2025 Senior Bowl Takeaways: Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart Show Inconsistencies on Day 1 – Bleacher Report
The Senior Bowl may be the NFL draft’s cycle premier all-star event with the best available talent pool, but a transition period occurs at the start of the week’s festivities. Every prospect in attendance is trying to put their best foot forward, as part of the biggest interview process of their lives. However, legitimate issues arise along the way.Players are in brand new surroundings, with new teammates and different coaches who don’t know them. Also, they’re learning the beginning portions of an NFL playbook in a matter of days. So, rough starts tend to occur. Scouts like to weigh an individual’s progression throughout the practice week. With that in mind, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart will need to improve during the second and third days of practice, because neither moved the needle when it comes to a class starving for a solid QB3 option.To be fair, both Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. struggled greatly a year ago during their time in Mobile, Ala. Both still became first-round picks and excelled to varying levels as rookies.Brandon Thorn, Brent Sobleski, Dame Parson and Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department are on hand to evaluate the practices. Each day’s notebook will include their findings. Among this year’s talented offensive prospects, the quarterbacks were the position group everyone wanted to see. Unfortunately they did not impress initially and left much to be desired.The first day of Senior Bowl practice was not overly positive regarding the passing offenses.Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe headlined the American team’s prospects. Neither of these high-profile signal callers succeeded when called upon to throw the ball. Both were getting used to being under center and working on their footwork/technique. This was the first practice of the week, and it showed.Dart’s passing accuracy and decision-making were inconsistent, while Milroe did not push the ball down the field much and went to his check-down fairly quickly. He held the football longer and allowed the pocket to collapse as well.Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard had an uneven day. He made a few plus throws but resorted to staring down his reads and holding onto the football too long, thus leading to sacks (if allowed).RB Brashard Smith, SMUSmith was a headache for the defense throughout the majority of practice. Smith showcased the trouble he gives linebackers in one-on-one passing drills and had the best run of the day of any running back. Smith’s suddenness, change of direction, vision, and dynamic speed were on full display during Tuesday’s effort.RB RJ Harvey, UCFHarvey had a solid day to start the week. His lightning-quick footwork was on display as he sifted through the defensive front during team running drills. He found small creases and hit them with decisiveness. Eventually, he successfully ran routes against the linebackers in one-on-one drills.RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma St.Gordon started the week with a strong weigh-in with his 230-plus sturdy frame. He caught the ball when thrown his way and lowered his shoulder to brace for contact. The bruising running back needed a strong start after a disappointing season.WR Jalen Royals, Utah St.Royals was the best wide receiver in Mobile on Day 1. The Utah State product played with a veteran approach and process to defeat man coverage. His route-tempo, pacing and quickness at the top of his routes, plus sheer physical strength, made him nearly indefensible against any cornerback he faced.WR Tez Johnson, OregonJohnson shined and was difficult to defend despite his small frame (5’9″, 156 lbs). Johnson puts defensive backs on their heels and skates with his sudden change of pace and shiftier directions as a route-runner. He was like a 7-Eleven: Open all day.WR Kyle Williams, Washington St.Williams had a positive day of practice. His savvy releases and routes created separation early in reps. His burst and acceleration caught a few defensive backs by surprise as he pulled away at the breaking point of his routes.WR Pat Bryant, IllinoisOn the other hand, Pat Bryant struggled to separate from physical man-cover corners. He underwhelmed, with a limited release package to mitigate the physicality presented at the line of scrimmage.WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa St.For a 6’3″ target, Higgins did not play to his height or wingspan. He struggled to separate from tight man coverage. When the opportunities arose, he did not finish plays or come down with contested catches.WR Xavier Restrepo, MiamiRestrepo had an OK day in Mobile to open his Senior Bowl experience. Known as a separating-style slot receiver, Restrepo experienced ups and downs even in that particular area. He won