10 intriguing players to know at the 2026 Senior Bowl

The 2026 Senior Bowl is this Saturday, Jan. 31. Below are 10 of the most intriguing players at this year's event.

10 intriguing Senior Bowl players to know

Florida Gators center Jake Slaughter | Slaughter (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) is arguably the best center in the 2026 class. Per Pro Football Focus data, the 2025 first-team All-SEC member allowed one sack and four total pressures in 400 pass-rush opportunities.

Indiana Hoosiers running back Kaelon Black | The recently crowned national champion was Indiana's best back during its title run. During the CFP, Black (5-9, 208 pounds) averaged 5.5 yards per carry, gaining 241 yards and three touchdowns on 44 rush attempts.

Georgia State Panthers wide receiver Ted Hurst | Hurst (6-3, 207 pounds) made a successful leap from Valdosta State to Georgia State two seasons ago, being named first-team All-Sun Belt as a senior. He had 71 receptions, 1,004 yards and six touchdowns, and according to PFF, his 59.3 percent contested catch rate in 2025 was tied for the ninth-highest among 48 wideouts with at least 20 contested catch targets.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets right guard Keylan Rutledge | Ratledge (6-3, 316 pounds) earned his second consecutive first-team All-ACC honor this past season. The interior lineman was credited by PFF with just three sacks allowed over his four collegiate seasons, including none in 2025.

Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young | The former Michigan State Spartan had a massive 2025, finishing the year with 56 total pressures (6.5 sacks) after tallying 55 pressures and five sacks across his first three seasons. Young (6-5, 262 pounds) also had 16.5 tackles for loss, proving adept at stopping the run. 

Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun | Igbinosun (6-2, 192 pounds) was a lockdown corner for the top-ranked Buckeyes scoring defense, allowing 22 receptions for 207 yards on 46 targets with two interceptions and five pass breakups. (h/t PFF)

Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen | The Nittany Lions are well-represented in Mobile, with both Allen and backfield mate Nicholas Singleton at the Senior Bowl. Of the two, Allen (5-11, 220 pounds) has the higher ceiling, ending his collegiate career with 4,180 rushing yards, the most in Penn State program history.

Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton | Dennis-Sutton (6-5, 268 pounds) tallied 17 sacks over the last two seasons. He recorded at least one sack in each of his five games to end 2025 and will look to keep the hot streak going in Mobile.

Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive tackle Lee Hunter | The Red Raiders did an excellent job constructing their defensive line this past season, with Hunter (6-3, 320 pounds) an immediate difference-maker after beginning his collegiate career at UCF (2022-24). He can plug the middle of the defense at the next level, much like at Texas Tech, where he notched the fifth-highest stop rate (11.9 percent) among defensive tackles with at least 210 run-play snaps. (h/t PFF)

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez | As great as Texas Tech was at the line of scrimmage, Rodriguez (6-1, 233 pounds) was the heart and soul of the defense. He was a dark horse Heisman candidate, ending his fifth-year senior season with 128 tackles (11 for loss), four interceptions, seven forced fumbles and three total touchdowns, including two as a wildcat quarterback.