What is the Senior Bowl? Why They Matter to Your NFL Draft Prospects, Who to Watch, and How to Watch

What is the Senior Bowl? Why They Matter to Your NFL Draft Prospects, Who to Watch, and How to Watch

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With the 2023 NFL Draft looming in less than three months, opportunities are dwindling for top prospects looking to showcase their talents to potential new employers. One of his remaining opportunities is the Senior Bowl, an All-Star game attended by NFL prospects from around the country. But who will be invited to the Senior Bowl? Why is it important for some prospects to attend, and what changes have been made to this year’s showcase?

athletic Covers everything there is to know about the upcoming 74th edition of the game?

When is the Senior Bowl?

The 2023 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at 2:30 PM ET.

where is the senior bowl

The Senior Bowl is held at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The event marks his second season at the new venue after being held at Mobil’s Rudd Peebles Stadium for his 50th year.

Viewing method

The Senior Bowl will air on NFL Network.

Wednesday and Thursday practices will be broadcast live from ESPNU’s Rudd Peebles Stadium.

What is the Senior Bowl?

The Senior Bowl prides itself on being the “preeminent” postseason college football All-Star game that serves as a national showcase for college-qualified NFL prospects. Players across the country are rostered into “National” and “American” teams and participate in his week-long practice leading up to an event where NFL coaches, scouts and personnel officers have the opportunity to meet and evaluate. increase.


(Photo of Christian Watson at the 2022 Senior Bowl: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)

Historically, the NFL’s two teams have a full coaching, training, video and equipment staff for each Senior Bowl team. However, to facilitate professional development, this year’s edition will use a ‘coach-up’ format for the first time. In this format, the coordinator and assistant his coach will be placed in roles that are different or different from the roles they currently hold at their respective clubs.

How are players selected?

The annual Senior Bowl evaluation process began in February, beginning with an extensive tape survey of college prospects and an initial 400-player watchlist of returning starters and up-and-coming seniors released in late August. and will continue through the summer.

Executive Director Jim Nagy, who took over the role from former Browns GM Phil Savage in 2018, will oversee the identification, evaluation and selection of the NFL’s top prospects invited to the game, as well as those players. Acts as a liaison with the representative agent.

Deeper

Deeper

Meet former NFL scout Jim Nagy who’s trying to reinvent the Senior Bowl

According to the Senior Bowl website, the first round of 20 “automatic” invites will be sent out at the end of October, with a further 40 “priority” invites sent out in the coming weeks. By December 1, his next 40 “in-season” invitations had been mailed, allowing the Senior Bowl to finalize both rosters between the end of the regular season and his College Bowl games. increase. After the bowl game is over, an “emergency” invitation will be used to fill a hole in either roster caused by an injury.

Described as “the ultimate bridge between collegiate and professional football”, the event will mix potential prospects with outstanding collegiate players “with particular interest in those ranked in the fifth round and above”. It is intended to

Who is the Senior Bowl Coach?

Earlier this month, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getzee (USA Team) and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham (National Team) were announced as head coaches for the 2023 Senior Bowl. Their teams are picking him No. 1 and his No. 7 respectively in the 2023 NFL Draft.

In addition, Atlanta Falcons quarterback coach Charles London (American) and New Orleans Saints QB coach/passing game coordinator Ronald Curry (National) serve as offensive coordinators, while New England Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington serves as offensive coordinator. (American) and the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach. Grady Brown (National) was selected as the defensive coordinator.

Under this year’s new “coach-up” format, all non-playoff teams’ head coaches and general managers had the opportunity to nominate an assistant coach. These candidates were then selected by a group of League Office executives, representatives from the General Manager’s Advisory Committee, and Senior Bowl leadership.

Player to watch

Max Duggan, QB, TCU: The 2022 Heisman finalist, who led Horned Frogs’ magical run to the CFP title game, gets another shot at helping his draft stock. The 6-foot-1-inch, 211-pound QB finished his senior campaign with 3,698 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 159.2 passer rating. Duggan still needs a good deal of development to become an NFL starter, but thanks to his NFL-level arm strength and mobility, he’s predicted to go somewhere in the middle rounds and is expected to exhibit in the Senior Bowl. I can. athleticDane Brugler is ranked 10th among quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.

Jake Hayner, QB, Fresno State University: With the exception of Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, who accepted an invitation but won’t play due to a season-ending ACL injury, Hayner is Brugler’s highest-ranked quarterback (No. 7) and is in the Senior Bowl. Despite losing time to a leg injury, Hoehner followed up his outstanding campaign in 2021 by throwing 20 touchdowns and three interceptions this season, adding 4,096 passing yards (4,096) and a touchdown. (33) for a total career high.

Brugler writes: While he may not have the ideal physical characteristics (which will hurt him on draft weekend), Haener has the vision and innate accuracy to consistently open up receivers. He doesn’t give in to pressure and has a competitive make-up that NFL coaches endear. At worst, he could be a witty backup of the Taylor Heinicke type. ”


(Photo by Jake Hayner: Troy Babbitt/USA Today)

Russie Rice, WR, SMU: The dynamic 6-foot-2-inch, 203-pound receiver ranked third in the nation with 1,355 receiving yards this season and added 10 touchdowns to close out his four-year career with the Mustangs. Rice, the sixth-ranked wide receiver in this year’s class, is looking to solidify himself as a high-end second-round pick during Senior Bowl Week, with Bruegler’s latest NFL mocking his In the draft, Rice will move to New England with his 46th pick in his Patriots.

Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame: In the Stacked Edge Rusher class, Foskey (6’5, 265 lbs) looks to separate himself on the mobile. For the season, he recorded a total of 45 tackles and his 11 sacks. This is his fourth-highest total on FBS and the same number of sacks as in 2021. In Brugler’s mid-season prospects ranking, he fell from 20th in the preseason to 47th.

From Brugler: “He tends to rely too much on his long-arm technique and needs to improve his block-breaking skills to clear the first round. His best position in the NFL is also questionable.” But his energetic style of play is an attractive part of his game.”

Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota: The three-time FCS champion and former walk-on tight end will have one of the best stories in the Senior Bowl. The #2 inside offensive line prospect in this year’s class is already endearing to fans for his long red hair and his two front teeth, which were knocked out during a high school basketball game.

The prospective second-round pick finished 50th on Brugler’s midseason rankings. Former walk-on his tight-his-end Mauch possesses impressive athleticism with the glass-eating personality NFL coaches covet up front. Whether he keeps tackling or moves inside for guard, Mauch has NFL starting potential. ”

See the full Senior Bowl roster list here.

How many senior bowl players are typically drafted?

For the second year in a row, the 2022 edition will feature a total of 106 picks, representing 40% of all NFL Draft selections and 45 of the top 100 picks, according to the Senior Bowl. According to organizers, in the last four drafts (2019-2022), his 87.2% of senior bowl players made his NFL active roster of 53 at some point in his rookie season. .

In the game’s 73-year history, the Senior Bowl has featured 53 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Joe Namath, Joe Green, Walter Payton and Dan Marino.

(Photo: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)



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