2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl: National Team Day 1 Practice Notes

2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl: National Team Day 1 Practice Notes

Let me set the stage for this post because this part really needs to be talked about before I get to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl practice notes for the National Team on day 1.

A: Jim Nagy is a jackass. If you thought I was being a hater before, I dare you to call me one now. Storytime in the East-West practice notes will tell you everything you need to know.

B: Because Jim Nagy is a jackass… the first day wasn’t televised. It hasn’t been since he went corrupt mode. I’m limited to the one hour recap show by NFL Network, which is horribly produced and shows meaningless interviews for half of it.

Think of this as a vibes post. A lot of this is American Idol anyway. If you have any idea what you’re looking at, it shouldn’t tell you long to figure out what’s going on. Plus, I scoured the internet for any possible clips I could find.

This won’t be a problem for day two and three but just a heads up on day one on what you should expect from this post.

C: We have the film for this year. I will be doing a full deep dive on the film a couple of weeks down the line and content will follow. It will be much more in-depth than what you read today.

Quarterback:

Taylor Elgersma doesn’t look like he belongs. Tall Canadian quarterback but looks exactly like a random Canadian quarterback. Unless he takes massive strides in the next two days, cross him off the list.

The Zebra tech claims that Dillon Gabriel broke the record for the hardest thrown ball ever for this event. The previous record was held by Josh Allen and Joe Milton who were tied at 62 MPH. Gabriel’s throw was apparently 73+. I’m going to go out on a limb and say their tech malfunctioned because there isn’t a chicken dick’s chance in hell Gabriel was the one to break that record. It doesn’t match anything you saw during his college career. Allen and Milton are the two best arm talents in terms of power I’ve ever seen. The idea that Gabriel beat them by more than 10 MPH isn’t humaly possible.

I guess this isn’t a takeaway other than to note that whatever the Zebra tech says this year, take it with a grain of salt.

Running Back:

Donovan Edwards can run. Route running looks good. He’s going to be a better receiver than he showed at Michigan. Speed and explosion won’t be his problem.

I saw some of the bag drills for the running backs. Ollie Gordon’s eye level has to be concerning. Doesn’t really trust his feet. He’s a back with size but he’s not next level freaky. No chance.

Wide Receiver:

Xavier Restrepo just gets open. Jalen Smith holding him bad on a rep to keep up. Definitely in the slot McConkey role. I think he’s just a touch worse but dangerous and can play. McConkey put on a show at the Senior Bowl last year. It wasn’t quite that level but you can see Restrepo is no bum.

Tez Johnson looks different. Everybody is having a hard time just keeping up with him. Based on what he did at Oregon and what he showed here, the dude is absolutely something and very legit. Looks like Tank Dell on steriods. I can buy into this one more than I even did with Dell despite him being tiny.

Don’t see any twitch out of Jaylin Noel. I don’t see any special here. Higgins is worse. At least Noel can move. Higgins is a zero. Can’t get open at all. Cute with no steak all sizzle while being tall. He’s nothing.

Tight End:

Isaiah Arroyo is a freak. It’s been everything I’ve been trying to say all year. Guy can’t cover him. Mismatch nightmare. He’s just got it. I gotta have him. Sudden, fast, freak. He looks more and more like Jimmy Graham. I’m more willing to say he’s the best tight end in the class than willing to say he’s going to suck. That should tell you where I’m at with this.

Terrance Ferguson is good too. He’s not as freaky but has that same wiggle and can win his reps.

UCLA is the opposite. Moliki Matavao looks clunky. Rocks for hands. Doesn’t keep ball secure. Slow movement skills.

Offensive Line:

Josh Conerly is a damn stud. In the best of best against UCLA, completely owned him. People should be very high on him. He’s a first round pick all day long. He’s not physically imposing in the power department yet but he’s a high level athlete. Looks like a first round tackle to me…

Anthony Belton caught Boston College on a spin. Spin didn’t go anywhere. Snatches up Tafuna.

Grey Zabel with a damn good rep against Ty Robinson. Sneaky feet. Robinson is good and powerful too. He’s been doing very well. Locked up Toledo. Lined up all over the line too. North Dakota State seems to have one of these guys ever few years. Zabel was a left tackle for NDS and his transition to guard feels like one we’ve seen before. Not sure he’s quite a freak show but he looks better than Dillon Radunz.

Aireontae Ersery looks damn good. Pancacked Landon Jackson like he was a puppy. Boston College was no problem. Mike Green? Take a hike. Ersey was one of the guys I didn’t know a ton about going in but he’s passed the eyetest.

Defensive Line:

I’m crunched for time. This video right here gives you about the best possible info you’re going to get. If you have learned anything from Trey, you should know what you’re watching by now ^.

Josiah Stewart looks fast. Has strength too.

Aeneas Peebles walked back North Dakota State.

Josh Farmer has one pitch. It’s all bull. Has nothing else. Not sure he’s overly strong but not sure he sucks either. Looks like he’s trying harder than the piss poor motor we saw during the year.

Mike Green is small but he’s moving fine. More than fine. I’m not sure how good he is yet but movement skills don’t look out of place.

Donovan Ezieruaku was up and down but had his moments. He’s a good rusher. Beat West Virginia here. Didn’t win every rep but I like his motor and has more than one pitch to him.

Linebackers:

?

Cornerback:

Darien Porter looks like a special teamer. Lane from V Tech isn’t even good and beat him over the top. Super raw. Looks like he can move fast but doesn’t look like a football player. Lane beat him up bad.

Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State kept up with Tez Johnson until he couldn’t. Stays with him for about 2-3 seconds and then needs a map. Doesn’t look like he sucks either. It’s more so Johnson is a different level good right now.

Quincy Riley not perfect but he’s hanging in there.

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