Thursday concluded the All-Star event’s practice schedule and these players had the strongest finish to the week.
Mobile, AL — An overcast final day of practices capped off an eventful week for the Senior Bowlers. Today will be an off day for everyone down here, with festivities concluding with the Senior Bowl game on Saturday at 2:30 PM EST.
There was a strong showing from multiple position groups that the Indianapolis Colts will inevitably covet in the current draft cycle. Who will end up in Indy remains to be seen, but this week served as a promising start in dwindling prospects down to who will fit what the Colts need.
While there were plenty of great plays to go around, these prospects stood out above the rest of the competition on Thursday. Those who will be briefly touched on following the list(s) in question will have their name(s) italicized. Multiple-day standouts will be bolded.
National Team Standouts
- Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas
- Toledo iDL Darius Alexander
- BGSU TE Harold Fannin Jr.
- Miami TE Elijah Arroyo
- Central Arkansas EDGE David Walker
- USC OL Jonah Monheim
- Virginia Tech iDL Aeneas Peebles
- Miami RB Damien Martinez
American Team Standouts
- Florida LB Shemar James
- LSU TE Mason Taylor
- Western Kentucky DB Upton Stout
- Kansas RB Devin Neal
- TCU WR Jack Bech
- Minnesota EDGE Danny Striggow
- LSU OT Emery Jones Jr.
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
The 20-year-old underclassman’s week of practice featured an upward trajectory. Thomas is one of the bigger outside corner prospects in the class — standing at 6’1”, weighing 191 lbs, and sporting lengthy 32.5-inch arms — and his matchups against smaller, shiftier wideouts proved to be a tough assignment for Thomas, especially early on in the week.
Thomas struggled to showcase his vaunted press coverage ability against said slot guys, though it certainly showed up in matchups against the larger X-type wide receivers. To be fair, matching up against guys who’ll inevitably align in the slot in the NFL isn’t a realistic projection for who Thomas will go against as a pro. Regardless, Thomas welcomed the challenge and grew stronger with each practice.
The third and final practice of the week culminated in a day that saw Thomas haul in an INT in 1-on-1s, as well as multiple strong reps of press coverage which resulted in incomplete passes. Thomas may have started a bit slow, but his confidence and competitive spirit never wavered throughout the week, showcasing exactly why he’s one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft class.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
After struggling in his first two days of the week, Fannin Jr. rebounded big in the final practice. He was more confident with each rep throughout the week, winning his matchups with more and more ease after being bottled up to kick off his Senior Bowl.
Fannin Jr. dominated in the red zone 1-on-1 period against various cornerbacks to cap off his week of practice, a showing which followed his best run-blocking rep of any practice of his. When it comes to his pro projection, Fannin Jr. may just be suited as an H-back or move-type of tight end who is rarely aligned as the traditional in-line tight end who stands on the line next to an offensive tackle.
As far as his fit with the Indianapolis Colts, Fannin Jr. could certainly slot in the Shane Steichen offense as an improved Kylen Granson-type of player, though his value in that instance would suggest a later-round selection as opposed to going at the top of Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Even with all the concerns that surround him, whether it be his weight, his unpolished blocking ability, or his fluidity as an athlete, Fannin Jr. is a sure-handed pass catcher and should be propped up as such.
Shemar James, LB, Florida
After a quiet first two practices, Florida’s Shemar James absolutely showed out to cap off the week. James was everywhere on Thursday, from flying downhill in the run game in team periods, or locking down well-regarded passcatching running backs in 1-on-1s — more specifically, a 1-on-1 period that essentially sets up the backs to embarrass opposing linebackers.
James, however, had the last laugh on Thursday. In team, James sniffed out a WR screen on one play and met a running back in the backfield for a big tackle for loss on another. Then, in 1-on-1s, it was James who bested some of the better-receiving backs in SMU’s Brashard Smith (the 3-year WR convert) and Georgia’s Trevor Etienne.
At 6’1”, 226 lbs, James certainly fits the more modern style of off-ball backer, though he plays 5-10 lbs bigger than his size. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in athleticism, play recognition, and patience in both coverage and run defense. James is one of the few underclassmen who attended the Senior Bowl, and he made his presence known despite the age gap. The 20-year-old, 2.5-year starter took a step back on the tackling front in 2024, though a season-ending knee injury may have contributed to his overall inconsistencies.
Upton Stout, DB, Western Kentucky
Stout absolutely should’ve been a multiple-day standout in my journal series. With both sides of the field being utilized at all times — one side featuring the trenches with the other showcasing the skill positions — players and moments can get lost in the mix, and Stout was that case for me.
I had noticed about a play per day through each of the first two practices, though after reviewing the practice film after a strong Day 3 showing, Stout was not only a standout in the last practice but the most consistent defensive back throughout the week.
At 5’9”, 185 lbs, Stout will more than likely slot in as a nickel cornerback in the NFL, but he more than proved himself as a competitor on the outside — oftentimes against bigger and faster pass catchers. Stout is incredibly patient through the early stages of any given route, and utilizes his footwork and short-area quickness to stay in phase, whether that be from a press or soft pre-snap alignment.
David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
Walker (6’0”, 267 lbs), a former D2 standout at Southern Arkansas (2019-2021), transferred up a level while remaining in-state to FCS Central Arkansas. Instead of opting to chase dollar signs and other perks of Power 4 football after totaling 20.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss in back-to-back All-American seasons (2022-2023), Walker decided to remain at Central Arkansas to cement his legacy.
Here’s what Walker had to say when asked about his decision to stay in an interview with The Draft Network: “It was all about that loyalty. I knew this program had my best interest at heart. Sure, I could have gone somewhere and made a little NIL money, maybe pick up a couple of sacks and increase my draft stock a little bit, but I was building a legacy here at Central Arkansas.
Like that of nearly half of the Colts’ current defensive line, Walker too is trained by pass rush guru and Sacramento State DL Coach Ed McGilvra. After a strong week in Mobile, Walker solidified himself as the player that Power 4 programs across the country have coveted in recent transfer portal cycles.