Senior Bowl: Day 2 risers and fallers in the trenches

Which trench players have helped or hurt their stock through two days of Senior Bowl practice?

Witnessing which offensive and defensive linemen shine during this week of practices is one of the more intriguing hallmarks of Senior Bowl week. Thus, my eyes have been glued to the one-on-ones featuring both positions during the first two days of practice. I suspect the Atlanta Falcons’ scouts on hand have also been paying close attention, given their desperate need to bolster their 31st-ranked pass rush this season.

With the second day of practice complete, let’s focus on some players who have either improved or hurt their draft stock. Some based on their expectations entering the week and others because their performances across the first two days changed significantly.

But before diving into the individual players, it’s worth noting that collectively, the offensive line was able to shine more on the second day of Senior Bowl practices in one-on-ones. That’s notable, given the general perception that such sessions favor the defensive line and pass rush.

Risers

Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

On the second day of practice, Green had the signature moment, pancaking Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. on a bull rush.

This was an outstanding rep for Green, who, despite leading the nation with 17 sacks in 2024, had only a portion of that production outside the Sun Belt Conference. Much of that production also saw Green using his signature speed and athleticism to win on the outside.

So, seeing Green showcase power against one of the NFL’s top offensive tackle prospects is a signature moment for the week, to the point that some draftniks think Green could hang up the cleats for the rest of the week, having shown NFL scouts all he needed to.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

While Green might make more headlines and highlight reels, a player who has arguably put together a more impressive week in the one-on-ones has been the Boston College pass-rusher. He, too, beat Conerly on Wednesday with a nasty cross-chop move, showcasing an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves.

My biggest question surrounding Ezeiruaku hinges on what level of an athlete he is, which won’t be answered until next month’s Combine. But in terms of making money during this portion of the pre-draft calendar, Ezeiruaku has been very impressive thus far.

David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas

Like Green, Walker had questions entering the week about how well his 30 combined sacks over three seasons at the FCS level would translate against premium competition. Through two days, Walker has looked every bit the part of belonging against the top pass rushers.

Walker’s shorter, compact build packs a lot of power, which has been fully on display this week in Mobile on multiple occasions.

Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA

Oladejo was not on my radar at all entering the week. Frankly, I first heard of him when the rosters were announced over the weekend. After some minimal research, I’ve learned that he has made the successful conversion from off-ball linebacker this past year. Yet, in both practices this week, he has impressed with some standout, attention-grabbing reps in one-on-ones as a pass-rusher despite his relative newness to the position.

And those reps haven’t come purely on the outside, as he has also kicked inside and managed to beat some of the interior blockers. Oladejo’s performance in Mobile has piqued my curiosity and will prompt a look at his film, as his stock could continue to rise as he grows into his new position.

Darius Alexander, IDL, Toledo

After a ho-hum first day, Alexander’s play stepped up significantly on the second day. Hailing from the MAC, he was another player who entered the week hoping to prove himself against competition from more prominent schools. He did so, winning against both guards and tackles this week.

Despite all the focus on the defensive line, that doesn’t mean the offensive linemen blocking those guys escape my attention. Here’s who stood out:

Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
Anthony Belton, OT, N.C. State
Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
Miles Frazier, OG, LSU

Fallers

Deone Walker, IDL, Kentucky

Walker was one of the top prospects entering the 2024 season thanks to a 7.5-sack All-SEC season at Kentucky in 2023, getting mocked in the first round over the summer. The production fell off a cliff in 2024, as he finished the year with just 1.5 sacks. Walker came to Mobile with a golden opportunity to resurrect his draft stock and, through two days, has failed to do so.

Walker’s performance has been satisfactory, with some good reps and some that leave you wondering why a player of his size and stature isn’t dominating the competition. But he hasn’t looked the part for a player that once billed as a potential first-round pick.

Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

Unlike Walker, no one questioned Umanmielen’s tape in 2024 after a dominant year in the SEC. However, he hoped to continue that dominance in Mobile and solidify himself as a first-round pick. Yet, through two practices, Umanmielen has been quiet. Some can be blamed on the slower pace of the practices he’s been participating in with the American team, leaving him and others with fewer opportunities to impress in one-on-ones.

There will be more opportunities this offseason for Umanmielen to show teams why he’s one of the draft’s top pass-rushers, but he has not taken advantage of this one in Mobile so far.

Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas

It’s been a tough week for Jackson, whose array of pass-rush moves have been shut down by opposing tackles. Whether it’s been the cross chop, bull rush, or various inside counter moves, Jackson hasn’t been able to translate a varied pass-rush plan into success during one-on-ones. Nonetheless, it’s worthwhile to see Jackson trying different things, suggesting a still promising future at the next level if his next team can help hone those moves.

Some offensive linemen who haven’t entirely lived up to the billing either:

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Marcus Mbow, OT/OG, Purdue
Jonah Monheim, IOL, Southern California
Aeriontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Caleb Rogers, OT, Texas Tech

There is still one more day of practice where many of these prospects and others can rewrite narratives in addition to helping or hurting their draft stock.

Which players will step up and which will continue to disappoint? Continue to tune into our exclusive coverage of the 2025 Senior Bowl for the rest of the week!