MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Senior Bowl practices kick off on Tuesday and with the change of plans for Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, two more wide receivers are set to see their opportunities to shine on the practice field. Both of which should draw eyes from the New Orleans Saints, who could be in the market at the position this offseason.
Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields and Georgia State wideout Ted Hurst will both line up for the American Team, which has a coaching staff loaded with Saints coaches.
Malachi Fields
Fields, 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, is an outstanding contested catch wideout with a suddenness that doesn’t always match receivers of his frame. He’s a fluid route runner and has a nose for yards after the catch.
While he’s not necessarily an elusive breakaway threat, he does well to get his shoulders downfield quickly to add a few yards after each of his receptions in the short and intermediate areas. New Orleans could be looking for another physical, reliable pass-catcher at the position to build off of a room headlined by wide receivers Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele.
Fields’ 2025 stats:
- Receptions: 36
- Receiving yards: 630 (17.5 yards per catch)
- Touchdown catches: 5
Ted Hurst
Along with Fields, Hurst is trying to boost his stock from early Day Three to Day Two at this year’s Senior Bowl.
The 6-foot-3, 207-pound receiver cashed in on a big 2025 and will hope to carry on that momentum throughout the practice week. At his size, his deep threat ability stands out along with his ability to high-point passes, which likely is aided by his basketball background.
His long arms allow him to be very effective at the catch point with a wide and impressive catch radius. He has strides to make as a route-runner, but if a team can crack the code there, Hurst will quickly become a hot name throughout the draft process.
Hurst’s 2025 stats:
- Receptions: 71
- Receiving yards: 1,004
- Touchdown catches: 6
These collegiate all-star games are meant to provide players a chance to put their names on the maps. With that in mind, even though big-named players sometimes withdraw from participation (for a variety of valid reasons), the benefit of the week is to see who steps up in their stead.
