Who are the best players to come out of the Senior Bowl? A look at MVPs, Hall of Famers
The annual Senior Bowl is set for Saturday in Mobile, Alabama.
A lead-up of practices sets up the game throughout the week to give 120 or more of the top draft-eligible prospects to showcase their abilities in front of NFL personnel ahead of the NFL draft scheduled for the end of April.
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The 2024 NFL Draft featured 110 total picks from the Senior Bowl, which represented 43% of the entire NFL draft. Quarterbacks Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.; along with wide receiver Ladd McConkey, were among the players who played last season and were picked in the first round.
In the past, players like Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Derrick Brooks, and Dan Marino are among the seniors who have previously won MVP honors at the game to bolster their draft prospects further. Previously, the game had been limited to the top seniors, but for the second straight year, underclassmen eligible for the 2025 NFL draft are allowed to play in the game.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart are among the players practicing and playing who could help their draft prospects.
Here's a look at the top players to ever play in the Senior Bowl:
Senior Bowl Hall of Fame
Since 1988, the Senior Bowl has inducted players and coaches into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Joe Namath and Walter Payton were among the players inducted in the first class. Ozzie Newsome, Gene Upshaw, Dan Marino, Don Shula, Bo Jackson, Brett Farve, Steve McNair, Michael Strahan, Hines Ward, Shaun Alexander, Donovan McNabb and Patrick Surtain Sr. are among the players and coaches inducted since.
The five inductees for 2023 were Former New York Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons (1979), former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (2003), former Houston Texans linebacker and current head coach DeMeco Ryans (2006), former San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle (2007), and former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (2005).
Fifty-three Pro Football Hall of Fame members have played in the Senior Bowl's history.
Senior Bowl MVPs last 10 years
Here's a look at the last 10 Senior Bowl MVPs, including in South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, the MVP last year.
2024: Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
2023: Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
2022: Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
2021: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
2020: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
2019: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
2018: Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond
2017: Davis Webb, QB, Cal
2016: Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
2015: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
Senior Bowl All-Time Roster
The all-time roster for the Senior Bowl can be found here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the best players to come out of the Senior Bowl?
