Senior Bowl practice week: 5 prospects who can boost 2026 draft stock

Senior Bowl practices in Mobile turned into a high-stakes audition, with a mix of late arrivals and under-the-radar prospects carving clearer paths to the 2026 NFL Draft. Charles Demmings, Malachi Fields, Beau Stephens, Darrell Jackson Jr. and Chris Hilton Jr. emerged from practice week as players who can materially boost their stock with sharp reps and attention from evaluators.

Charles Demmings, a cornerback from Stephen F. Austin, drew a concrete nod from Draft Network as a “consistent, physical performer who returned a practice fumble for a touchdown in team scrimmage.” That sort of splash play at an all-star week is the kind of tape that can help smaller-school players close the visibility gap with prospects from Power Five programs.

Malachi Fields of Notre Dame posted the sort of physical workout that fits his scouting trajectory. ESPN wrote Fields “was the best offensive player on the American team on Day 1,” adding that “officially measuring 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, Fields used his frame well. He was challenged multiple times at the line of scrimmage during one-on-ones against the corners. His physicality showed up, and he was able to fight through jam attempts prior to making strong catches. Fields carries a mixture of mid-to-late Day 2 grades as a prospect who continues to trend upward.” That combination of size and contested-catch ability helps explain why evaluators are re-grading his upside upward.

Iowa guard prospect Beau Stephens illustrated the value of settling into Senior Bowl work. ESPN noted “The guard prospect had a rough rep against Hunter early before settling down and winning with leverage and power against Zane Durant (Penn State) and others in one-on-ones. Stephens is a Day 3 prospect but showed impressive poise Tuesday.” NFL.com color added that a one-on-one rep featured a younger opponent bowled over by a newcomer, underlining Stephens’ power profile.

Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. was a late addition after the East-West Shrine Bowl and “wasted no time getting acclimated,” per NFL.com. Jackson “bowled the 310-pound Stephens over” on a dominant one-on-one rep, and he summarized the play: “I had a really good get-off. That allowed me to get my speed to power and shock him in the chest.” Jackson’s arrival, along with LSU receiver Chris Hilton Jr. who also joined after the Shrine Bowl, showed how these postseason showcases feed each other and offer second chances to raise draft profiles.

ESPN framed a broader theme that benefits risers at the Senior Bowl: “The defensive line class stood out on Day 1. With many of the perceived top players at the position not participating in the Senior Bowl - only two players (Zion Young, Lee Hunter) in my overall my top 32 are here - there's an opportunity for risers to increase their draft stock, as there are fewer elite prospects to distract scouts. That's the case for this deep group of defensive linemen.” For scouts and front offices, that means more focus on technique, motor and one-on-one outcomes from players who might otherwise be overlooked.

The Panini Senior Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 31 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Central Time and television coverage on NFL Network. The full roster was announced Jan. 14 and the National Team will be coached by Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach Clint Hurtt. As practice week turns to game day, these five names offer clear narratives for teams looking to mine value late in the draft and for fans tracking which players could become surprise early contributors in 2026.