a few one-on-one reps during the practice session but ultimately left everyone wanting more.TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling GreenFannin had a tough first day of Senior Bowl practice. He seemed a bit nervous and struggled to catch the football. His process was good, but the results were not. He needs a bounce-back performance once the nerves calm down a bit.TE Elijah Arroyo, MiamiElijah Arroyo emerged as the tight end, who stole the show. He put defenders through the wringer in one-on-ones with his route-running and sudden movements. He ran various routes and made a few defenders look foolish in coverage.While Arroyo did have a huge drop on a tight end throwback call, the good far outweighed that momentary lapse.TE Jake Bringinstool, ClemsonBriningstool looked fluid and explosive after the catch. He did what was asked of him and promptly reached his landmarks. Although he did not provide any wow moments or highlights, he provided a solid all-around effort.TE Mason Taylor, LSUTaylor separated with smooth route running. His fluidity was impressive, as he seamlessly pulled away from defenders in coverage with sudden and decisive steps. An encouraging first day emerged from a lesser-regarded tight end prospect.TE Thomas Fidone II, NebraskaAt first glance, Fidone looked like a potential block-first tight end, but he shut that thought down quickly. He ran good routes and caught the ball confidently. If practice included live tackling sessions, Fidone would have been a bull in a China shop. He transitioned from receiver to runner quickly while still prepared for contact.— ParsonThis offensive line group currently in Mobile isn’t as talented as last year’s group. However, after day one of practice, some impressive performances emerged, including one that stood above the rest. A couple of small school prospects also rose to the occasion, with two of the biggest, most physically imposing blockers shining and one late addition who proved he belonged.A couple of concerning performances must be mentioned from players in need of bounce-back practices on Wednesday.OT Grey Zabel, North Dakota StateZabel played left tackle last year at North Dakota State but started at four of the five offensive line positions during his collegiate career. That proven versatility showed up in a major way during his first Senior Bowl practice, with him having stand-out reps at all three interior spots.Zabel was lights out in one-on-ones and had several big-time, impact blocks on zone runs during the team and 9-on-7 portions of practice.With some other linemen on both squads having solid-to-good days, Zabel’s performance stood above the rest due to his consistency.OT Jackson Slater, Sacramento StateSlater gets my vote for being the next-best blocker from Day 1, with his lateral quickness and recovery skills on display throughout the day during all periods of practice. Slater was able to widen the corner and cut off inside moves across his face in pass protection while having multiple excellent blocks at the second level in the run game.Slater’s below-average arm length shrinks his margin for error with his hand placement and allows quick access to his edges a couple of times today. With very good lateral quickness and redirect skills, his ability to beat defenders to the spot and recover was still on display.Slater will look to improve his strike-timing on Day 2, but his athletic ability, range and zone-run blocking skills translated well on day one.IOL Willie Lampkin, North CarolinaLampkin became a late roster addition but quickly proved that he belonged, with his natural leverage at 5’10” reducing the surface area for taller defensive tackles to strike and legit play-strength creating displacement in the run game.Lampkin was very good at overtaking his target on double-teams and brought a tone-setting presence to the field. He did lose cleanly once during one-on-ones on his first rep of the day against Florida’s Cam’Ron Jackson, where he was edged outside but quickly rebounded and had a crisp rest of practice.If the undersized pivot can follow up with another strong day and continue to minimize clean losses in pass protection, it will become increasingly difficult to use his outlier size against him.IOL Clay Webb, Jacksonville StateWebb was one of few linemen that I had minimal exposure to on film entering the week, but it was clear why he got the invite as a small-school prospect due to his play-strength being on display throughout the day. Webb was excellent during run-blocking drills where he was closing the door, lifting and driving defenders back on double-teams and he shut down Kentucky’s massive nose tackle Deone Walker numerous times during one-on-ones with superior leverage, tight hands and a strong anchor.IOL Jalen Rivers, MiamiRivers came into the Senior Bowl as one of my favorite under-the-radar prospects and didn’t disappoint. He lost one rep clean around the corner at right tackle