First TD Bets — Wild Card Monday Slate
Alex Christenson
The 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl has arrived!
I am here to break down the offensive players we will see at the Senior Bowl this week. This year’s group is loaded with talent due to a rule change that has allowed underclassmen also to attend this event. The players will have the chance to meet one-on-one with NFL coaches and general managers while benefiting from the NFL coaches who are coaching the game. Let’s not delay and dive into some of these names.
Quarterbacks
- Taylor Elgersma, Laurier
- Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
- Will Howard, Ohio State
- Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
- Seth Henigan, Memphis
- Tyler Shough, Louisville
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
For Jalen Milroe, the talent is undeniable. He is the most physically gifted quarterback in the class. His production backs this up with over 1,300 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons. There is a lot of room for improvement on the technical side of the game, though, especially in the passing game. He’s yet to surpass 3,000 yards passing in a season. This week will be a chance for him to work with NFL coaches and show that he can clean up the technical side of the game en route to becoming a complete quarterback at the next level. If so, there is a chance he could become a first-round pick this April.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Since his time at USC, we have seen Jaxson Dart slowly improve and develop into one of the better quarterbacks in the nation. His 4,279 passing yards led the SEC this season, while his 29 passing touchdowns were second, all en route to a nation-leading 180.7 passer rating. With over 1,500 career rushing yards, Dart also offers plenty with his legs. This stellar senior season has driven his name up draft boards, and the Senior Bowl is another spot for him to continue his ascension. With week-long exposure to an NFL coaching staff, I wouldn’t be surprised if his arm talent doesn’t entice more than one team to take a shot at him.
Running Backs
- Trevor Etienne, Georgia
- Brashard Smith, SMU
- Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
- Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- Kalel Mullings, Michigan
- Donovan Edwards, Michigan
- Damien Martinez, Miami
- Marcus Yarns, Delaware
- RJ Harvey, Central Florida
- Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State
Devin Neal, Kansas
Devin Neal is fresh off his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season and his second 16-touchdown season. At 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, Neal is an explosive runner with great patience and vision. This marriage allows him to expose defenders who overcommit and find huge cutback lanes. There has been a question about his open-field elusiveness, which can be silenced this week in drills. With only 77 career receptions, we will also get a chance to see him show off his hands, helping him show this is not an area of concern. In a deep running back class, this will be his chance to make a case for Day 2 draft capital.
Woody Marks, USC
Standing on a 5-foot-10, sub-200-pound frame, Marks does not project to be a three-down back at the next level. Despite this slender frame, he topped 1,000 yards rushing in his first season and only season as a Trojan and amassed 31 rushing touchdowns. It is more likely Woods will make his hay in the passing game at the next level. With 261 career receptions and 1,546 receiving yards, NFL teams know he can be a trusted receiver, but the passing-blocking drills will be key this week. His quickness and above-average pass-catching ability should shine through in the week of practice and the game.
Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
He may have a smaller frame, but Jarquez Hunter is a name you need to know. Despite only being 5-foot-9 and weighing 209 pounds, he runs with some serious pop behind his pads and combines this with explosion and speed. So, it is no surprise that he led the SEC with 6.4 yards per carry en route to 1,201 rushing yards, which ranked second in the conference. Despite this success, his name is still under the radar, but he has a chance to make his mark this week. There will be plenty of running backs drafted this April, and with a strong week in Mobile, he can make a case for Day 2 draft capital.
LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
Coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons, LeQuint Allen is ready to showcase that his name belongs among the top in the class. He stands on a 6-foot, 200-pound frame and runs with plenty of physicality. He does lack elite breakaway speed but has enough short-area speed to move the chains in chunks. We also have seen him display good hands and an ability to torment teams in the passing game, amassing over 800 yards through the air. Playing in the ACC has left him under the radar, but this will be his chance to display his skills in the spotlight.
Wide Receivers
- Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
- Jack Bech, TCU
- Chimere Dike, Florida
- Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
- Tai Felton, Maryland
- Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
- Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
- Bru McCoy, Tennessee
- Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
- Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama
- Arian Smith, Georgia
- Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
- Kyle Williams, Washington State
Pat Bryant, Illinois
Playing in Illinois as a receiver doesn’t always get you the respect you deserve, and this is the case with Pat Bryant. With ideal NFL size, Bryant offers a natural ability to win at the catch point while being a big play waiting to happen. He ranked second in the Big Ten with 18.2 yards per receptions on the road to a career year this past season. He is not known for his separation skills, so in this setting, he will get a chance to showcase that he is more polished than expected. There is no elite tier in this year’s class, so a strong week at the Senior Bowl could see him ascend draft boards.
Tez Johnson, Oregon
Tez Johnson is the next undersized elite separator to make his way through Mobile. Johnson is coming off his third straight 800-plus receiving yard season and his second straight 10-touchdown year. Despite being lean, he doesn’t shy away from contact and is willing to work in the middle of the field. Showcasing his elite separation skills in the one-on-one drills will generate plenty of buzz this week. With the NFL starting to lean on undersized quick separators, Johnson will have the chance to rise into the upper half of the first round with a strong week in Mobile.
Xavier Restrepo, Miami
There has been more buzz surrounding Xavier Restrepo over the last month, but still not enough. He is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season and a career-high 11 touchdowns for the Hurricanes. Restrepo regularly utilizes a short but thick frame in the middle of the field while not shying away from contact. Being able to marry this quickness and speed makes him almost unrecoverable out of the slot. With a skill set that is built for today’s NFL, it will not be surprising if he ascends into the second-round discussion after this week.
Jalen Royals, Utah State
This season, we saw Jalen Royals pick up where he left off in 2023, but he was derailed by a foot injury that ended his season. His 15 touchdowns last year led the Mountain West and ranked second in the NCAA. His 6-foot, 205-pound frame is on the border of ideal, but his natural ability to high-point the ball and track it in the air makes him a three-level threat. This week, he will get the chance to showcase his talents and silence his doubters while battling tougher competition.
Savion Williams, TCU
If freak athletes are your thing, Savion Williams is your guy! He stands on a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame that has some room for added weight. Much like fellow Hornfrog Quentin Johnston, Williams is potent with the ball in his hands. He topped 300 yards rushing and found the end zone six times this year. He needs some refinement as a receiver but has posted modest numbers in this area throughout his career. This week will be his chance to show that he can be a polished receiver or develop into one while offering unique rushing upside for a player with his stature.
Tight Ends
- Moliki Matavao, UCLA
- Elijah Arroyo, Miami
- Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
- Gunnar Helm, Texas
- Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
- Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
- Mason Taylor, LSU
- Jake Briningstool, Clemson
- CJ Dippre, Alabama
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Harold Fannin Jr. has a slightly leaner frame but is coming off a historic season at Bowling Green. He set multiple single-season tight end records and is the school’s first consensus All-American thanks to his 1,550 receiving yards and 117 receptions – both marks led the NCAA. With his speed and route-running prowess, he is a unique player for the position. This week, he will show that the concerns about this production coming in the MAC may be overstated.
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Over the last four years, Terrance Ferguson has emerged as one of the premier receiving threats for the Ducks. This past year, he averaged over 13 yards a reception and 49.3 yards per game – both career-highs. He has a prototypical frame and offers reliability as a pass-catcher. This week, he’ll get a chance to show off if he has improved as a route-runner while creating separation versus man coverage.
