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Road to the Draft

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TWENTYMAN: 15 players to watch at the Senior Bowl

The Panini Senior Bowl will take place this week in Mobile, Alabama with practices running from Jan. 27-29 at Hancock Whitney Stadium and coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NFL Plus each day.

The Senior Bowl game will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NFL Plus.

Lions offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo will coach the American Team quarterbacks - Grant Nussmeier (LSU), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Luke Altmyer (Illinois).

Here's a look at 15 players to keep an eye on during the week:

1. EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

After spending his first three seasons at Stanford where he recorded 14.5 sacks total, Bailey (6-3, 250) transferred to Texas Tech and had a monster senior season with 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss leading the Big 12 in both categories.

2. DT Caleb Banks, Florida

Banks (6-5, 330) has a lot to prove this week in Mobile after playing in just three games for the Gators this past season because of injury. In 2024 he amassed 21 tackles (10 solo) including seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in ten starts.

View photos of every Detroit Lions touchdown from the 2025 season.

3. LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Boettcher finished sixth in FBS football with 136 tackles this season. A terrific center fielder for the Oregon baseball team who was drafted by the Houston Astros, Boettcher also notched 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and six passes defended. He's got sideline-to-sideline range with a knack for finding the football.

4. C Parker Brailsford, Alabama

A team captain and Third-Team All-SEC performer, Brailsford (6-2, 290) has been a three-year starter at Washington in 2023 and at Alabama the last two seasons. He's a bit undersized but makes up for it with superb athleticism and movement skills with a terrific motor. His ability to pick up blocks at the second level really stands out and was something this Lions' offense was missing from the position in 2025.

5. S A.J. Haulcy, LSU

Haulcy started 12 games for the Tigers after starting his college career at New Mexico and then Houston. He recorded 88 tackles this season with three interceptions. That coming off a five-interception season in 2024 with Houston with seven passes defended. He has a knack for finding the football and making plays on it when he does.

6. DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

Hunter (6-4, 330) started his career at UCF and led all FBS interior defenders in run-defense stops (58) and tackles for loss or no gain over his final two seasons at UCF, per Pro Football Focus. He recorded 34 tackles (11 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks with a forced fumble and three quarterback hits for the Raiders this season.

7. CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

Johnson is a savvy defender with good instincts, experience and playmaking ability in both zone and man schemes. He recorded four interceptions with a 16.1 passer rating against and allowed zero touchdowns this season.

8. S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

McNeil-Warren was a Third-Team AP All-America selection. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety recorded 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions with five passes defended. He was among national leaders in forced fumbles (3) and fumbles recovered (2).

View photos of the Detroit Lions cornerbacks from the 2025 NFL season.

9. EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

Mesidor helped lead the Hurricanes to the National Championship Game and will now look to get his professional career off to a great start with a solid showing in Mobile this week. The 6-foot-2, 272 pounder is fresh off a 12.5 sack season with 17.5 tackles for loss.

10. EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Parker has been a consistent producer ever since arriving in Clemson in 2023. After recording 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2024, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior saw his numbers dip a bit in 2025 to 5.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 12 games.

11. G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

Pregnon is a massive people mover who looks to be a Day 1 contributor in the NFL with a great mix of size, power, technique and nastiness at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds. He played at Wyoming and USC before landing in Oregon in 2025. He started 25 games at left guard during the 2023 and 2024 seasons and every game this season for the Ducks.

12. C Jake Slaughter, Florida

A Rimington Trophy (best center in college football) finalist, Slaughter made 33 starts for the Gators the last three seasons. He logged a total of 748 offensive snaps this past season with a PFF pass block grade of 87.1.

13. S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State

Wheatley has great size (6-2, 200) and speed (4.4) with versatility and playmaking ability. NFL defensive coordinators love safeties who can come down and match up with tight ends and slot receivers, and Wheatley did that with a lot of success at Penn State. He should be able to play both strong and free safety at the NFL level.

14. EDGE Zion Young, Missouri

Young started his career at Michigan State before finishing the last two seasons at Missouri where he notched 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Tigers in 2025. At 6-foot-5, 262 pounds, Young has the size the Lions love along the edge of their defensive front.

15. OL Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M

Zuhn (6-6, 219) is a four-year starter at left tackle for the Aggies, but some draft analysts think he's got the versatility to move inside and play guard at the NFL level too. The Lions certainly love that kind of versatility, and it will be interesting to see where Zuhn spends the majority of his time this week.

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