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The calendar is about to flip to February, which means 2026 Senior Bowl Week will soon be a thing of the past.

The premier college all-star game, a major part of the pre-draft process for many prospects, is a chance to build stock ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February and the draft itself in April. More than 130 prospects descended on Mobile, Alabama, this week to prepare for the Senior Bowl itself in addition to meeting with personnel from all 32 NFL teams.

The entire Pewter Report staff was on hand in Mobile to take in practices for both the National Team and American Team on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and while the Senior Bowl itself will be played between the two teams on Saturday afternoon, the practice sessions are the meat and potatoes of one of the biggest weeks of draft season. With that in mind, we have enough of a sample size to single out the standouts from the week that was.

Here’s who stood out and stole the show throughout the week of practices at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile:

Standouts From Senior Bowl Week 2026

Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez

We have to start with Rodriguez, the mustached linebacker from Texas Tech who has stolen the hearts of the Pewter Report staff and Bucs fans. During Senior Bowl practices, he was predictably all around the football. He had a solid first day on Tuesday, but it was his performance in Wednesday’s practice for the National Team that stole headlines. After forcing 13 fumbles – including seven in 2025 – in his career with the Red Raiders while intercepting six passes (four this year), Rodriguez gave everyone a taste of that knack for taking the football away. He first forced a fumble, effectively shedding a block to get to the ball carrier, before later riling up the rest of the defense with an interception. His final practice on Thursday was solid as well, making for an all-around phenomenal week.

Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter

Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Vasha Hunt

Another predictable standout in Mobile, Hunter wasn’t flashy by any means but ultimately did what he does best, and that’s create disruption in the backfield. He won plenty of reps over the course of all three practices for the National Team, managing to stand out despite being surrounded by a whole lot of defensive line talent both on the inside and off the edge. Hunter was the Bucs’ second-round pick in Pewter Report’s initial 7-round mock last weekend, and while his Senior Bowl performance likely wasn’t enough to bring him up into the first round, there’s a chance he could be an early second-rounder who goes before Tampa Bay is on the clock for the second time.

Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker

There was some disappointment when the likes of David Bailey, Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor dropped out of the 2026 Senior Bowl. But their absences didn’t leave a complete absence of pass rushers with first-round talent. Parker fits that bill as well, and he showed why throughout his week in Mobile. The long arm move he put on Maryland tackle Alan Herron went viral on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, he had one rep in 11-on-11s that showcased both his disruptiveness and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates. On that play, he may have had a sack himself, but if he hadn’t finished it, he did enough to force the quarterback right into the path of a teammate.

TCU S Bud Clark

There weren’t a ton of standouts in the secondary on either squad this week in Mobile, but Clark had a good week for himself. On multiple occasions both in 1-on-1s and full team drills, he displayed an ability to play through the receiver and get his hand on the football to disrupt passes. His demeanor was another thing that separated him from the rest of the pack, as he was extremely vocal both when he made plays and when his teammates were winning their reps. Then came Thursday, which was easily his best practice out of three really solid efforts during the week. The exclamation point was an interception that he haled in falling away near the sideline. One of the loudest players on the field, Clark’s play was plenty loud as well.

Tennessee CB Colton Hood

Everyone got to see why Hood came into the Senior Bowl as the highest-rated cornerback of the group and a likely first-round pick. He was sticky in coverage all week long, playing well in press coverage while also managing to run right there with some of the faster receivers he covered. On one rep, he jumped a screen pass and made the stop, managing to slow up the receiver enough to where, in a real game situation, he or another teammate would’ve rallied to make the tackle. Hood was the closest thing to a lockdown cornerback in Mobile and certainly helped himself as the draft draws closer, so much so that he shut it down and didn’t suit up for Thursday’s practice.

Western Michigan EDGE Nadame Tucker

Despite finishing second in the country last year with 14.5 sacks, Tucker was a bit of a sleeper coming into the week. But he quickly became one of this year’s Senior Bowl standouts. He was impressive in 1-on-1s, then he flashed in 11-on-11s, especially on Day 2. On the aforementioned Jacob Rodriguez interception, it was the Western Michigan product who bowled over the left tackle and disrupted the quarterback, throwing him off base and forcing an errant throw over the middle. There were other reps like the one below, where he shows his bend off the edge and quickly gets into the backfield. He finished strong on Day 3, too, helping his stock in a big way.

