Now we have two weeks to prepare for the 2026 Tremendous Bowl.
However the march to Tremendous Bowl LXI is already upon us.
The subsequent cease on the street to that large sport, and the 2026 NFL Draft, is a cease in Cell, Alabama for the annual Senior Bowl. This occasion serves because the unofficial launch of draft season, and dozens of NFL hopefuls — in addition to your complete league itself — are headed all the way down to Alabama to make their greatest circumstances for the scouts.
Whereas some big-name prospects opted out, there’s nonetheless a ton of expertise down in Alabama. Listed below are 9 gamers to observe this week in Cell on the 2026 Senior Bowl.
Caleb Banks may very well be the primary defensive sort out taken subsequent spring. However he’ll face questions on his sturdiness after enjoying in simply three video games for Florida this previous season as a consequence of a foot damage that in the end required surgical procedure. When wholesome, Banks has the best mixture of measurement, energy, and athleticism to deal with life between the tackles within the NFL. Pad degree might be one thing to observe, as will his continued restoration from the foot damage, however a robust week in Cell might solidify his spot within the first spherical.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Jacob Rodriquez stood on the coronary heart of top-of-the-line defenses within the nation final yr, and his nostril for the soccer bolstered his upstart Heisman Trophy marketing campaign.
However life as a linebacker within the NFL is way totally different, and this week offers him an opportunity to showcase the athleticism he’ll have to be a three-down participant on the subsequent degree. Can he maintain up in man protection in opposition to tight ends? Does he have the velocity and quickness to run the center of the sphere in two-deep coverages, or match receivers? How he solutions these questions in Cell will go a good distance in direction of his final draft place.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
In the event you look again on the “means too early” mock drafts from final summer time, Clemson go rusher T.J. Parker was considered as a lock to go inside the highest ten. For instance, mock drafts from Dane Brugler (No. 9), Ryan Wilson (No. 8), Michael Renner (No. 8), and Nate Tice (No. 6) all had Parker inside the primary 9 picks.
However subpar manufacturing this season has seen Parker’s inventory take a dip, as you may see on this chart from NFL Mock Draft Database. Now, Parker is on the perimeter of the primary spherical, as different go rushers have moved up boards through the fall:
This can be a huge week for him.
Romello Peak, EDGE, Texas Tech
Davis Bailey from Texas. Tech is considered as one of many high go rushers within the 2026 NFL Draft.
However whereas Bailey is presently thought-about one of many gamers you will note early on the primary evening, teammate Romello Peak might be a part of him with a robust efficiency this week.
Peak will face some questions on his measurement — he weighed in at simply 234 kilos on Monday — and he’s an older prospect, who might be 25 come draft time. However the tape speaks for itself, in addition to his well-rounded tool-kit as a go rusher.
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Much like T.J. Parker, when you look again at early mock drafts from the summer time LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was thought-about a digital lock for the primary spherical.
Issues have drastically modified since then.
A dismal season for LSU total, and a tricky season tormented by accidents for Nussmeier, has seen his inventory tumble out of the primary spherical, and maybe all the way in which to Day Three of the 2026 NFL Draft. Over at ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid has this to say about Nussmeier forward of the Senior Bowl: “In chatting with scouts over the previous few weeks, the very best projection I’ve heard is Spherical 3, however others had Spherical 5 or 6 grades on him. I feel Nussmeier will enhance on these this week.”
He has some work to do, and weighing in at simply 202 kilos on Monday goes to boost extra questions on his profile, however in an iffy quarterback class, there’s room for Nussmeier to spice up his inventory this week.
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
One of many gamers getting essentially the most buzz as Senior Bowl week begins is San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. Johnson was named Mountain West Co-Defensive Participant of the Yr after this previous season, a yr that noticed him snare 4 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
His consciousness and quickness stand out on performs like this one:
He additionally measured in at simply over 6’0 on Monday, and with that measurement and skillset, he might rocket up boards this week.
Justin Joly, TE, NC State
There are some intriguing go catchers down in Cell this week, and that isn’t restricted to the broad receiver group. After beginning his faculty profession at Connecticut, Justin Joly transferred to NC State, the place he caught 49 passes for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns final yr alone.
He checked the dimensions field on Monday, measuring in at 6’3 and 251 kilos, and given what we count on to see from him this week, and specifically throughout 1-on-1 drills in opposition to safeties and linebackers, he may very well be one of many large winners from the Senior Bowl.
Kevin Coleman Jr, WR, Missouri
Loss of life, taxes, and an undersized receiver turning heads on the Senior Bowl.
Final yr it was Kyle Williams, who measured in simply over 5’10 however earned an invite to the NFL Scouting Mix with a dominant week down in Cell. A major candidate for the same rise this week? Missouri go catcher Kevin Coleman Jr., who was the highest receiver for the Tigers this previous season, hauling in 66 passes for 732 yards and a landing.
His mixture of velocity and route-running prowess is bound to flash throughout 1-on-1 drills, and an increase up draft boards might observe.
Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
We’ve talked about a number of go rushers on this listing, however how about one of many gamers tasked with blocking them this week? Iowa’s Gennings Dunker may very well be the subsequent Hawkeye offensive lineman to creep into the primary spherical, after hanging round on the high of the second spherical in mock drafts from the autumn into the winter. He has seen time at each guard and sort out, enjoying principally at proper sort out, and the way he holds up in opposition to this pass-rushing group might propel him into the first-round combine.
