One of the most important parts of the Senior Bowl is seeing which players improve throughout the week and which ones only flash a few times. We call it the "drumbeat” of scouting. You want players to make special plays, but it needs to be consistent over the course of multiple practices/games.
There are several players currently in Mobile who have produced some loud drumbeats after just two days of practice. Here are the biggest winners from Day 2 of the Panini Senior Bowl:
Biggest winners from Day 2 of the Senior Bowl
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
There is nothing physically imposing about Rodriguez. He has below average and athleticism, but he knows how to play the linebacker position. And during Wednesday’s practice, he just couldn’t stop making plays. While no one will mistake Rodriguez as a first-round pick, he’s firmly established himself as a Day 2 pick and a potential starting linebacker right out of the gate.
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Do the Cowboys have a need at defensive tackle? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean we can’t discuss Banks because he was unblockable on Wednesday. Standing at 6-6, 330 pounds, Banks was easily the best player on the field and flashed the talent that many were expecting to see throughout the 2025 college football season. That didn’t happen for a variety of reasons, but that player was on full display on Wednesday.
Banks has had a strong week in Mobile, and another good practice on Thursday should solidify his spot in the first round and likely the top-20. And that is good news for Dallas, as that could push another talented player to the Cowboys at a position of need at pick No. 12 or No. 20.
Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
It wasn’t a perfect day for Dunker as he did lose one rep during a one-on-one drill, but it was pretty darn close. Once again, he showed the athleticism and power to prove he can play tackle in the NFL and the nastiness to fit in at guard. Going into the Senior Bowl, Dunker was viewed as a potential top 100 pick. But after the work that he’s put in this week, it would be a shock if he escaped the top-50.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker was really good again on Wednesday, winning multiple reps during the one-on-one drills. He might have been even better in the team drills as his power was on full display. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done developing counter moves and he’s not the most agile player, but Parker has been a big winner this week. Will he be in consideration for pick No. 20? That probably depends on how he tests, but it does feel likely that he’ll be a top 40 selection after a strong week in Mobile.
Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll
If there was one under-the-radar wide receiver to pay attention to this week, it’s Montgomery. He’s made unbelievable catches all week long including a beautiful 50/50 grab over Chris Johnson. Montgomery is firmly in the discussion for Day 2 of the NFL Draft and has had a fantastic week in Mobile.
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
It’s not a surprise to see a cornerback lose in one-on-one drills during Senior Bowl practices. But it didn’t happen very often for Johnson on Wednesday, and when it did, it was only because wide receivers were making unbelievable catches. Johnson was in the hip pocket of all of the receivers all day long, and he’s one of the biggest risers of the week.