Day 1 of the Panini Senior Bowl has passed, and already, there’s plenty to discuss regarding the 2026 NFL Draft skill position prospects present at the event. Which running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends stood out in early action?
Kaytron Allen, RB, National
Kaytron Allen genuinely looked to be a cut above most, if not all, of the running backs at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday. That’s not a knock on anyone else, but instead an endorsement of Allen’s complete skill set.
Multiple times in team drills, Allen climbed to the second level with fast, efficient footwork and decisive cuts, and his vision underlies his rapid play pace and responsiveness to gaps. He has the size, power, and cutting flexibility to field real interest as a volume back.
On top of his running ability, Allen also proved sound and tenacious in run blocking drills against linebackers, and he quelled concerns about athletic limitations as well, registering the second-highest max speed among National Team RBs (18.61 MPH).
Kaelon Black, RB, American
Kaelon Black is the only Indiana player to make it to Mobile after the National Championship one week ago, and he’s not showing any jet lag or developmental delay. One could argue he was a top-three RB among both teams on the first day.
At 5’9″ 3/4″, 208 pounds, Black is a compact, well-leveraged runner with excellent functional quickness within his cylinder. He used that quickness and linear burst to dust Xavian Sorey Jr. at a stem in 1-on-1 route running drills, and was one of the sharpest, most decisive runners at flowing to holes and cutting upfield through congestion in team drills.
Proving oneself at the RB position is just as much about showing all-around utility as it is about showing a truly translatable running skill set. Black displayed both of these elements on Day 1 and is rising fast as a result.
Rahsul Faison, RB, American
Rahsul Faison had one of the quieter first days among RB prospects, but at the very least, no one can say he doesn’t look the part. He has impressive lean mass and a chiseled frame at his size, with ideal quickness, change-of-direction, and flexibility through breaks, and he ran a few routes from split-out positions in warm-ups, weaponizing that functional mobility.
As an RB, Faison still has questions to answer this week regarding his vision and pass-blocking utility. He has some ground to make up after Day 1, but he also has the dynamic skill set that can aid in making up ground quickly.
Seth McGowan, RB, National
Seth McGowan has an inspiring redemptive story, and he’s compounding that momentum with his play early on at the Senior Bowl. On a strong National Team offense, he was one of the most dynamic RBs and showed promise in both phases of the game.
McGowan’s highlight came in team drills, where he broke off an inside run with his quickness, explosiveness, vision, pressing IQ, and cutting flexibility, and trucked a defender at the end of the play. His quick feet were a constant on Day 1, but he also flashed versatile route-running ability.
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In an RB class that lacks a clear pecking order beyond the top few prospects, McGowan can use this week to catapult his stock, with his size and athleticism at 6’0″, 215 pounds, making him a diamond in the rough.
Jaydn Ott, RB, American
For Jaydn Ott, who had a final year to forget at Oklahoma after showing promise at California, Senior Bowl week is a massive, can’t-miss opportunity. Day 1 is in the books, and he made the most of his chances in his debut outing.
On the ground, the 5’11”, 202-pound RB’s natural skill set shone through. He was quick and instinctive, setting up cutbacks with tempo and throttle, and showcased the ability to lower his shoulder and cut tight angles in rapid succession. As a pass-catcher, he got out into the flats efficiently and corralled a low pass from Nussmeier without breaking stride.
Ott can make a lot of headway for himself in Mobile. Pass-blocking drills will also be important, but his stock is trending from life support to stable.
Kejon Owens, RB, National
A late addition to the Senior Bowl roster, Kejon Owens ended Day 1 as one of the speed leaders at the RB position, with a max pace of almost 18 MPH, per Zebra Technologies.
Outside of one run where Owens was able to break it to the second level, the FIU product had room for more consistency, but nonetheless put himself on the radar ahead of the more crucial second and third days.
Adam Randall, RB, American
Adam Randall’s vision clearly isn’t as consistent as most of his teammates’, which is more so a product of his lack of experience at the RB position. Still, Randall has done enough to pique interest in his physical profile. He measured in at almost 6’3″, 233 pounds, and logged the fastest top speed among American Team RBs, per Zebra Technologies.
Teams will have to gauge Randall’s upside as a processor and creator independently, but he has the combined explosion, vertical speed, and contact balance to feast with open seams.
Nick Singleton, RB, National
It was a somewhat lukewarm showing for Nick Singleton on the first day of Senior Bowl practices, but on a day where his teammate Allen paced the entire position, Singleton was frustratingly inconsistent.
At the very least, Singleton’s speed pops; that comes as no surprise. He broke one team drill rep to the second level with his seam-stretching range and burst, and showed a willingness to scrape through middle-field lanes.
