MOBILE, Ala. — For three days and a game on Saturday, 2026 NFL Draft prospects participated in the Senior Bowl, the NFL’s premier draft bowl to help these players increase their draft stock and interview with teams.
With three practices and a game, who stood out among the prospects? Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Nick Farabaugh and Philadelphia Eagles beat writer Johnny McGonigal give their 10 winners.
Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati: Coming into the week, all eyes were on top wide receivers like Ja’Kobi Lane and Malachi Fields, and while both had solid weeks, perhaps no wide receiver did more for his stock this week than Allen.
Coming from Cincinnati, Allen had contributed in each of his four collegiate seasons across multiple seasons, starting as a freshman when he eclipsed 500 yards. It was not hard to see why with excellent quickness, smooth route running, and fantastic ball skills.
Allen’s testing numbers will be the question to just how far he could rise, but once thought of as a late day three prospect, Allen could work his up higher in the middle rounds. — Farabaugh
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech: There’s a reason why I had Rodriguez on my Heisman Trophy ballot this past season. He was all over the field for the Red Raiders in 2025, racking up 128 tackles and 11 takeaways.
So it came as no surprise to see Rodriguez force a fumble and snag an INT in Wednesday’s practice alone. Rodriguez is on the older side; he’ll be 24 years old at the start of the 2026 season. But the instincts are there for him to be a plug-and-play foundational piece for a defense in need of a game-changing off-ball linebacker. — McGonigal
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida: Banks came into the season a bonafide first round pick, but injuries sapped nearly his entire season, causing his stock to fall. The small sample size he put out on tape was exceptional, but he came to Mobile to answer any remaining questions.
Consider any questions about his limitations or the lingering effects of those injuries answered. Banks has a competitive, hot motor and anvils for his hands. The Gators star defensive tackle consistently knocked back offensive linemen with superb pad level and a deep bag of a pass rush moves.
His stock is rising after a fantastic week. — Farabaugh
Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech: And there’s a reason why Texas Tech was one of my favorite teams to watch this season. The defense was nasty, and Rodriguez and edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height were the ones who garnered most of the attention for Texas Tech’s CFP and Big 12 title run.
But Hunter showed in Mobile that he’s a force to be reckoned with, too. A fringe first-round prospect entering the week, Hunter bolstered his stock immediately. He was dominant in the team periods on Tuesday and continued to build off that. — McGonigal
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson: Bailey and Miami’s Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor — arguably the three best edge rushers in the draft class — backed out of the Senior Bowl. But it’s a deep EDGE group this year, and their absences allowed Parker to have the stage to himself.
The Clemson star fell short of preseason top-10 projections in 2025; his sack total went from 11 in 2024 to just five last year. But Parker had a monster week in Mobile. He was especially unblockable in one-on-ones, re-establishing himself in the first-round mix. — McGonigal
Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt: Louis measured at just 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, light for an off-ball linebacker, but he dominated the entire week with his speed and playmaking ability. In the one-on-ones, Louis dominated, picking off three passes during the course of the week.
During his team periods, his anticipation and energy paired with elite downhill explosiveness allowed him to sift through traffic and knife into the backfield for tackles for loss. Louis brings a rare kind of fearlessness to the NFL, and his ability to hold up in man coverage will make him a unique prospect, even with questions about his size — Farabaugh
Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois: Fans who follow the Big Ten closely know how good Jacas is. But he put it on display for the uninitiated at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
“I’m able to go speed to power all the time,” Jacas told PennLive. “Win with power. Win with speed. I can do both. … I’m just looking to prove to scouts that I can impact and change an organization as a pass rusher.”
Jacas, after racking up 19 sacks with the Illini over the last two seasons, did that at Hancock Whitney Stadium, exploding off the line and proving to be a handful for linemen to deal with. — McGonigal
Bud Clark, S, TCU: Another member of the all-intensity team, Clark was everywhere throughout the practices this week. His standout range showed up, as he played well in single-high and two-high looks to break up passes from depth.
Clark has a nose for the football in the run game, too, and has the instincts and physicality to hold up as a slot or box safety. Tabbed as a day three pick before this week, Clark is moving himself up boards even in a deep safety class — Farabaugh
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State: Hurst is a cool story. He wasn’t recruited out of high school until his brother sent his tape to FCS Valdosta State. Hurst landed with the Blazers, made an impact and transferred to Georgia State, where he had 127 receptions for 1,965 yards and 15 TDs in 2024 and 2025.
“Coming from a smaller school, it’s about having the opportunity to compete against guys from the Power 5, showing that we’ve got talent, too,” Hurst told PennLive. “I’m a competitor. I can compete with the best in the world.”
Hurst was one of a few small-school prospects in attendance, and he made the most of his opportunity. His one-handed TD catch on Tuesday was jaw-dropping. But he made plays all week long, putting himself in a position to be drafted as high as Day Two. — McGonigal
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State: There may not have been a prospect who improved more over the course of the week than Iheanachor. Starting out with a rough Tuesday, Iheanachor was the best offensive tackle on the field by the end of the week.
He has the traits NFL teams look for from a size perspective, but it is his swift, athletic feet that will draw the attention of many teams. Iheanachor is calm with his hands in pass protection and brings athleticism in space to the run game. The Arizona State product could work himself into the Top-50 as the process continues. — Farabaugh
