The National team had their third practice of Senior Bowl week on Thursday morning. The players wore full pads.
The quarterbacks on the National team were not impressive this week, and that continued in their final practice. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel had several passes off the mark and looks uncomfortable reading the defense. He is also extremely small and not dynamic as a runner. Gabriel looks like a very late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Laurier’s Taylor Elgersma has received some media attention for being the first Canadian quarterback to practice at the Senior Bowl. Elgersma has quality size and some arm strength, but his accuracy was off, and he had some poor ball placement in the red zone scrimmages. Elgersma looks like an undrafted free agent who could be a possible practice squad player. However, it probably makes more sense for him to play Canadian football.
One of the first players that could be drafted off of the North team is Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer. Farmer has had a strong week of practice overall, and some team sources really like Farmer. In the one-on-ones, Farmer had an impressive win bulling through North Dakota State offensive tackle Grey Zabel. To end the practice, Farmer won a one-on-one rep with his powerful bull rush to roll back West Virginia offensive tackle Wyatt Milum.
For the NFL, Farmer has some serious strength and power to generate a push into the backfield and hold his ground as a run defender. Sources say that Farmer has some issues finding the ball, doesn’t use his hands well to shed blocks, and question his instincts. Thus, Farmer is more of a second-round pick rather than a true first-rounder.
Nebraska defensive tackle Ty Robinson is a sleeper prospect who could be a nice value pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Robinson will probably never produce sack numbers, he is strong and tough at the point of attack. Robinson can plug running lanes and generate some push as a pass rusher. In the one-on-ones, Robinson had some wins on bull rushes, including an impressive win over Texas Tech tackle Caleb Rogers. Robinson plays with an excellent motor, strength, and physicality. He could end up being a day-two or mid-round pick that turns into a solid run-stuffing nose tackle as a pro.
Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson has had a mixed week of practice, and that continued on Thursday. He had an excellent win in the one-on-ones with a speed rush to the inside of Boston College’s Ozzy Trapilo. In the team scrimmage, Jackson went around Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery with a speed rush for a potential sack. To conclude practice, Jackson lost a couple of reps to N.C. State offensive tackle Anthony Belton as Belton pushed Jackson deep and around the pocket.
Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo finished off his strong week of practice with another good session on Thursday. Arroyo did very well in the red zone scrimmages, getting open, finding soft spots in zone coverage, and catching the ball. Arroyo is a fluid athlete with good size, strong hands, and quality route-running. After injuries restricted his college career, Arroyo could turn into a starting tight end if he is able to stay healthy as a pro.
Arroyo’s college teammate, Xavier Restrepo, has had a solid week of practice as well. On Thursday, he did well in the scrimmage sessions, including a nice touchdown catch crossing the back of the end zone and creating separation from Illinois State safety Keondre Jackson. Restrepo made an adjustment for a leaping touchdown. Restrepo is an undersized slot receiver who is quick and has a knack for getting open with shifty route-running. He could be a mid-round pick that turns into a solid value selection.
Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson has also had a good week of practice. Johnson has some serious speed with suddness, a quick release off the line, and a burst out of his break. Along with short area speed, Johnson has a second gear to explode down the field. He could be a nice rotational backup who is a deep threat while also being a player who can uncover underneath. Johnson lacks size for the NFL as he is very small, but he could be a dangerous speed threat to challenge defenses.