during one-on-ones. Otherwise, the Miami product was dominant, repping inside at guard and center, where he weaponized his length, girth, and anchor to clench up rushers and end reps quickly. He had some nice moments during team using his size to blot out targets on double-teams while getting slipped too quickly a couple times by linebackers on his climbs.OT Anthony Belton, North Carolina StateAt 6’5″ 345 pounds with long arms and big hands, Belton used his size and play-strength to dictate terms to rushers during one-on-ones at left tackle and left guard by establishing first meaningful contact and forcing them to work down the middle of his frame where his anchor quickly took over.Belton was more up and down during the team portion as a run-blocker where he overextended, whiffed and fell off of multiple blocks that also showed his inconsistent, shaky body control and sustain skills.Overall, Belton’s initial practice showed both his strengths and weaknesses from his college tape.OT Logan Brown, KansasBrown had one of the shakiest days among the linemen on Day 1 due to inconsistent set-points in pass protection with late hands and high pad level that saw him get run over multiple times by the bull rush during one-on-ones while being okay in the remaining portions of practice.Brown’s feet and hands never really looked in sync, putting him in need of a bounce-back performance.OT Jalen Travis, Iowa StateWhile Travis was one of the most impressive-looking body types on the field, his performance left something to be desired due to a poor overall showing, sluggish footwork and late strike-timing that left him punching air on numerous reps.Travis did have a nice finish during the team that showed off his grip strength and power once latched, but his footwork must improve over the rest of the week so that his size and strength can be put on display more often.— ThornThe primary focus for the front seven today fell on the defensive line.Overall, Tuesday’s session was disappointing for a lot of the top prospects in the trenches, but a handful of under-the-radar guys stood out and helped their draft stocks.DL Aeneas Peebles, Virginia TechPeebles made a name for himself in the first practice session, especially against the run. He had a quick win during the inside run period and made an immediate impact during the full-team drill, recording a tackle for loss on the first two plays.The former Hokie also had a couple of nice reps during the one-on-one pass-rush drills to put himself on the NFL’s radar for the rest of the week.DL Junior Tafuna, UtahPower is the trait that stood out most about Tafuna’s performance on Tuesday. He had a couple of wins with a bull rush in the one-on-one pass-rush period and managed to get some push against the run.EDGE Mike Green, MarshallIt wasn’t surprising for the nation’s sack leader to stand out as a pass-rusher in the one-on-one session. However, it was good to see him do it against stiffer competition, helping to confirm B/R’s high grade on him. The Marshall product also did a solid job setting the edge against the run, proving he has the potential to develop into an every-down player.LB Jeffrey Bassa, OregonWhile the focus today was on the trenches, it was impossible to ignore what Bassa was doing. He was constantly around the ball and showed some impressive makeup speed in coverage.According to Zebra Technologies, Bassa recorded the highest top speed among linebackers and tight ends during the National squad’s practice, at over 20 MPH.EDGE Landon Jackson, ArkansasJackson fell into the category of a bigger name who disappointed. He lost his first two reps in the one-on-one pass-rush session, failing to win with power. Then, he tried using finesse to win around the edge and looked stiff while losing again.The biggest concern with the former Razorback is that he struggles to get pressure as a pass-rusher without using power and the first Senior Bowl practice didn’t do him any favors.Also, Jackson blended in more than he stood out against the run.DL Omarr Norman-Lott, TennesseeIt was hard not to notice Norman-Lott during the day’s second practice. His get-off stood out as he managed to get quick penetration a handful of times during the full-team period. Norman-Lott also managed to get a few wins as a pass-rusher and became one of the biggest winners during Tuesday’s sessions.EDGE Barryn Sorrell, TexasSorrell immediately stood out by winning with a bull rush on his first one-on-one pass-rush rep. Later, he won again with a nice counter-move off the bull and had a few notable plays as a run defender. The Texas product managed to put himself on the radar for the rest of the week.DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&MStewart had several impressive reps as both a pass-rusher and run-defender. He lined up as an edge/defensive end exclusively and looked natural from the wider alignment. It’s a positive since his best position in the NFL is a bit of a