That said, linebackers took advantage of Singleton’s passive approach in multiple separate passing drills. Bryce Boettcher bowled straight through him when he failed to anchor as a pass blocker, and Kyle Louis snagged an interception on a 50-50 ball off a Texas route when Singleton didn’t break clean enough. In short, Singleton has room to bounce back.
J’Mari Taylor, RB, National
In an RB group stocked with explosive vertical athletes, J’Mari Taylor fell under the radar at times on Day 1, but quietly had a decent day, particularly as a pass-catcher. More than once in separation drills, he got out of his breaks cleanly and secured extension passes with linebackers bearing down.
At 5’9″ and 205 pounds, Taylor is stout, gritty, and well-leveraged in contact situations, but Day 2 will be about seeing if he can take a step up as a creator at the line of scrimmage. Pass-blocking drills will be key as well, since Taylor struggled in that role at Virginia.
Mike Washington Jr., RB, American
Mike Washington Jr., alongside Kaelon Black, has an argument for being the top RB on the American Team on Day 1 of practices. He measured in at a massive 6’0 1/2″ and 228 pounds, and still showcased high-end cylindrical quickness, foot speed, and size-adjusted explosiveness working upfield.
Even more potent, however, was Washington’s sharp understanding of tempo, cutback timing, and pressing angles, and he knew when to protect the football and lower his shoulder to finish runs. Washington entered the week as a fringe-Top 100 prospect on my board, and is within reach of breaking into early-round territory if his trajectory holds.
Cyrus Allen, WR, American
Cyrus Allen had to calibrate his plant-and-drive footwork, as his routes were a bit inefficient to start the day, but he course-corrected and turned in a solid first outing.
Allen beat Collin Wright in 1-on-1s working against press coverage with a crisp diamond release, and generated a big play in team drills with a wicked corner route that featured excellent hip sink and footwork efficiency.
At 5’11”, 180 pounds, Allen is a touch undersized, but he’s compensating the way he needs to with plus separation skills.
Aaron Anderson, WR, American
Aaron Anderson was a bit quieter in team drills, but he showed out in 1-on-1s, particularly against larger cornerbacks who couldn’t quite match his short-area quickness and fluidity.
He diced up Ephesians Prysock with a dastardly double-move working off a split release, using a head fake to feign outside before diverting inside at a tight angle, and did something similar to Davison Igbinosun on a delayed corner route.
At around 5’8″, 177 pounds, Anderson is one of the smallest WRs in Mobile, but he’s compensating with his separation framework, and is also showing he can use targeted physicality in spurts. Competing at the catch when defenders match him stride-for-stride is the biggest box he has left to check, bringing a higher drop rate from the college ranks.
Vinny Anthony II, WR, National
Vinny Anthony II’s first day was up-and-down. He led off with a nice sideline grab in warm-ups and had an excellent catch in team drills, working back to the ball after a dig. That said, he had a rough drop in 1-on-1s, and while his hip sink was clearly present, he struggled to convert consistently at the catch.
That said, if Anthony can find more consistency later in the week, he has a strong route-running profile, and he’s a willing blocker, too.
Lewis Bond, WR, American
Lewis Bond had a good debut in Mobile, showcasing his easy separation skills in 1-on-1 and team drills. He beat Daylen Everette with a smooth throw-by technique over an intermediate hitch and displayed a vast functional route tree right out of the gate.
Bond’s footwork and spatial IQ are excellent, but his targeted physicality sometimes gets overlooked at his size. He’s not as explosive as other undersized WRs in Mobile, but Bond is showing why he’s a Top 100 prospect on my board thus far.
Romello Brinson, WR, National
Romello Brinson’s first day at the Senior Bowl left room for more. The tall, long-limbed receiver didn’t appear as fluid as his teammate in similar drills and wasn’t able to generate big plays for his team in team drills. He’ll look to improve during Day 2’s action.
Barion Brown, WR, American
Barion Brown’s speed is impossible to ignore. Though the LSU product measured in smaller than expected at 5’11”, 176 pounds, he has superlative explosion, quickness, and twitch as a pure mover.
He’ll need to tighten up his footwork efficiency at breaks, as inefficiency led him into contact too often on Day 1, an area where he doesn’t thrive. That said, he has the separation building blocks to make waves with more consistent application.
Josh Cameron, WR, National
Josh Cameron is a tank at 6’1″, 223 pounds, and while that visibly comes at the cost of some fluidity and burst, he made a name for himself as a catch-point controller on Day 1.
Early on in team drills, he outreached Colton Hood for a high-point ball on the boundary, and later, he made another impressive focus catch down the field, using every inch of his long wingspan to meet the ball at the apex.
Cameron’s style of play is one that tends to be volatile, so staying strong throughout the week will be key, but if he can show more as a route runner, he has the potential to make this week a resounding win.
Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, American
Kevin Coleman Jr. has always been a natural separator, but that profile was pushed to the forefront in the Senior Bowl environment. In both team and 1-on-1 drills, Coleman stood out and commanded the spotlight, and made himself known in a stacked WR class.
On one 1-on-1 rep, he dusted his opponent on a slant with his lightning-quick feet and transition freedom. On another, he beat Davison Igbinosun with a perfect outside comeback route, planting and reducing out of his break.
Meanwhile, in team drills, Coleman was a carving knife whose zone IQ shone as well. Not only that, but he displayed uncanny composure and resolve at the catch point in congested areas. He’s undersized at 174 pounds, but he doesn’t play like it.
Caleb Douglas, WR, National
Caleb Douglas first caught my eye on Texas Tech’s film with his route-running flexibility and malleability at his size. At 6’3″, 198 pounds, Douglas can sink his hips and redirect better than most WRs at his size, and that played into his success on Tuesday.
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Douglas’ sync on routes can still be more consistent, but his separation upside is clear, and he was dialed in on the first day. His focus was clear as early as warm-ups, where he had a smooth one-handed grab down the field.
Later, Douglas beat Chris Johnson on a post route in team drills and made an acrobatic catch over the middle of the field. And when given another opportunity over the middle later on, he secured it seamlessly and transitioned to RAC. Douglas’s hands were inconsistent in college, but if he can make that a strength, he has exciting upside.
Malachi Fields, WR, American
Malachi Fields demands attention with his albatross frame at 6’4″, 218 pounds, and in warm-ups, he appeared to be sinking his hips and redirecting better than he did in college. For the most part, those improvements translated into 1-on-1s and team drills.
Fields was better on shorter routes; he used his quickness and sink in tandem with targeted physicality to win on quick slants, and his hands were sound working over the middle. On occasion in 1-on-1s, he could have played the ball with more proactivity, but Fields’ early success as a separator makes him impossible to ignore.
Jordan Hudson, WR, National
Jordan Hudson’s hands were a bit shaky early on, but he tightened up his play down the stretch and put together a solid first day. He had an excellent focus grab over the middle in team drills, using body control and extension timing to high-point a laser in congestion, and he created massive separation on a deep corner route later on.
Hudson’s hip sink and redirection freedom are some of the best in the 2026 Senior Bowl group. He stands to be more consistent in cleanly converting at the catch and in controlling catch-point positioning on deep passes, but his separation framework still cultivates excitement.
Ted Hurst, WR, American
After weighing in at 207 pounds with his 6’3″ frame, seeing how Ted Hurst moved in practice was essential. If the first practice was any indication, Hurst didn’t lose any speed or pace after adding mass to his frame.
Hurst moves like a gazelle for his size, and his long-strider burst and speed challenged defensive backs late in 1-on-1. His best play came against Julian Neal: A steely one-handed grab near the pylon where Hurst was required to dictate catch-point positioning and convert in the clutch.
Hurst has the size and athleticism to win over NFL teams, and his first practice session was an undeniable success.
Caullin Lacy, WR, National
Caullin Lacy didn’t produce too much on Day 1, but the former South Alabama and Louisville standout did flash solid separation in warm-ups and 1-on-1s. At 5’8″, 189 pounds, he brings a unique blend of compact mass and short-area quickness, and that mix not only yields separation upside but also role versatility.
Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, American
Ja’Kobi Lane is a polarizing prospect, and his first day at the Senior Bowl didn’t help matters. In warm-ups and when working in space, Lane appeared smooth and fluid, and his highlight was a floating snare over the middle of the field, working off of an intermediate dig.
That said, while Lane thrived using his fluid athleticism to splice through zone coverage, he was inconsistent working against press-man in 1-on-1s, and can be more consistent using his size to dictate.
Tyren Montgomery, WR, National
The first thing you want a Division III prospect to do at the Senior Bowl is prove he belongs. Tyren Montgomery, who racked up 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, proved he belonged on Tuesday.
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He looked natural early on in warm-ups with a smooth sideline toe-tap grab, and that feel translated against real competition. The 5’11”, 190-pound WR beat Colton Hood on a crisp comeback with efficient plant-and-drive footwork, and high-pointed a touch throw on the boundary against Thaddeus Dixon.
Montgomery looks like a natural. And more importantly, the stage, the competition, and the moment aren’t too big for him.
Reggie Virgil, WR, National
Reggie Virgil was one of two Texas Tech WRs to flourish on Day 1. He beat Chris Johnson on an intermediate curl route with rapid plant-and-drive footwork and instant deceleration, tracked a back-shoulder ball perfectly in team drills, and showed resolute focus and coordination working in congestion.
