By Ross Jackson
The annual Reese’s Senior Bowl is right around the corner. The longest-running and premier all-star college football showcase provides teams with an early look at some of the best prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The New Orleans Saints have taken their fair share of Senior Bowl prospects and with the growing number of participants in Mobile, Ala., that is unlikely to change any time soon.
As the week nears, here are 40 players that LouisianaSports.Net will be tracking during the practice week. Several Saints coaching staff assistants will be working with a portion of these players, providing an up-close look at some key prospects.
Quarterbacks
American Team:
- Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
- Jalen Milroe, Alabama
National Team:
- Taylor Elgersma, Laurier
Elgersma will be coached by Saints’ offensive assistant Jordan Traylor throughout the week. Traylor will be the National Team’s quarterbacks coach.
Running Backs
American Team:
- RJ Harvey, UCF
- Devin Neal, Kansas
National Team:
- Damien Martinez, Miami
- Kalel Millings, Michigan
- Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State
This is expected to be a historic running backs class. There are several outstanding options at the position beyond the names above. This is turning into a can’t miss position. New Orleans should be very interested, as they look to build out their running back room outside of star back Alvin Kamara.
Wide Receivers
American Team:
- Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
- Jack Bech, TCU
- Jalen Royals, Utah State
National Team:
- Pay Bryant, Illinois
- Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Ayomanor, Bech, and Royals will all also work with a Saints’ assistant as their wide receivers coach. Offensive assistant Kevin Petry will coach the position for the American Team. All three wideouts check the box for what New Orleans needs at the position.
Tight Ends
American Team:
- Jake Briningstool, Clemson
- Gunnar Helm, Texas
- Mason Taylor, LSU
National Team:
- Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Offensive Line
American Team:
- Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
- Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
National Team:
- Marcus Mbow, Purdue
- Jonah Monheim, USC
- Grey Zabel, NDSU
Slater and Webb will work with Saints offensive assistant Jahri Evans, who will be the American Team offensive line coach. Each of these linemen presents some versatility along the interior, where the Saints can use the most immediate help in 2025.
Edge Rusher
American Team:
- Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
- Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
- Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
National Team:
- Jah Joyner, Minnesota
- Josiah Stewart, Michigan
- Landon Jackson, Arkansas
The Saints will get a close-ish look at this group. The Senior Bowl will sometimes allow edge rushers and linebackers to take reps out of position. Should that happen with a prospect like Josiah Stewart, Adam Gristick, New Orleans defensive assistant, would get a look as he coaches linebackers for the National Team.
Defensive Tackles
American Team:
- Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
- T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
- Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
- Deone Walker, Kentucky
New Orleans needs big-bodied run stuffers for the middle of their defensive line after finishing No. 31 against the run in 2024. Some of the top names that fit will be on the American Team.
Linebackers
National Team:
- Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
- David Walker, Central Arkansas
This pair of linebackers will be coached by Gristick. Lindenberg should be of particular focus. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he’s a perfect fit for an NFL defense and has some all-around talents that he will show off in Mobile.
Cornerbacks
National Team:
- Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
- Darien Porter, Iowa State
- Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
- Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
The National Team carries most of the Saints’ cornerback fits, but should their prototypes change with a new defensive scheme possible in 2025, the talented group for both teams should be of interest.
Safeties
American Team:
- Andrew Mukuba, Texas
- Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
Both of these hard-hitting safeties should be firmly on the Saints’ radar. Mukuba’s versatility and ball skills should allow him to stand out throughout the week. Wohler, a hard-hitter and run stopper may not be able to shine in a no-contact environment, but his physicality and click/close ability should be able to be seen on tape and game day.
