Senior Bowl Reflection: What I Saw in Mobile and What It Means Now

Three guys talking ball: Nick Caserio, Frank Ross & Stressans

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I was in Mobile, Alabama on January 27th and 28th for Senior Bowl practices, and now that I’ve had time to go back and review the film, I wanted to properly recap my experience. Being there in person gave me one layer of evaluation — seeing body types, movement skills, how players responded to coaching — and then rewatching the reps at home added another layer of clarity that you just don’t get from quick reactions alone.

Even though the Senior Bowl was a few weeks ago, it’s still highly relevant with the NFL Combine and Draft approaching. This is often the week where evaluations really start to crystallize and draft boards quietly begin to shift.

Beyond the on-field work, there were a few surreal personal moments as well. I ran into Nick Caserio, Frank Ross, and Cole Popovich while I was there, and they actually recognized me, which was pretty cool. All three were incredibly down to earth and approachable. It wasn’t some deep football strategy session — just genuine, normal conversations — but moments like that remind you how real and grounded a lot of people in this league are. It was a fun, unexpected part of the trip.

With my interview that I conducted with Senior Bowl Executive Director Drew Fabianich premiering tonight at 9:30 PM on YouTube, this felt like the right time to revisit the event, share what stood out after reviewing the film, and connect it to what’s ahead with the Combine and the Draft around the corner.

The Focus: Offensive Line

Going into Mobile, my biggest focus was the offensive line. If the Texans are going to take the next step, that room has to improve at a personnel level — not just schematically.

The first player I specifically wanted to evaluate was Gennings Dunker from Iowa.

During warmups on Day 1, he immediately stood out physically. Massive frame, thick build, strong lower half. He carried himself like a pro. Once practices began, he rotated between tackle and guard. He wasn’t dominant in one-on-ones, but he was competitive and didn’t look overwhelmed.

Where he consistently showed up — both live and on film review — was in run game drills and double teams. He was a mauler. Heavy hands. Tenacity. Driving defenders and finishing through the whistle. In team periods, that physicality translated.

Considering his experience at tackle and projection to guard, he looked like a legitimate Day 2 option who could fit into a duo / gap-based system.

As an added bonus, he has a top tier personality.

Keylan Rutledge from Georgia Tech was another player I keyed in on.

Similar build — big-bodied guard with power. He also wasn’t flawless in one-on-ones, especially with some positional movement, but in run blocking periods and team drills, he played with violence and finish. He consistently drove defenders off the ball and played through the echo of the whistle. Coaches even had to rein him in at times.

That mentality aligns with what DeMeco Ryans emphasizes across the roster.

At center, technique stood out more than flash.

Sam Hecht showed very clean hand placement and footwork. Strong leverage. Quick processor. He wasn’t the biggest body, but technically he was one of the sounder players in that group.

Jake Slaughter from Florida showed steadiness and balance. After watching the film again, his consistency became more apparent. He also has strong tape and a personality fit that suggests he could handle communication responsibilities inside.

Brockermeyer from Miami quietly impressed me as well. Undersized, but polished.

Strong footwork, good timing with hands, effective passing off stunts. On film review, his technical consistency held up.

At tackle, Max Iheanachor from Arizona State impressed me with his feet. Former basketball and soccer background showed up. Light on his toes, good recovery ability. Hand placement could use refinement, but the movement skills were real. On rewatch, his one-on-one reps held up well compared to others in the group.

Dametrious Crownover from Texas A&M also performed better than he’s being talked about publicly. Solid anchor, competitive reps, reliable.

Overall, the offensive line group reinforced one thing: there is depth, but projection and scheme fit matter.

Tight End Observations

I also spent significant time watching tight ends, specifically from the lens of versatility.

Sam Roush stood out as a legitimate inline blocker with receiving upside. On film review, his blocking held up. He wasn’t just catching passes — he was comfortable at the point of attack and utlizing his big frame.

Will Kacmarek from Ohio State, projected later, surprised me as a receiver. Known more as a blocker, but he ran better routes than expected in one-on-ones and showed reliable hands. Could be a sleeper late add for the Texans.

Joshua Cuevas from Alabama used his size effectively as a receiver. Decent blocker, but on film he showed the ability to stack defenders and finish through contact.

Justin Joly from NC State was more of a receiving type. Blocking ceiling will determine projection, but the tools were evident.

The takeaway at tight end was clear: there are multiple body types and roles available in this class. If Houston wants more versatility rather than a one-dimensional piece, options exist.

Tanner Koziol flashed as a receiving threat with good hands and body control, and I liked his ability to adjust to the ball. But I was a bit turned off by the blocking. For what Houston needs, I’m not just looking for another pass catcher — the inline ability matters — and that’s still a question with him.

Interior Defensive Line Observations

Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) dominated across the board—one-on-ones, team drills, you name it. He showcased power, technique, and a knack for disruption at every level.

Gracen Halton (Oklahoma), Cameron Ball (Arkansas), and Tim Keenan (Alabama) were all solid performers. They won reps in both pass and run situations, showing potential versatility—whether it’s one-tech, three-tech, or taking on double teams. All three could be mid-to-late round fits in the Texans’ scheme.

Caleb Banks (Florida) stood out as the big-bodied upside prospect—6'6", 335. Coming off injury, he showed flashes of why he was highly regarded—though he’s still refining pad level. His size and traits could make him a fun fit in DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

In short, there’s good value from Day 2 onward in this group—plenty of physicality and potential depth fits.

Running Back Observations

Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) caught my attention first. He’s a bigger back, and what stood out most was his receiving ability—he made plays out of the backfield. Ball security is a concern, but he showed real upside.

Kaytron Allen (Penn State) followed closely. He’s another downhill, physical runner who looked like he could break tackles. He’s got that inside presence that fits the Texans' style.

Jaden Ott (Oklahoma) was smaller, but his pass blocking stood out, and he was solid catching out of the backfield.

Kaelon Black (Indiana) showed physicality despite being shorter and stockier, while still looking like a capable back.

All in all, Washington Jr. and Allen are the top potential fits, with the others offering depth or roles in specific situations.

Other Positions of Note

Linebacker is another position that could be addressed depending on how the roster shakes out. Kyle Louis from Pitt had a standout week in coverage and in space. He showed range, fluidity, and looked comfortable matching up in pass situations. Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech did exactly what he’s done all year — caused disruption and found the football. He was active in team periods and around turnovers.

At safety, VJ Payne from Kansas State stood out for his physicality and willingness in run fits. He triggered downhill well and didn’t hesitate coming into contact. Bud Clark from TCU flashed similar playmaking instincts on the back end, showing range and physicality at safety.

On the edge, there were several top-tier defensive end prospects who likely won’t align with the Texans’ draft positioning or current needs. That said, there were multiple depth edge players who flashed traits and motor that could come into play on Day 3 if Houston looks to add rotational pass rush help.

Final Thoughts

Being there live gives you a different feel for things you simply can’t fully capture on tape — overall physicality, true size, movement up close, and how players carry themselves between reps.

Interviewing several of them also gave a strong sense of mindset, confidence, and football intelligence. You learn quickly who understands their role, who can articulate concepts, and who embraces competition.

The tape then helps supplement what you saw in person. It confirms traits, exposes weaknesses, and provides context to the flashes from practice.

And it’s worth noting — Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans have shown they value the Senior Bowl. They’ve consistently drafted players who competed in Mobile, and it makes sense. This week puts prospects in an NFL-style environment, asks them to process quickly, and compete against top talent.

Mobile matters. And history says Houston will be paying attention.