Pitt ILB Kyle Louis

Pitt LB Kyle Louis – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Vasha Hunt

Jacob Rodriguez was the best and most active linebacker in Mobile most of the week, Louis was right there with him. The Pitt linebacker is someone Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo scouted before the Senior Bowl, and what flashed on tape showed up this week. Perhaps his best rep came in coverage during 1-on-1s, which are more favorable to the offense. Nonetheless, on this rep, Louis stuck right with the running back before stepping in front for a clean interception. It’s that type of coverage ability the Bucs will be looking for in a linebacker given their struggles in that area. He put that on full display again on Thursday with a dominant performance that included another pick in 1-on-1s and multiple pass breakups in 11-on-11s.

Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore

Moore was an absolute monster in Mobile. His speed to power was impressive, but what was more impressive was his play strength, which was on display rep after rep. Just look at this 11-on-11 rep below and you’ll see why teams probably shouldn’t ask their tight ends to take him on 1-on-1. Moore absolutely bullies Syracuse tight end Dan Villari on this play, steering him right into the running back to completely blow up the play. But coming full circle, it wasn’t just the power. He varied up his rushes, showing good speed, bend and hand usage. Even in a deep EDGE class, the Michigan man is going to be worth a closer look going forward.

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Vasha Hunt

Altmyer wasn’t the flashiest quarterback in Mobile, and none of the quarterbacks were overly good, but he appeared to be the most consistent. He was great on timing, throwing with impressive anticipation and hitting a lot of the intermediate throws with relative ease. The fifth-leading passer and second-winningest quarterback in Illinois history reads the field well and throws a good ball, and he’ll certainly go down as one of the few quarterbacks who helped put himself on the radar of some NFL teams as a likely Day 3 pick in April’s draft.

Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas

Another Fighting Illini standout, Jacas (pronounced “ACK-us”) had a decent first day in Mobile, registering a sack-fumble in 11-on-11s. But his practice on Wednesday was even better. He has violent hands that he uses well, plus his speed off the edge is a big part of what made him Illinois’ second-leading sacker all-time behind only Bucs Ring of Honor member and should-be Hall of Famer Simeon Rice. But what was perhaps most intriguing about Jacas’ day on Wednesday was the versatility he showed, as coaches kicked him inside and he was still able to win with those quick, violent hands. Similarly, Bucs outside linebacker Yaya Diaby got some reps on the inside at the Senior Bowl back in 2023.

Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields

Fields may be the highest-drafted wide receiver out of this year’s Senior Bowl. Watch this.

John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery

One of the stories of Senior Bowl Week and one of its biggest risers, Montgomery comes from Division III John Carroll but sure looked like he belonged on the same field as all of these high-profile Division I players. Whether it was getting the best of Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, the highest-rated corner at the Senior Bowl, on Day 1, getting behind and leaping over potential top-50 pick Chris Johnson for a touchdown on Day 2 or winning right off the line with a nifty release like you can see below, he did a lot to put himself and John Carroll on the map.

Florida DT Caleb Banks

Banks wasn’t overly impressive on Tuesday, but he put up much better showings on Wednesday and Thursday. He moves extremely well for his size and position, but the speed he possesses doesn’t come at the cost of power. The former Florida Gator had several reps where he was tossing linemen aside like rag dolls, winning with sheer strength. The buzz around Banks has long been there, but he hadn’t fully lived up to it. In Mobile, you started to see some of that potential really shine through.

Missouri EDGE Zion Young

The production (or lack thereof) at Missouri remains one of the biggest questions surrounding Young as a prospect. But it was hard to miss him out on the practice fields at the Senior Bowl this week. He was dominant throughout, showcasing his athleticism and flashing an array of pass rush moves. If he lost any reps at all, there couldn’t have been many. He’s going to be an intriguing player to watch as far as stock goes in the coming weeks and months, as he is a classic case study in the realm of production (only 11.5 sacks in four years, including a career-high 6.5 in 2025) vs. traits.

Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.

This year’s running back class at the Senior Bowl wasn’t the deepest, but Washington stood out as the best of the bunch. He was quick and decisive as a runner, especially on Wednesday when he broke off some big ones. But he also put some good reps together as a pass-catcher, showcasing an ability to be a threat in both aspects of the game. He’s a bigger back, but he’s got a suddenness to his game that you have to like and has better straight line speed than you might expect for a back of his size.