question mark and low production hurts his grade.So far, the Texas A&M product is on track to move up B/R’s draft board.DL Deone Walker, KentuckyIn fairness to Walker, he did have a few plays that made their rounds on social media where he was able to get penetration. However, he was inconsistent at best and really struggled to maintain his gap against double-teams. His pad level continues to be an issue, which became notable during a few one-on-one blocks.Walker also had a hard time winning as a pass-rusher, with several underwhelming reps against smaller-school prospects. For example, his day ended with a loss to Jacksonville State’s Clay Webb in a one-on-one pass rush during a competition period to end the practice.Ultimately, the Kentucky product wasn’t good enough for someone of his size (6’7″, 340 lbs) and draft buzz heading into the Senior Bowl.— HolderA highly competitive and chirping group of defensive backs took the field Tuesday with something to prove. None of this year’s first-round projected defenders are participating this week, which is a change of pace after Quinyon Mitchell stole the show at last year’s event. However, a strong collection of second-tier prospects can definitely be found, with a specific safety prospect leading the way.S Billy Bowman Jr., OklahomaThis year’s safety class is stacked with the trio of Georgia’s Malaki Starks, Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori, all graded as top-30 options, according to the B/R Scouting Department. Bowman is next in line, with a hybrid skill-set that differentiates him from those mentioned.As a 5’10”, sub-200-pound safety, Bowman’s strengths are in his ability to flex between safety and nickel corner. During Monday’s practice, the first-team All-Big 12 performer didn’t look out of place when facing top competition at either spot. One of the day’s highlights came when Bowman locked up with Florida wide receiver Chimere Dike. Bowman worked inside-out and snagged an interception against the late-arriving, inside pass attempt on an out-breaking pattern. Bowman also closed on the ball on multiple different occasions, which shows he can make up ground even when beaten initially.CB Upton Stout, Western KentuckyJudge Stout by his size, you will not. Some will look at the cornerback’s measurements at 5’8″ and 178 pounds. Are they ideal? Of course not. But those figures shouldn’t mask the fact that Stout can play. First, the redshirt junior prospect is extremely fluid in his backpedal. Second, he’s extremely sticky in coverage. Third, Stout doesn’t appear afraid to mix it up. Granted, some of the bigger wide receivers did use their size to their advantage during the first practice. But Stout was continually in a position to compete in nearly every instance. CB Maxwell Hairston, KentuckyHairston is the top-rated defensive back in attendance, according to B/R. He entered this week as a top 40 prospect. He will have an ample chance to show why he’s been graded as such and possibly even elevate his status. Tuesday’s effort proved to be a strong start. Hairston was the most aggressive corner in coverage throughout the day. He basically challenged wide receivers to beat him off the jam and create separation. More often than not, the cornerback did well for himself.CB Brandon Adams, UCFAdams had one of the best standalone reps of the day during a deep one-on-one route, where he didn’t allow the wide receiver to stack him, stayed in phase and made a wonderful over-the-shoulder interception. The cornerback made sure to let everyone know he made the play and continued to talk throughout the afternoon. As a long defensive back, Adams gave his assignments plenty of trouble. How he matches up the rest of the week against the smaller and shiftier options should prove interesting. CB Bilhal Kone, Western MichiganOne of the biggest opportunities that presents itself during these all-star events is for small-school prospects to show they belong. Kone looked the part on Tuesday when the MAC product made multiple plays on the ball.However, he needs to make sure not to panic when the ball is in the air and he’s still trying to close ground. This issue is more about technique and not about ability. Kone was fortunate in a couple of instances where he could have been called for pass interference if the officials in attendance wanted to throw ticky-tacky flags.S Dan Jackson, GeorgiaJackson showed he can be effective with the ball in front of him. Two issues came up throughout his first Senior Bowl practice, though. First, the former walk-on played in 47 games over the last four seasons. He clearly needs to adjust to the NFL game, while getting handsy with receivers when working down the field well beyond the the league-mandated five-yard zone. Second, Jackson didn’t show the requisite closing speed in the instances when he was beaten.As the practices become more physical throughout the week, Jackson should have a better showing.— Sobleski
