Six Tide Players in Saturday’s Senior Bowl

Saturday is the 74th Annual Senior Bowl. As much as cities like Orlando have tried, the game has not been pried away from lovely Mobile, Alabama. After many decades at Ladd–Peebles Stadium, the game is now played at the University of South Alabama’s new stadium in the suburbs.

The two teams are the American (AFC) and the National (NFC) with coaching staffs made up of NFL coaches. Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy leads the American team and Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham heads up the National team. Instead of full coaching staffs from one NFL team, this year it is a mix of assistants from all non-playoff teams.

This game is an All-Star game, but the real purposes are for players to prep for the NFL Draft and impress scouts as well as for scouts to get a first look at guys up close and personal. Spending a whole week working with prospects in a camp atmosphere is much better than the outdated “Underwear Olympics” that is the NFL Combine.

ALABAMA

• #54 OL Tyler Steen has been blowing up everyone he faces this week. He has certainly improved his stock this week and if someone falls in love with him, he could find his way into the first round. He proved his versatility working at tackle and guard. My guess is he is a second rounder or possibly into the third. But expect him to be a starter in the near future. For more of his Senior Bowl highlights, click here.

• #80 TE Cameron Latu has impressed as well. He probably won’t hear his name called for the first three rounds but I could see some team take a chance on him in the fourth or fifth round. Latu was voted American team’s TE Practice Player-of-Week by vote from his peers/practice foes in American LB and DB groups.

• #55 OL Emil Ekiyor has had a good week. He also played some center. Versatility is always a good selling point. 4th or 5th round.
• #2 DB DeMarcco Hellams has looked okay. With his size and pedigree, he’ll get drafted for sure, maybe 6 or 7.
• #94 DL DJ Dale has not looked great as a pass rusher in practice, but he could help a team as a middle mucker. If he gets picked, it will be late.
• #47 DL Byron Young has had a few highlights in practice. Maybe fourth round at the highest.

Alabama safety Jordan Battle originally accepted an invitation to participate but changed his mind to reportedly focus on recovering from a few injuries sustained from the 2022 season. It sounds like someone had been getting bad advice from an agent or uncle mentor. He could have used the time down there to improve his stock. A few draft mockers see him as a late first rounder. In my experience covering the draft, he’s looking like a third rounder. Although, it is a light year for safeties. So, it could happen.

Crimson Tide placekicker Will Reichard had also backed out after opting to return for another season in Tuscaloosa.

AMERICAN PLAYERS OF NOTE

• DL Derick Hall - Auburn
• LB Eku Leota - Auburn
• OL Richard Gouraige - Florida
• OL O’Cyrus Torrence - Florida
• DB Christopher Smith - Georgia
• OL Warren McClendon Jr - Georgia
• PK Jack Podlesny - Georgia
• RB Kenny McIntosh - Georgia
• QB Clayton Tune - Houston - Did not look great.
• WR Nathaniel Dell - Houston
• RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Kentucky
• DB Jay Ward - LSU
• DL Ali Gaye - LSU
• DL Cameron Young - Mississippi State
• DL Isaiah McGuire - Missouri
• DL Jalen Redmond - Oklahoma
• OL Wanya Morris - Oklahoma - former Vol
• RB Eric Gray - Oklahoma - also a former Vol
• TE Brayden Willis - Oklahoma
• DL Tavius Robinson - Ole Miss
• OL Nick Broeker - Ole Miss
• WR Jonathan Mingo - Ole Miss
• LB SirVocea Dennis - Pitt - Will also appear in the Key & Peele All-Star Game.
• WR Don’tayvion Wicks - Virginia - Key & Peele.

• QB Tyson Bagent - Shepherd University (WV) - The Senior Bowl always invites a player or two from D-II. Bagent threw more touchdowns (159) than any player in college football history, but has looked every bit a D-II player passing against FBS stars in practice. His dad is a arm-wrestling champ and a natural with a mic. ^^^
• DB Marte Mapu - Sacramento State - SSU went 12–1 in FCS in 2022.
• DB Darrell Luter Jr. - South Alabama
• WR Jalen Wayne - South Alabama - from Spanish Fort.
• DB Darius Rush - South Carolina
• DL Zacch Pickens - South Carolina
• QB Max Duggan - TCU - Heisman finalist.
• DL Byron Young - Tennessee - No, not Alabama’s Byron Young.
• OL Darnell Wright - Tennessee
• QB Hendon Hooker - Tennessee - Still has an ACL injury and is not playing.
• RB Tyjae Spears - Tulane - 1,581 rushing yards, 19 rush TD in 2022.

NATIONAL PLAYERS OF NOTE

• RB Chase Brown - Illinois - 1,643 rushing yards, 10 rush TD in 2022.
• QB Jaren Hall - BYU - has looked bad.
• DL KJ Henry - Clemson
• QB Jake Haener - Fresno State - The next Brock Purdy?
• QB Malik Cunningham - Louisville - Montgomery, AL native should just move to WR.
• OL Jake Andrews - Troy - from Millbrook, AL.
• LB Carlton Martial - Troy - McGill-Toolen graduate.
• LB Andre Carter II - Army - Has looked really good. Some mockers think he could be a Day 1 selection. He’s probably more of an early second rounder.
• DL Isaiah Foskey - Notre Dame
• DB Keidron Smith - Kentucky
• LB DeMarvion Overshown - Texas - Key & Peele All-Star
• DL Nesta Jade Silvera - Arizona State - Key & Peele All-Star
• DB Kyu Blu Kelly - Notre Dame - Key & Peele All-Star

The game can be seen live on NFL Network on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. CT.