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The Reese's Senior Bowl is considered to be a college All-Star game, but the week of practices leading to the traditional Saturday kickoff in Mobile, Alabama has become a critical pre-draft showcase before the Scouting Combine. That's no different ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Both the National and American rosters are loaded with promising talent, as the players available are expanded to include draft-eligible underclassmen. But when getting in front of NFL coaching staffs — led by the Eagles' Clint Hurtt and the Saints' Joel Thomas — the evaluation process can help separate the future stars from the future backups.
Here's looking at which prospects should be rising and falling coming out of the week.
NFL DRAFT NEWS:
Senior Bowl 2026: Winners and Losers
Winner: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Rodriguez was dismissed as having some limitations as a playmaker on the next level, but he held his own, actively forcing the action in practices, standing out like the best, most impactful defender on the field like he was in most Red Raiders games.
Loser: Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Pavia's biggest loss came during the measurement, where he weighed 198 pounds and stood a concerning 5-9 7/8. For those hoping the Heisman Trophy finalist might have a good path as a Chase Daniel-like long-term backup, he didn't come close to 6-0 and didn't have ideal bulk, either. He is a longer shot to get drafted now than at any previous point.
Winner: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
At 6-1, 202 pounds coming off an inconsistent transitional season for the Tigers, Nussmeier needed to come through with confidence, accuracy and command in Mobile with limited QB talent on display otherwise. He looked strong and healthy and got into the mix to become the third QB drafted after Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson. The Saints should be paying close attention with their running backs coach Thomas watching, given his boss, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, is Garrett's father.
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Winner: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker had some mixed reviews, but coming off his down Tigers season, he needed this to rise closer to defensive teammate and surefire first-round tackle Peter Woods. Parker's personality needs work, but he let his pass-rush talent do more of the talking to boost his stock.
Winner: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Hood is trying to battle his former college teammate, Jermod McCoy and LSU's Mansoor Delane as the top overall cornerback in the class from the SEC. Hood is a smart savvy cover man with some great confidence in his skills and he flashed some shutdown potential against top receivers.
Loser: Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
Fellow Trojans receiver Makai Lemon will go in the first round, but Lane keeps fading as being a little handcuffed as a route-runner and quick playmaker with his encumbering 6-4, 196-pound frame.
Winner: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
There wasn't a lot of consensus on prospects beyond Nussmeier and Rodriguez, but this wideout definitely was the buzziest outside of small-school sensation Tyren Montgomery from John Carroll. At 6-4, 218 pounds, he was what Lane could be with his size, strength and vertical perimeter skills.
Loser: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
Singleton is proving he's down to just being a change of pace back with some receiving pop rather than someone capable of handling key touches in the NFL. He has definitely been passed by Nittany Lions teammate Keytron Allen for many, and most teams' boards will reflect that soon in a rather weak and wide open class for the positions.
Winner: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Banks tends to be polarizing as a practice with how much overall playmaking pop he can pack in his 6-6, 335 pounds, whether it has any limitation on his quickness off the line. Banks had a solid all-around week to keep him at least as an early second-round pick.
Winner: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
A green athlete for the position, Iheanachor needed the week of NFL staff coaching to accelerate his development and improve his stock. He was 6-5 5/8 at 325 pounds and showed he could handle tougher blocking assignments outside.
Loser: Markell Bell, OT, Miami
Bell won't be feeding off the high first-round stock of teammate bookend tackle Francis Mauigoa. At 6-9, 340 pounds, he's not the future 6-8, 352-pound Hurricanes legend Bryant McKinnie, but down to a late-round developmental project at best.
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