2025 NFL Draft: Biggest Winners and Losers from the Senior Bowl

Some moments are more significant than the sports in which they occur. One of those moments occurred at the end of the 2025 Senior Bowl.

TCU wide receiver Jack Bech caught the game-winning touchdown as time expired exactly one month after his older brother, Tiger, died during the terrorist attack in New Orleans.

Normally, this space is reserved for a lead-in, which explains why these all-star festivities are important for the NFL's evaluation cycle. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department was in Mobile, Ala., all week to cover the practices and provide what happened.

The game turned into something more than the last on-field opportunity for players to prove themselves. It certainly happened, and specific names will be discussed.

But there's no denying how special the end of this year's event turned out to be. Bech and his family showed awe-inspiring resiliency in the face of tragedy.

"I was getting emotional just watching him have that moment with his family," Senior Bowl teammate Seth Henigan told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "For him to have such a great week and a great game, it's a testament to his hard work. I'm really happy that he came out here and played extremely well all week."

Jack Bech walked away from the 2025 Senior Bowl as the game's MVP. He clearly helped his draft stock based on the week he had. But all of it pales in comparison to what he accomplished during a period when he and his family were still grieving for his lost brother.

"It's simple. My brother had some wings on me," Bech told Pelissero in a postgame interview. "He gave it to me, and he let it all take place.

"... It's been surreal just to be able to come and take place in this game. It's a goal you set for yourself. But if I had the option that I came here, had the worst week ever and ruined my draft stock just to hug my brother right now, I would take that.

"On the flip side, I don't think I could have had the week I had if all of that wouldn't have happened. His wings were on my side."

From an evaluation standpoint, Bech is a ball-winner. He's a 6'1", 212-pound target, who excels at making contested catches. He's not afraid to get physical. He's tough over the middle, too. But his toughness really showed just by arriving in Mobile and doing everything he did when it didn't need to be a priority.

"He's truly the MVP of the week," American Team head coach Bubba Ventrone said. "Not only did he perform at an extremely high level, he's an incredible person. He's tough. Whoever [drafts] that kid is lucky. Extremely lucky."

Multiple defensive linemen came to play at this year's Senior Bowl, with three in particular standing out throughout the contest.

Opposing quarterbacks and running backs had trouble working in the backfield because of the amount of pressure these defensive fronts continually applied.

LSU's Sai'vion Jones found a new home inside, where he can wreak havoc against less athletic offensive linemen. The 6'5", 289-pound Jones, who's been at home on the edge, continually found ways to beat guards during the game, mainly with his lateral movement by taking them wide before quickly working underneath.

The 21-year-old prospect also provided a few snaps at defensive end, but he may be able to provide a Denico Autry-like presence along an NFL defensive front.

Arkansas' Landon Jackson found the secret sauce of how to beat the offensive linemen in Mobile after struggling to piece together a solid pass-rush plan throughout the practice week. The 6'5", 273-pound defensive end is a power rusher by nature. He's used to overwhelming blockers. But he struggled when working down the middle of the bigger blockers in attendance.

Jackson worked half-a-man much better once the game started, which allowed him to create a strip-sack and multiple pressures.

Finally, Olu Oladejo looked to build a comfort level working off the edge.

Much like Jones, Oladejo was a convert. Granted, the UCLA product switched from off-ball linebacker to edge-defender during the season. He still needed time before he found ways to exploit matchups, which he did during the game.

The 6'3", 261-pound prospect used his length and explosiveness to manufacture multiple pressures and a pair of sacks.

Oladejo still needs time and development to realize his full potential, though NFL teams should be greatly intrigued by his upside.

Throughout the practice week, the small-school offensive linemen received significant praise for how they handled the jump in competition, and deservedly so.

North Dakota State's Grey Zabel even walked away with the event's award for overall practice player of the week.

The game proved to be a little different, though.

For starters, Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson really struggled throughout Saturday's contest. Yes, he played as many or more snaps than anyone participating while getting left on an island often against talented pass-rusher after talented pass-rusher. The trial by fire scorched the small-school blocker.

Vinson often allowed a soft edge, which gave the athletic edge-rushers significant opportunities. He surrendered the strip-sack created by Landon Jackson. Another one nearly occurred if not for a hands-to-the-face penalty called on the defense.

NFL scouts want to see a lineman from a non-FBS school rise to the occasion. Vinson flashed throughout the week. But his lows were far too concerning when protecting quarterbacks' blindsides during the game.

Jacksonville's Clay Webb is another who initially impressed, primarily due to play-strength. He then made multiple mistakes, including a false start and allowing a few pressures. Webb is a former Georgia product, and he'll benefit from being in a situation where he has time to build a rapport with a regular offensive tackle and center beside him. For one day, he was exposed slightly in this particular setting.

As for Zabel, he looked great throughout the week. He did well enough to earn all of the recognition he received. He had his hands full during the game, particularly against LSU's Sai'vion Jones. Zabel was beaten to his inside leg on a couple of occasions. After moving to center, he struggled to get his head across when Virginia Tech's Aeneas Peebles notched a tackle for loss.

Each of those assignments was difficult. After such a great week, hope existed that a potential first-round draft pick would provide a lockdown afternoon. Zabel failed to do so.

While buzz grew throughout the week, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart didn't perform as well as the perception portrayed. He shouldn't be viewed as a first-round talent, and he experienced some issues throughout the week, much like the other quarterback prospects.

Saturday's contest provided a chance for each of the signal-callers in attendance to really show something.

Ultimately, Memphis' Seth Henigan led the game-winning drive that culminated in Jack Bech's memorable moment. Notre Dame's Riley Leonard proved to be efficient as a passer after primarily serving as the Fighting Irish's primary running threat in the National Championship Game. Louisville's Tyler Shough remained himself, as a gunslinger trying to push the ball down the field. Oregon's Dillion Garbriel helped lead an efficient opening scoring drive. Finally, Alabama's Jalen Milroe didn't do much in the game.

Of those who took the field, Dart looked like the best playmaker overall, with his ability to extend plays and push the ball downfield. Ole Miss' all-time leading passer scored a rushing touchdown after escaping the pocket and completed a couple of big vertical passes.

Again, the performance wasn't perfect. Those big throws could have been even bigger had he led his receivers a little more. Pressure got to Dart on a couple of occasions, with ball security coming into question. Even so, it's probably safe to say he gained the most from the event.

That said, it's still far too rich to look at Dart as anything more than a distant second-tier option with Day 2 investment potential.

UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams had the unfortunate pleasure of being picked on during the National squad's impressive opening drive.

During the scoring sequence, McWilliams got beat for a long touchdown on a halfback pass.

The problem for the cornerback wasn't that he got burnt in coverage. Instead, he never tried to locate the ball, which allowed wide receiver Jayden Higgins to come down with what turned out to be a slightly underthrown pass from Ollie Gordon II.

On the following two-point conversation attempt, McWilliams was the outside corner on the same side. This time, tight end Elijah Arroyo high-pointed the ball over McWilliams.

Once again, the former UAB transfer never looked back to try and make a play on the ball. Instead, he tried to play through the ball with a swipe but missed.

These two plays placed a negative shine on McWilliams, who looked to have trouble against bigger targets and, unsurprisingly, snagged only two career interceptions between two programs.