Senior Bowl practices got off to a fast start Tuesday in Mobile, Alabama, with more than 100 top prospects working out in front of coaches, scouts and personnel from all 32 NFL teams. The Senior Bowl is an invite-only showcase of upperclassmen prospects and an important step toward forming a plan for the 2025 NFL draft.

Tuesday was the first of three days of practice before the Senior Bowl kicks off on Saturday in Mobile (2:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network). You can check out coverage of practice Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App, and then at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN App.

NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates are also on hand for each day of practice. What is the biggest takeaway from the sessions? Which quarterbacks are making a move up the board, and who else is standing out? We will answer these questions off each practice and size up the top names in college football are faring. Let’s start with Tuesday’s action.

Jump to:
Top takeaway | QBs
Risers | Notes

Tuesday’s biggest takeaway

The defensive line group is thought to be the strength of the 2025 draft class, and that played out in Tuesday’s practices. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) and edge rushers Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) and Mike Green (Marshall) are considered first-round talents and looked the part during team and individual drills. Stewart was one of the most anticipated players to watch at the Senior Bowl thanks to his impressive 6-foot-5, 281-pound frame, power and speed. His lack of production (1.5 sacks this season) is concerning, but he flashed all the tools that scouts have raved about on Tuesday, especially a first step that offensive tackles struggled with throughout the session.

Stewart, Nolen and Green were just the start. There are nine defensive linemen with a first- or second-round grade on Senior Bowl rosters, which made for a tough day for the offensive linemen tasked with working against them. — Miller

Tuesday’s best quarterback performance

Seth Henigan (Memphis) was the most consistent quarterback on Day 1. He had multiple throws with good placement where only his intended target could catch it. The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Henigan was decisive and had command throughout practice. He has received mostly undrafted free agent grades entering the Senior Bowl, but Henigan helped himself Tuesday.

Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), the highest-rated QBs on the Senior Bowl roster coming in, were inconsistent on Day 1. The first day can be an adjustment, as it’s the first time taking snaps under center and/or calling plays in an NFL huddle for many of the passers. I’ll be watching both guys closely Wednesday and Thursday to see if they can improve on their Day 1 performance. — Reid

Day 1 standout prospects

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

The 6-foot-5, 316-pound Zabel was the best offensive lineman on Tuesday and was exceptional through all drills. He fared best in the one-on-one portion, showing great strength and a sufficient anchor to slow down rushers. While Zabel played all three spots in practice, he looked most comfortable inside at guard and center, where most scouts have him projected. I have Zabel inside my top 50 and he’s on a trajectory to be a second-round pick. — Reid

Anthony Belton, OT, NC State

It was a challenge for pass rushers to get around Belton on Tuesday. While he mostly played left tackle, the 6-foot-5, 345-pound Belton also slid inside for multiple reps. His strength stood out the most, as he used his complementary anchor to shut down rushers. Belton was outside of my top eight offensive tackles entering the week, but he helped himself out by displaying his versatility and power. — Reid

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

Arroyo was just outside my top 50 entering the Senior Bowl, but after watching him on Tuesday, he needs to be bumped up. He can absolutely scoot at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds, as he routinely ran past safeties while showing great reach and an ability to extend plays. He’ll be in Round 2 of my next mock draft that runs Monday. – Miller

Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Etienne was unstoppable in every running back drill. At 5-foot-8, 202 pounds, Etienne is a blur out of the backfield as a receiver with excellent twitch and open-field speed. American Team linebackers and safeties could not keep up with him during drills designed to simulate one-on-one coverage. Etienne, who rushed for 609 yards and caught 32 passes for 194 yards in 2024, is currently an early Day 3 player in a loaded running back class, but he could potentially rise into the top three rounds with another day like he had on Tuesday. — Miller

Quick-hitters from Day 1

Miller:

• I think we were all excited to see Missouri tackle Armand Membou this week, but the top-20 prospect missed Tuesday’s practice with what a Senior Bowl official told me was an illness. It’s to be determined if the 6-foot-4, 332-pounder will practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

• At No. 53 overall, Utah State’s Jalen Royals is the best receiver here based on my rankings, and he sure looked the part on Tuesday. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Royals is a natural pass catcher who doesn’t fight the ball in the air. He is a technically savvy route-runner who has the lower-body strength to fight through traffic.

• Defensive linemen Joshua Farmer (Florida State), Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) and Mike Green (Marshall) all stood out by winning one-vs-one reps. Farmer’s inside power was on display, and the outside speed from Ezeiruaku and Green was show-stopping.

• On the offensive side, tackles Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) and Wyatt Milum (West Virginia) showed why they’re considered potential first-round picks. And I have to mention “my guy” Josh Conerly Jr. as a big Day 1 winner. The Oregon tackle is my highest-ranked player in Mobile at No. 17 overall and showed his well-known poise and agility.

• Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley was fantastic in one-vs-one drills against National Team wide receivers. He’s feisty and quick, and he was constantly disrupting passes and routes. I have him picked as a riser for this week and he’s someone who could move into the third round.

Reid:

• TCU WR Jack Bech put together a strong practice. He showed strong hands by making multiple catches outside of his frame. The 6-foot-1, 214-pounder was also a consistent route runner who frequently created separation. Bech was viewed as a Round 4 player coming into the week, but the back end of Day 2 isn’t out of the question if he can build on Tuesday’s performance.

• The movement skills of Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston were as advertised. The ease in which he mirrors and matches receivers was apparent in multiple drills. In positional drills, Hairston’s transition skills and hip mobility were easily the best on the American team. I currently have the 5-foot-11, 179-pound Hairston as my No. 4-ranked corner with an early Round 2 grade, but he could continue to ascend and enter the first-round picture.

• Virginia Tech defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles was a ball of energy on Tuesday and flashed a lot of potential. He closed out the day with standout stops in the team portion, using his leverage at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds to make it difficult for blockers to land their hands cleanly on him. Peebles is an undersized 3-technique, but his ability to consistently penetrate the first level was seen frequently on Day 1. He’s trending from mid-Day 3 to early Day 3 discussions.

Yates:

• Don’t overlook UCF running back RJ Harvey. It’s a deep running back class, but the 5-foot-8, 207-pound Harvey has joystick-like quickness and is a threat in the passing game. The lack of tackling at these practices makes it hard to completely size up the backs, but the traits mentioned showed up.

• LSU tight end Mason Taylor‘s 6-foot-5, 250-pound size will always stand out, but his precise route running and hands shined as well. Taylor made impressive adjustments on the football and has powerful hands to make catches in traffic. He did so with his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, looking on proudly. I believe he a top-50 player in the class.