By Ross Jackson
MOBILE, Ala. – The 76th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl is under way and there have already been some standouts that should be catching the eyes of scouts around the NFL, including the New Orleans Saints.
From local tight ends to a dominating performance by the National Team’s defensive line, some players immediately took advantage of their opportunity on day one of the collegiate showcase to begin solidifying or improving their draft stock.
Here are five Senior Bowl day one standouts that could fit for the 2025 iteration of the Saints.
LSU TE Mason Taylor
The LSU Tiger had a highlight grab during team drills when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe put a pass too far to the outside on an out-breaking route. The pass was far outside of Taylor’s frame, but he was able to extend one arm to tip the ball back to himself to make the grab. On that play, Taylor displayed his catch radius and poise all at once. But it wasn’t just the receiving potential that helped Taylor stand out on Tuesday. He also showed out as a blocker and protection putting together a highlight reel during one-on-ones. The Plantation, Fla. native is expected to be a day two pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
The 6-foot-3 and 293 pound interior defender dominated his one-on-ones and stood out throughout the day generating consistent pressure on the inside. He had a great all-around year at Ole Miss, displaying his prowess as a pressure player and also run stopper. He has a chance to boost his stock above the bottom of the first round, but is teetering on steal territory in the second.
Iowa DT Yahya Black
No individual may have been more disruptive than Black as he and the National Team defensive line dominated their competition. The massive 6-foot-5 and 337 pound defender made his presence felt. During his time at Iowa, he lined up mostly as a three-tech, splitting the guard and tackle. But at the next level, he will have to show some one-tech and nose tackle versatility, winning reps over or shading the center. Here in Mobile, he is showing early promise of bringing that positional flexibility with him to the league.
Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
Typically, Ezeiruaku would be considered undersized for the Saints’ defense at just 6-foot-2. However, the system in New Orleans could be shifting with a new defensive coordinator on the way. If the team shifts to a pass rush plan that relies on speed around the edge, the Boston College edge rusher could be a great fit. In Mobile, he was immediately impactful as a pass rusher off the edge. His 34.5-inch arms—84th percentile—are a major contributing factor to his success in college where he piled on an eye-popping 16.5 sacks in 2024.
NDSU OL Grey Zabel
While the National Team’s defensive line stole the show for much of the morning practice, that didn’t stop Zabel from being an absolute mauler in his opportunities. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, the Bisons’ offensive lineman could be a great addition to an offensive line that could be just one or two interior pieces away from high-level play.
Lagniappe: Utah State WR Jalen Royals
Expected to be one of the biggest draft risers leading up to April, Royals is already flashing. The wideout measured in a little below his listed weight in college, coming in at just 5-foot-11 in Mobile. However, that hasn’t and will not limit his ability to show out on the Senior Bowl field.
