The Senior Bowl officially takes place in Mobile, Alabama. This means we can begin to put together the pre-draft process and better evaluate players, which in turn gives us a better idea of how NFL teams want to approach the offseason leading up to April.
Luckily, I was able to travel to Mobile for my first practice this week. I facilitated several interviews with Purple Daily’s Jason Harmon, which gave me a unique perspective on some of these players.
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Here are some tidbits from those interviews, along with other notes and thoughts from Tuesday’s practice.
TJ Parker shows why he’s a likely first-rounder
Clemson edge TJ Parker provided one of the first big highlights of the day in one-on-one drills, showing off the kind of strength that could earn him first-round consideration (he’s currently ranked No. 28 in the consensus rankings).
Michigan edge Derrick Moore delivers the second highlight of the day
He may not be as tall as Parker, but the representation of Michigan edge Derek Moore is just as compelling. Moore, ranked No. 83 in the consensus rankings, dominated Michigan tackle Markel Bell in this game.
North Carolina TE Justin Joly believes he can make a difference in a lot of ways
The first interview we got was with NC State tight end Justin Joly. He believes he has the versatility to help the team’s offense in a variety of ways.
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“I would say being versatile enough to win one-on-ones,” Jolly said, “stop and do whatever they need me to do. I don’t have to be a specific third-down guy or a red-zone guy. I can be [an} all-down tight end when they need me.”
Arkansas RB Mike Washington, Jr. is passionate about football
When asked what he wants fans to know about him, Arkansas running back Mike Washington, Jr. made it clear that he is passionate about football and wants to help take care of an NFL organization.
“I love the game,” Washington said. “I’m super passionate about the game. What comes with that is a dude who cares about the program, cares about the organization, and [takes pride in] Carrying a rock for the organization. “
Other tidbits and notes from day one
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The phone is a little cold. Living in Des Moines, I didn’t think I’d catch a cold. But as the second practice began at 4 p.m., the court began to cool down as the sun set. It wasn’t unbearable (the high was 52 on Tuesday and the low was 31), but it was oddly uncomfortable for a few of us Northerners.
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I watched more sideline reps, but from what I saw, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was inconsistent throwing the ball in 7-on-7 drills. This is a big week for a QB who is struggling in 2025.
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Team USA’s defensive line dominated the team’s practices, leaving little room for the running backs to display their abilities.
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I saw Boise State offensive lineman Cage Casey struggle in one-on-one situations. Casey is an interesting prospect this week, but he needs to bounce back on Wednesday and Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2026 Senior Bowl Day 1 Highlights
