The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The 2026 Senior Bowl practices have officially wrapped up, and we are hours away from the conclusion of the all-star week with the actual bowl game set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Dozens of the country's top prospects traveled to Mobile, Alabama, to show off their skill sets to NFL scouts, but a few stood out among the rest. Here are a few players Washington Commanders fans should keep their eyes on during the game.
Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
Black wasted no time in getting back to work after helping take his team to the national championship. The sixth-year senior has a massive uptick in production last year with 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping fuel the Hoosiers' offense. He's got power and size (5-foot-10, 210 pounds), although he had limited opportunities as a receiver with just four catches. He showed some of his abilities as a route runner in one-on-one drills, but hopefully he'll get more reps in the passing game this weekend.
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Fields has been almost unanimously praised as one of the best receivers on the field during practices this week. He routinely managed to get behind the secondary, both in teams drills and during one-on-ones. He's 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, providing any quarterback with a large target downfield. Fields was not among Mel Kiper's top 10 receivers on his big board, but that could change quickly with a good performance this weekend coupled with a strong week at the combine.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker isn't being considered a top 15 pick yet, but he helped solidify his standing as a quality second tier pass-rusher in his class. There isn't much "technical beauty" to how he rushes the passer, but he's violent, physical and often has his way with offensive tackles. Any team looking to add a bit of nastiness to their defensive front should be happy with him.
Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
Any linebacker playing the NFL today needs to have strong coverage skills, and Louis certainly showed that during practices this week. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Louis is a little on the small side, but he showed a natural feel for coverage and had a few tipped passes during team drills. His size will likely make him fall down boards a bit, but his skill set could entice teams to take him during Day 2 as a project.
Bud Clark, S, TCU
Speaking of players who lack size but have strong coverage skills, Clark might have been one of the best safety prospects this week. He's only 185 pounds but knows how to track the ball and got two interceptions in one-on-ones and team drills. He has a natural nose for the ball, which certainly caught scouts' attention.
Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Iowa
Llewellyn showed at the Senior Bowl that he has plenty of speed, clocking in at 15.59 mph earlier in the week. That number was good enough for fourth among defensive linemen at the all-star practice, which should at least intrigue some scouts. But Llewellyn also has a solid arsenal of pass-rush moves to pair with that speed, and that could help raise his draft stock. Llewellyn might need a year or two to develop, but there's potential for him to be an impact player.
Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
Koziol wrapped up the week with a leaping touchdown during the National Team's practice, but there's plenty more to like about him besides one play. Koziol put together an impressive 2025 season with 727 yards on 74 receptions with six receiving touchdowns. People will be talking about the leaping touchdown he made for a while, but he has the size (6-foot-6) and production to be a bigger talking point when rating the best tight end prospects in the draft.
Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
Moore stood out on Day 1 of practice when he bowled over an offensive tackle during one-on-one drills (you'll find multiple angles of it on social media). The Michigan pass-rusher had an all-around solid week, showing an ability to crash the pocket and set the edge in the run game. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Moore is a quick, disruptive weapon on the edge and would be an interesting addition to any defensive front.
Owen Heinecke, LB, Oklahoma
Heinecke is currently appealing a decision by the NCAA to deny him another year of eligibility, but the Sooners linebacker did show some impressive skills during practice. He popped the most when it came to fitting run gaps, as he recorded tackles for minimal gains or a loss during the first day of practice. It seems like he'll be best suited for a special teams role until he gets better in coverage or at least gets more reps at it, but he could find a way to contribute as a rookie, assuming he doesn't win his appeal.
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
There weren't many pass rushers at the Senior Bowl who showed a blend of quickness and power quite like Young. He bull rushed an Illinois offensive tackle to the ground during one-on-one drills and used a swim move to get past another tackle earlier in the week. The Missouri edge rusher had 6.5 sacks last season but also ranked 12th among all defensive players with 56 pressures.
