2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl: National Team Day 2 Practice Notes

2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl: National Team Day 2 Practice Notes

No storytime today. Sorry, but there’s so much to do around here and I don’t have enough help to pass that stuff onto other people. I’ll let you know when the Shawne Merriman interview is if and when that happens. Ditto for the consigliere role in running the East-West programming. Here are your 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl National Team Day 2 practice notes!

Quarterback:

Taylor Elgersma = Brock Osweiler after the Monstars in Space Jam zapped him. You can just tell he’s not twitched up and it takes him that half second too long to accomplish anything.

Tyler Shough is the tall version of Elgersma who can actually somewhat play. Has some zip on his ball. Are we sure he isn’t the best quarterback here? Looked good in the mobility department making throws on the move. Used arm angles in his favor. Has accurate for the most part. The size isn’t a question. He looked better than I thought he would and I already lowkey liked him.

Haven’t seen anything from Dillon Gabriel that makes me want to change my mind on how I feel. Executed a lot of these dinky throws. Felt small at times, which he is. Can be accurate but when he forces it and timing isn’t there, it’s off. The team period couldn’t get rid of it that would have been sacks. Threw what should have been a pick to Louisville. I thought he looked horrible in team period. Couldn’t keep the chains moving on simple looks by the D. The version of Bryce you saw as a rookie where he looked too overwhelmed. That’s what I saw from Gabriel today.

Running Back:

Jo’quavious Marks couldn’t get away from Utah at the end running routes. He’s fine. A spazz but fine. If Marshawn Lloyd knocked your socks off be my guest.

Ollie Gordon II is definitely big. Guy has ideal size on him. Again, I’m not sure he’s actually good though.

Donovan Edwards had a fumble in team period. He can really run but hang unto the ball dude.

Damien Martinez is going to make it. Team drills he has a burst with size and he’s going to break tackles in short yardage. Liked the movement skills I saw in team period.

Wide Receiver:

Xavier Restrepo is slippery but he doesn’t have the pure speed McConkey had a year ago. He’s got some overachiever vibes but he’s a real player. I just wouldn’t anticipate him lighting it up right away as a rookie like some have done recently.

It’s too easy for Tez Johnson. Release off the line nobody can keep up. He’s won the rep before it starts. Speed is there. He looks like a cheat code. If you don’t beat him up at the line, you lose. It also hasn’t happened all day. If they have an MVP trophy, he’s in the mix.

Jayden Higgins actually looked alright today. Genuinely made some really nice plays. It just feels like I’ve seen this story before. AKA the Hakeem Butler con job. Big receiver who can’t separate well enough to be anything. Jaylin Noel is a totally different body type. Smaller run around guy who has some feel to him. Just not blown away by either although I’ll admit Higgins brought more to the table today than I thought he would.

Tight End:

Terrance Ferguson has size. Has movement skills. Just missing something that prevents him from freak mode. He can catch. Uses his hands to create space.

Harold Fannin Jr. is a natural receiver. Honestly, his questions are blocking.

Freak. Total freak. Elijah Arroyo might be the best tight end in the class. He’s doing whatever he wants. Every wiggle and route has a purpose. Catches the ball well. I gotta have him. I knew he was good but this is a different type of good. He might be the best tight end in the draft good.

Gavin Bartholomew looks alright moving around. He’s not clunky. He can win in the open field. He’s not a zero.

Offensive Line:

Boston College’s Ozzy Trapilo holding his own. Did damn well against Landon Jackson. You could argue he was the best of the group. Can’t find a bad rep today. Surprised by how good he’s been.

Josh Conerly Jr. keeps doing it. One bad rep against Mike Green. Didn’t look as good when they put him on the right side. Been playing left at Oregon. Otherwise looks like the same stuff from yesterday. He’s a player.

Jalen Rivers is holding his own. Won a rep against Iowa. Far from perfect. Totally whiffed on Tafuna in another rep. His length is causing serious problems for defenders though. Long ass arms with size and it’s working for him.

Aireontae Ersery is enormous and he uses it to his advantage. Darius Alexander got him one time.

Anthony Belton been really good too. Stuffed Michigan Stewart. Took care of him again in the rep after. Won another against Central Arkansas. NC State had a player show out at the East-West game too. Which makes you start to wonder why things happened the way they did this year for them.

Haven’t been impressed by Wyatt Milum. Darius Alexander beat him on a rep. Ty Robinson looked way better going against him compared to Zabel. He had a ton of hype going in and I just don’t see it. Can’t remember a single time going damn there it is nice job. Hasn’t been the case all week.

Grey Zabel did a good on Ty Robinson. Robinson had him in the strength department a bit but he fights. The fact that he’s holding his own like this against Robinson is so impressive. Takes care of Iowa no problem. Looks flexible and the feet are there. UCLA got him once but that was about it. Josh Farmer had no momentum going against him. Beat up Virginia Tech at the end in best-on-best. It’s one thing to be a small school guy and hang in there. He’s a small school guy and dominating.

Defensive Line:

More of the same from Joshua Farmer. All bull. All power nothing else. He’s not terrible. Has some quickness but limited.

Aeneas Peebles beat West Virginia in a rep. Definitely has some leverage and strength to him with positive bend. Couldn’t beat North Dakota State.

Ty Robinson is super strong. You can tell he has that part of his game down. Maybe the strongest guy in this group.

Yahya Black of Iowa hasn’t been impressive. Gets stood up every time. Needs to be lower. Slug mode. Don’t see any high upside here.

Darius Alexander is building momentum. Got by Rivers in a flash. Had a nice Bowl game against Pitt too.

UCLA has an intensity to him. Can tell he at least cares. Motor is running even if he’s not a world beater.

Donovan Ezeiruaku had just about the best rep I’ve seen against Minnesota. His sack production has carried over and flashed all that stuff. He’s legit. Showed some feisty energy too. Has the bend. Uses his hand fighting. Has some baller qualities.

Mike Green is fast but not sure how good he is. Boston College sent him around the corner no problem. He should use his power more because when he bulled Conerly right to the ground, that is the kind of stuff that makes you understand why people love him. Having that power is important. Times he gets way too cute and loses because of it. It’s like you see it coming.

Landon Jackson hasn’t dominated. Iowa State buried him. Can’t find a rep where it’s a clear win. Has some power but never a time where I’m like woah.

David Walker of Central Arkansas not good. Finds his way on the ground early in practice. No real resistance. Iowa State put him down with ease.

No twitch on Junior Tafuna. Looks like a super late round depth body.

Linebackers:

Cody Lindenberg forced the fumble on Edwards in team period. Nickolas Martin helped make the play who looks like he has some burst to him.

Cornerback:

Quincy Riley all over Resptepo. Been a theme. Nobody ever creates a ton of separation from him. Had another pass breakup on Felton. Had his hands all over the ball. Just needs to catch and turn them into interceptions. Doesn’t look slow either. Riley is all over Noel. Noel can’t get by him.

Azareye’h Thomas all over Lane. He’s not elite but he’s not bad either. Guys like Lane won’t beat him. No prayer keeping up with Johnson.

Darien Porter is too raw. Can’t see how he’s a starting corner.

Tommi Hill got beat over the top by Higgins. Not a great sign given Higgins isn’t fast. Not that it’s fair to be left on an island but Higgins is converting his reps against him.

Feel free to comment. They are welcome. Also, we do have the film this year so expect more follow up content to come.

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