Overview of Building the Beast: Who's turning heads at the Senior Bowl?
Dave Hellman interviews Dane Brugler (The Athletic) on-site at Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, AL. Brugler walks through first-day impressions—what stood out in position drills, who helped or hurt their draft stock, and which small-school players could emerge. The episode focuses on edge rushers, quarterbacks, corners, receivers, linebackers and interior linemen, and sets expectations for how Senior Bowl week can dramatically change perceptions heading into the combine and draft.
Key takeaways
- Edge rushers: deep group and several strong early showings; one-on-one drills favored power and hand usage.
- Quarterbacks: Garrett Nussmeier looked like the best QB on Day 1 and is re-opening his evaluation window after a poor 2025 season; Diego Pavia threw well but size/weight (sub-5'10", under 200 lbs) is a concern.
- Corners: Colton Hood had a strong Day 1 and remains in first-round conversation; Chris Johnson (San Diego State) impressed and could be a Day 2 pick.
- Small-school/under-the-radar WRs: Ted Hurst (Georgia State) and John Carroll’s Tyron Montgomery made noise; Senior Bowl remains a major platform for these players.
- Linebackers: very strong class. Kyle Lewis (undercut/athletic, smaller frame) and Keyshawn Elliott (finisher, reliable in run/coverage) stood out.
- Context: One day of practice is meaningful but evaluators need to see progression across the week; one-on-one reps can favor defenders/attackers and are not definitive.
Prospect breakdown (what Brugler saw)
Edge rushers
- TJ Parker (Clemson): power player (6'3", ~260), won with hands/leverage; produced viral one-on-one highlight. Helped his stock.
- Derrick Moore (Michigan): well-rounded, good timing and hands; not explosive but consistent and violent when he connects.
- Zion Young (Missouri) and Romello Height (Texas Tech): both showed they can play bigger than their metrics suggest (Height came in heavier than previously thought).
- LT Overton (Alabama): high-ceiling flashes but inconsistent in 2025; a big week could re-establish first-round talk.
Notes: Several invited edge names (Reuben Bain, Akeem Mesidor, David Bailey) either withdrew or didn’t attend; the group present still looks strong.
Quarterbacks
- Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): clearly the top QB on Day 1—good anticipation, accuracy, improved look vs. his late-2024 tape. Big week for rebuilding draft stock; could climb into Day 2 if consistent.
- Diego Pavia: threw well but measured short (just under 5'10") and under 200 lbs—size reduces draft odds; needs the right team fit to be drafted.
- Cole Payton (North Dakota State): good arm, lefty comparisons (Michael Penix mentioned as a style echo); Senior Bowl is a valuable showcase for small-school QBs.
Cornerbacks
- Colton Hood (SEC): patient, sticky in coverage, recovered well when given a step; Butler-level upside—teams have first-round thoughts on him.
- Chris Johnson (San Diego State): fluid pedal, transition skills, ball instincts; could be a second-round pick if tape and week stack.
Wide receivers / small-school standouts
- Ted Hurst (Georgia State): big (6'3") and productive on bad team tape; made a highlight contested catch in one-on-ones—could become buzzy and climb into day-two conversations.
- Tyron Montgomery (John Carroll): won catch points, created buzz—another small-school name to watch.
- Josh Cameron (Baylor), Jacoby Lane (USC), Romello Brinson (SMU): had noteworthy moments Day 1.
Linebackers
- Kyle Lewis (Pitt): undersized (~6'0", ~224) but excellent in space—Senior Bowl environments favor him; shows range, playmaking in coverage.
- Keyshawn Elliott (Arizona State): 6'2", 235, reliable finisher and versatile in run/coverage—made a strong Day 1 case for top-100 status.
- Several other good names are present (Bryce Bower-ish mentions, Scooby, Jacob Rodriguez, etc.), making this a deep LB class.
Interior/O-line
- Lee Hunter (part of Texas Tech front mentioned): powerful 6'3.5", ~320, clogs run lanes and flashed power as a pass rusher in limited reps; will be one to review on tape.
- Tackles face a hard assignment in one-on-ones; concessions expected for tackles getting beat in these drills.
Notable quotes / lines
- “Nussmeier clearly the best quarterback here, clearly.” — Brugler on Day 1 QB play.
- “This week is kind of made for him” — Brugler on Kyle Lewis, because the on-field setups showcase smaller, space-based linebackers.
What to watch for the rest of Senior Bowl week
- Consistency across practices: evaluators want progression—especially for quarterbacks and tackles.
- Nussmeier’s day-to-day development (timing, comfort, live-game reps).
- WR/edge matchups in one-on-ones and team reps—these can rapidly elevate or expose prospects.
- Small-school breakout potential (Ted Hurst, John Carroll players) — daily buzz matters.
- Medical/weight updates (e.g., Pavia’s official size) and combine follow-ups.
Draft implications (short-term)
- Players who impress across multiple practices can jump rounds (first/second-day conversions happen yearly at the Senior Bowl).
- High-ceiling players returning from poor seasons (Nussmeier, LT Overton, Caleb Banks) can use strong practices to reset evaluations.
- Size/physical metrics still matter—Pavia’s weight/height will likely limit draft opportunities despite good throwing.
- Small-school performers who dominate the week can emerge as Day 2 targets.
Actionable next steps / recommendations
- If you follow the draft, track daily practice tape and the Senior Bowl game—Day 1 is a snapshot; Day 2–3 and the game finalize narratives.
- Revisit The Athletic’s longer piece from Brugler for deeper context and player lists.
- Listen to the next episode of Building the Beast (next Sunday/Monday) for a Senior Bowl recap, game takeaways, and any clubhouse intel Brugler picked up in Mobile.
Bottom line
Senior Bowl week already produced notable winners (TJ Parker, Derrick Moore, Garrett Nussmeier, Colton Hood, Ted Hurst, Chris Johnson) and confirmed the depth at linebacker and edge. But this is an evolving evaluation—consistency through practice and the game will be what turns early impressions into real draft movement.