Senior Bowl: Who's Answered the Challenge After Two Days

Jan 293 min read

MOBILE, Ala. — As preparation begins for the NFL Draft, college all-star games are in full swing. This year, the 76th edition of the Reese's Senior Bowl will be held here. It is arguably the biggest all-star game for college football players looking to take their talents to the next level and play in the NFL.

This year, some of the biggest names in college football descended upon Hancock Whitney Stadium to begin practice for the American or National teams. After some jitters on the first day, players began to settle in and perform their best.

Here are five players that have stood out the most through two days of practice.

Senior Bowl Standouts

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

6-foot-3, 251 pounds

After leading the nation in sacks this past season, Mike Green showed first-step quickness and physicality to be a disruptive force on the NFL stage. His first day saw Green explode off the line of scrimmage. He won individual reps in practice against offensive linemen consistently on the first and second day. Green's best moment came on Day 2in a one-on-one drill against 6-foot-4, 313-pound Josh Connerly. The result was Green bulldozing his way through Connerly with a great combination of speed and power.

Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

5-Foot-10, 182 pounds

Tez Johnson has gotten a good chunk of the attention with his speed and separation ability. But Kyle Williams has been showcasing his route-running and solid agility to make defenders miss and separate. Williams has also showcased his speed, reaching an eye-opening 21.36 miles per hour. He has a great ability to track the ball on deep routes and solid hands to make receptions in and out of traffic.

Yahya Black, DT, Iowa

6-Foot-6, 337 pounds

Yahya Black has shown up over the first two days. As a massive force on the interior, Black has a great combination of agility and power. Black plays physically and his long reach lets him gain an early advantage against would-be blockers. In his reps against the offensive line, Black gained an early advantage with a quick first step at the line of scrimmage and with his initial punch utilizing his long reach and 35-inch arms.

Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State

6-foot-5, 316 pounds

The North Dakota State Bison have a long tradition of strong offensive linemen that have strong fundamentals. Zabel has shown over the first two days of practice that he has a nastiness in his blocking. He's not had a bad rep in any of the drills. Zabel uses his hands well to engage defenders. Also, his strength and sound footwork help him to seal the edge as a tackle. This week, he has shown versatility to play all positions along the offensive line.

Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame

6-foot-1, 227 pounds

After leading the defense for the Fighting Irish this season, Jack Kiser brought his playmaking ability here. Over the first two days, he has been everywhere on the field. Kiser has shown an ability to be a strong tackler with the athletic ability to cover. He closes quickly to make the tackle. Kiser attacks the line of scrimmage and plays with a high motor every play. In watching Kiser, he is a downhill attacker who has the hands and football instincts to create turnovers and disrupt offenses. On Day 2 of practice, he came up with an interception off of Jalen Milroe and that was a highlight of the day.