Devin Voisin, WR, American
It was a relatively silent first day out for local product Devin Voisin, but the 5’10”, 182-pound WR has the route-running building blocks to make an impression down the stretch this week. As a mover, he’s visibly fluid and efficient with his direction changes; there’s a cognizant snap in his movements, and he effortlessly sinks his hips.
He hasn’t delivered en masse yet, but keep an eye on Voisin. The potential energy is there for him to start stacking wins.
Harrison Wallace III, WR, National
Harrison Wallace III was not present at National Practice on Day 1, but is still listed on the Senior Bowl roster. An update on his status will be provided after Day 2.
Nate Boerkircher, TE, National
Nate Boerkircher wasn’t able to separate himself on Day 1, but his NFL-ready frame stands out even among his positional counterparts, and his leverage acquisition skills showed up in run-game roles. As a pass-catcher, there was visible instability with his hand technique, but teams looking for a high-level blocking TE3 should still have eyes on Boerkircher.
Josh Cuevas, TE, American
The best thing a TE can be is consistent in both phases, and Josh Cuevas was arguably the most consistent two-phase presence at TE on Day 1. In 1-on-1s, he separated freely with foot speed, targeted physicality, and efficient stem work. He flowed to open zones with ease in team drills, and his sure-handed nature was paramount working over the middle.
Cuevas entered the Senior Bowl as one of my top utility TEs in the early Day 3 range. A good week might make late Top 100 capital a possibility.
John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, American
John Michael Gyllenborg was relatively quiet in team drills, but as a route runner in warm-ups and 1-on-1s, his functional athleticism was very prevalent. Few TEs can accelerate and bend as freely as Gyllenborg, and those traits provide upside for him to serve as a vertical and seam threat later in the week, the more he acclimates.
Matthew Hibner, TE, National
For a TE that had relatively little national acclaim heading into the Senior Bowl, Matthew Hibner did what he needed to do to announce his presence on Day 1. From the start, Hibner appeared fluid for his size in warm-ups, and that translated later on.
In 1-on-1s, Hibner displayed his ability to beat linebackers with pacing and targeted physicality, while in team drills he found open short zones with fluid, efficient breaks and sure-handed technique over the middle. Day 2 will be just as crucial, but Hibner is trending up.
Justin Joly, TE, National
Justin Joly entered the Senior Bowl as one of the top tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the 6’3″, 251-pound pass catcher distinguished himself on Tuesday. He certainly looks the part with his sturdily built frame, but his execution as a pass catcher sealed the deal.
In team drills, Joly did a little bit of everything. He caught a short throw in the flats and turned upfield for RAC, grinding through arm tackles with physicality. He had an incredible low focus fingertip grab not long after, and topped it off with a smooth one-hander.
Blocking drills will be just as big for Joly, but he’s emphasizing his utility in the aspect of his game that scouts will gravitate to most.
Will Kacmarek, TE, American
Similar to Boerkircher, Will Kacmarek had a very quiet first day, but at least proved willing to get his hands dirty and keep his feet active as a blocker: Something that was always prevalent on his Ohio State film. He’s not as fluid a mover as most other TEs at the event, but Kacmarek has the size and physicality to hold up in more grueling roles.
Tanner Koziol, TE, National
At almost 6’7″, Tanner Koziol doesn’t have to do anything extra to stand out from his peers; his build does it for him. And on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl, he showcased good mobility for that size, with ideal fluidity operating in space.
That said, Koziol was relatively quiet in his first action. At the very least, he did show exciting promise as a move blocker climbing to the second level and reaching his landmarks, an area of his game that’s been a weakness in the past. But with his traits, evaluators will be waiting for more receiving production later in the week.
DJ Rogers, TE, National
DJ Rogers quietly had a solid day on Tuesday. The 6’3″, 242-pound TE boasts natural receiving and blocking versatility, and as a pass-catcher, his top-end flashes commanded attention.
Early on in practice, he made a steely sideline focus grab, and later in 1-on-1s, he separated independently with an eye-catching whip route, showing off surprising transition freedom and stop-and-start for a bigger player.
Sam Roush, TE, American
Sam Roush quietly had a solid first day at the Senior Bowl. The near-6’6″, 259-pound TE glides as a mover, with easy foot speed and hip flexibility on breaks, and he was role-sound in team drills, showing the capacity to chip off the line before making himself available for catches in the flat.
There’s room to keep building, but Roush’s two-phase upside will enthrall evaluators, and he looked as clean as he’s ever looked running routes on Tuesday.
Dan Villari, TE, American
Day 1 of the Senior Bowl featured very expected strengths and weaknesses for Dan Villari. As a receiver, he was fluid and nuanced, and made himself available over the middle with crisp route breaks and cool composure. But as a blocker, the 243-pound TE was easily driven off his spot by defensive ends.
Right now, his projection is the same as it was leading into the event: He’s a pass-catcher first, with room to keep adding strength.
