While many of us are still breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft, Jim Nagy has his sights sets on next year’s event already.
The executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl posted a list of potential candidates for the all-star game in Mobile, Alabama, in 2025.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders are among those on the list.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought too much about that at all,” Leonard, a Fairhope native, told me on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 on Tuesday. “You have to get there first. I have a lot of work to do before I get there.
“That’s honestly a dream come true, being a hometown kid in the Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl used to practice at my high school in Fairhope.
“Really honored to be on that list, and Jim’s a great guy. I’ve learned a lot from him. Really cool, but you have to get there first.”
Other quarterback to keep an eye on include:
- Drew Allar, Penn State
- Max Brosner, Minnesota
- Hudson Card, Purdue
- Jalen Daniels, Kansas
- Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
- Will Howard, Ohio State
- Kyle McCord, Syracuse
- Graham Mertz, Florida
- Cameron Ward, Miami
- Donovan Smith, Houston
- D.J. Uiagalele, Florida State
- Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin
Those who participated in the Senior Bowl represented 43 percent of players drafted over the weekend. There were 10 players who played in the Senior Bowl drafted in the first round and 45 over the first three rounds, per the all-star game.
The Atlanta Falcons were the talk of the draft when they selected Senior Bowl participant and Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the No. 8 overall pick. Penix, who started his career at Indiana, was second in the Heisman voting and led the nation in passing each of the past two seasons.
Oregon’s Bo Nix, a former Auburn player who also competed in Mobile, was drafted by Denver with the No. 12 overall pick.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.