The Senior Bowl takes place approximately three miles from my front porch. So obviously, this is a big part of what I do at Draft Countdown. Not only that, but it is an event where most players increase their draft stocks and work with an NFL staff up close.
Just like we did last year, we will predict what players will get invited to the Senior Bowl Roster and some runners-up who could be replacements. I will be making the defensive predictions.
With there being a ton of older players in college football this season, it is a difficult choice to pair these lists down appropriately. Also, players may return to school, not accept the invite, etc. Add in that the Shrine Game pulled a few players away from the Senior Bowl last year, and it could be a mix of which game players attend.
For this list, I am assuming the Senior Bowl roster will have their top choice of players.
This is also a prediction and not who I would choose if I were picking the Senior Bowl roster. Each list would look different based on my evaluations and who I think is the “best” at each position. The Senior Bowl generally does a great job of balancing that with potential draft capital and what players NFL teams are interested in seeing.
Senior Bowl Roster Predictions: Defense
Listed in no particular order
DEFENSIVE ENDS (12)
- Bralen Trice, Washington
- Princely Umanmielen, Florida
- Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
- Jared Verse, Florida State
- Laiatu Latu, UCLA
- Adisa Isaac, Penn State
- Xavier Thomas, Clemson
- Jordan Burch, Oregon
- Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
- Grayson Murphy, UCLA
- Sean Martin, West Virginia
- Justin Blazek, UW-Plattville
JUST MISSED: Brennan Jackson, Washington State; Kam Butler, Virginia; Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (12)
- Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
- Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
- Braden Fiske, Florida State
- Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
- Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
- Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
- T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
- Vernon Broughton, Texas
- Kris Jenkins, Michigan
- Keith Randolph, Illinois
- Tyler Davis, Clemson
- Thor Griffith, Harvard
JUST MISSED: Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati; Ty Robinson, Nebraska; DeWayne Carter, Duke; Fabien Lovett, Florida State; Nathan Pickering, Mississippi State.
LINEBACKERS (14)
- Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
- Payton Wilson, NC State
- Tatum Bethune, Florida State
- Cedric Gray, North Carolina
- Darius Muasau, UCLA
- Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
- Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
- Richard Jibunor, Troy
- J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
- Jaylan Ford, Texas
- Max Tooley, BYU
- Kalen DeLoach, Florida State
- Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
- Eugene Asante, Auburn
JUST MISSED: Tyreem Powell, Rutgers; Jalen McLeod, Auburn.
CORNERBACKS (16)
- DJ James, Auburn
- Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
- Storm Duck, North Carolina
- Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
- Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri
- Josh Newton, TCU
- Sheridan Jones, Clemson
- Fentrell Cypress, Florida State
- TJ Tampa, Iowa State
- MJ Devonshire, Pittsburgh
- Khyree Jackson, Oregon
- Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
- Kamal Hadden, Tennessee
- Andru Phillips, Kentucky
- Shyheim Battle, NC State
- PJ Jules, Southern Illinois
JUST MISSED: Quincy Riley, Louisville; Jaden Davis, Miami-FL; Cam Hart, Notre Dame; Max Melton, Rutgers; Kitan Crawford, Texas.
SAFETIES (8)
- Malachi Moore, Alabama
- Shilo Sanders, Colorado
- Akeem Dent, Florida State
- Tykee Smith, Georgia
- Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
- Josh Proctor, Ohio State
- Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech
- Yam Banks, South Alabama
JUST MISSED: Patrick McMorris, Cal; Jalen Catalon, Texas; Dell Pettus, Texas.
The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl will kick off at Noon Central on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. The game will be broadcast on NFL Network from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, AL. Get your tickets here!