bond | Boston College

4. Barion Brown | LSU

5. Kevin Coleman, Jr | Missouri

6. Malachi Fields | Notre Dame

7. Ted Hurst | Georgia State

8. Ja’Kobi Lane | USC

9. Devin Voisin | South Alabama

Big Names

Malachi Fields

Fields profiles as a true “X” receiver with his listed size at 6’4 220. He played four years at Virginia before spending his final season with the Fighting Irish. The yardage production fell off by a marginal amount, but he remained consistent with the touchdowns, scoring five times. He’s a bigger receiver with the speed and athleticism to outrun slower, flat-footed defenders. Despite his size, he can play like a smaller, quicker receiver and bully defenders with his strength. He’s one of the best receivers in the 2026 class, given his physical characteristics. If he can live up to the billing in Mobile, there’s a good chance that he will get drafted in the middle of Day 2.

Top Prospects

Ja’Kobi Lane

Lane could be the most prominent name among receivers in Mobile after several elected not to attend the proceedings. The true junior broke out as a sophomore and followed it up with a good 2025 season. His touchdown production fell from 12 to 4 this past season as teammate Makai Lemon assumed the lead dog role. While he won’t wow anyone with his athleticism, he’s above average and plays a workmanlike style. He just works harder than the defensive back to get open and be available. Lane is a bigger receiver, coming in at a listed 6’4 200, so the frame is there. He knows how to use his size well to ward off defenders and make the contested catch. His tools present an intriguing profile for teams needing a receiver on Day 2. If he can prove to scouts that there’s a hidden gear, he’ll fly up the boards.

Lewis Bond

Bond is an underrated prospect whose team struggled to be consistent during his career. He became the all-time receptions leader in program history, surpassing Zay Flowers with 213 receptions, most of which came in three years. The production is quite remarkable given the time constraints and rolling coverage towards him. He’s an exceptional route runner who knows how to get open in most cases. Bond finished his BC career in a flurry with 88 receptions for 993 yards and one touchdown. He plays bigger than listed measureables and takes on all comers. If he can show some athleticism in addition to his route-running savvy in Mobile, he can vault himself into the middle of the Day 3 conversation. He’s the first BC receiver to participate in the Senior Bowl.

Sleeper

Ted Hurst

The Fun Belt’s latest Senior Bowl talent, Hurst, started his career at Valdosta State before transferring to Georgia State before the 2024 season. He’s a big receiver listed at 6’3 190 and plays like it. The Peach State native has played his entire football career in the state. Hurst was very productive for the Panthers, posting over 1,900 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons. He improved on his 2024 numbers, so teams will love the increased productivity. Bruce Feldman ranked him in his 2025 edition of the “Freaks List”. He offers a lot of potential for an offensive coordinator to move him around the field with multiple reps everywhere.

His speed and athleticism should win many one-on-one matchups in Mobile, given his size. Hurst is the second-ever Panthers receiver to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl since 2019. With a good week, it’s entirely possible that he becomes a middle Day 3 selection.

Cyrus Allen

Allen is a three-time transfer who started hot at Louisiana Tech before falling back to earth at A&M and revitalizing at Cincinnati in 2025. While the career yardage numbers aren’t gaudy, he was productive throughout his career, scoring consistently at LT. He truly broke out the touchdown celebrations with 13 of them while residing in the same city as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The former Bearcats star receiver thrived with quarterback Brendan Sorsby and parlayed an excellent 2025 into an American Bowl invite. He then earned the call-up to the Senior Bowl with his great play in Lakeland. It will be interesting to see if he can turn heads again, facing better competition in Mobile. With a great week, he could land in the middle of Day 3.

National Team

1. Vinny Anthony II | Wisconsin

2. Romello Brinson | SMU

3. Josh Cameron | Baylor

4. Caleb Douglas | Texas Tech

5. Jordan Hudson | SMU

6. Caullin Lacy | Louisville

7. Harrison Wallace III | Ole Miss

8. Reggie Virgil | Texas Tech

Big Names

Caleb Douglas

Douglas transferred to the pass-happy Red Raiders in 2024 and contributed immensely to their rise to a NIL power. He was remarkably consistent, catching 114 receptions for 1,723 yards and 13 touchdowns in Lubbock, with numbers almost evenly split. He’s a tall and well-built receiver with the strength to seal off defenders, but can also run by them with little effort. His ball skills are tremendous, with great tracking ability. Teams will love the consistency in production, but the breakaway speed isn’t there just yet. If he can show he’s not just a product of the Air Raid and demonstrate more nuanced route-running, he profiles like a Day 2 selection.

Sleepers

Caullin Lacy

The former South Alabama receiver returns home for another go-around at Whitney-Hancock Stadium after spending his last two seasons at Louisville. Unfortunately, his story took a sharp turn in 2024 when he broke his leg, derailing a promising future with the Cardinals. He bounced back to some degree in 2025, posting 635 yards and 2 touchdowns on 60 receptions, which is promising. He was dominant as a Jaguar in 2023, producing 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 receptions. His size might limit him to slot duties, but he thrives in those roles.

He’s a quick-twitch, bursty type of athlete who can make anyone miss, but can be pushed off by more physical cornerbacks. Lacy also provides special teams value as he has punt return reps on his CV. There’s a chance that if he can show that he’s further away from the leg injury, he can get into the early Day 3 range with some luck.

Reggie Virgil

Virgil’s Senior Bowl teammate Caleb Douglas and Coy Eakin may have soaked up all the attention, but it was Virgil who led the team in receptions. He ranked second on the team with 705 yards and six touchdowns to his credit. The Red Raiders built their offense behind two behemoth 6’3 to 6’4 receivers, and it shows. Virgil is an efficient route runner who knows his limitations and adjusts accordingly. There are no wasted steps in his game, and he gets open consistently, no matter the quarterback. He transferred to Tech after three years at Miami (OH). Between the trio of receivers, Virgil presents the best overall package of athleticism, wits, and technical ability. With a good week in Mobile, he could launch himself into the late Day 2 to early Day 3 range.

Harrison Wallace III

Wallace spent four seasons with Penn State before signing with Ole Miss for the 2025 season. He’s been productive throughout his career, but elevated himself in Oxford. The big play threat produced 61 receptions for 934 yards and four touchdowns in Lane Kiffin’s wide-open attack, which led the team. His coup de grace might have been the destruction of Georgia’s talented secondary to the tune of nine catches for 156 yards and one touchdown in the Sugar Bowl. Wallace has great size at a listed 6’1 185+ and the agility to make any defender look foolish. Efficient explosiveness is the name of his game, and defenders couldn’t keep up with his route running at times. If he can continue his upward trajectory, a spot in the middle of Day 3 may have opened up for him.