Senior Bowl Day 1 practice notes and clips

NFL Draft season has begun, with the Senior Bowl kicking off on Tuesday. We break down our biggest takeaways from the first day of practice for both teams, with an emphasis on the defensive line prospects.

Day 1 of the Reese’s Senior Bowl is typically off to a slower start by the nature of the all-star environment. Teams are installing, and players are prepping for their roles during the week. Many will be moving around and working out in positions they didn’t even play at the previous level and, of course, with teammates they’ve never played with. However, there’s no shortage of talking points, and we came away with plenty.

• Of all the quarterbacks, the best overall appeared to be Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. He was accurate and decisive on the opening day, which is impressive. It was also really interesting to see Laurier (Canada) quarterback Taylor Elgersma out here. He’s got obvious NFL size and it’s a tremendous opportunity for him in front of NFL scouts.
• Mike Green was one of the most anticipated EDGE prospects, and he did not disappoint. The Marshall defender went 2/3 by my count in pass rush drills, showing off the bend and explosiveness that have fans gushing. He also performed well in run drills, and I’ll be looking at this area of his game closely as the week progresses.

• University of Texas EDGE Barryn Sorrell stood out to me in pass rush drills during the day’s second practice session. Sorrell displayed impressive speed to power on his first rep and executed a nice rip move on his second. In 2024, Sorrell was productive; among qualifying SEC EDGEs, his PRP (a formula that combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to how often they rush the passer) ranks 8th, with Shemar Stewart ahead at 13.0 and Sorrell following at 12.6.
• Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery looks the part. In a class full of NFL guards masquerading as college tackles, Ersey stands above his competition in Mobile. He’s a player that could raise his stock quite a bit this week due to a weak class.
• Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo was an early standout, with three great catches in one-on-ones. His long speed and catch radius made him a handful for everyone he lined up against.
• Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. had a terrific interception in one-on-ones, undercutting an out route to Florida receiver Chimere Dike.

• There were a ton of great plays from interior defenders. Virginia Tech’s Aeneas Peebles blew up back-to-back run plays in team drills. He’s undersized by lightning quick. South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders had a dominant rep where he was barely touched by the offensive line. Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell flashed on multiple one-on-one reps, showing off strength and speed. A number of nose tackles impressed, including FSU’s Joshua Farmer and Florida’s Cam’Ron Jackson.
• Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker is one of the most interesting prospects in Mobile. The massive nose tackle had one dominant rep and several where he struggled to disengage from blockers. He’ll be one to watch closely over the coming days.
• Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku had some impressive plays as a pass rusher, as did Central Arkansas’ David Walker.

• Ole Miss edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is one of the biggest names here in Mobile, but he had a quiet Day 1. He tried to pull off spin moves on multiple one-on-one reps, but the tackles seemed ready for it. It’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts this week.
• Both of us were focused heavily on the defensive line today, so we didn’t get much of a look at the defensive backs. That’ll be a point of emphasis during tomorrow’s practices.

Who are some players you’d like to hear about? Any prospects in particular you’ve got your eyes on for the Falcons?