First Down Kentucky: Senior Bowl Stage Set for Former Cats

This week is a good week for a couple of Wildcats to make some money in Mobile. Hundreds of players, scouts, and front official officials have descended upon the coastal South Alabama city for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The prestigious event provides a proving ground for prospective NFL Draft prospects. Every participant receives an opportunity to speak with officials from all 32 NFL teams. During the week of practice, players work side-by-side with NFL coaches and get a chance to compete against their peers, culminating with the showcase game on Saturday.

It’s an opportunity for players to climb, or fall, down NFL Draft boards. Lonnie Johnson tested well at the event, rising all the way into the second round, while Luke Fortner went from undrafted to a third-round selection. The interview process had the opposite effect on Darian Kinnard. Once considered a day-two pick, he plummeted to the fifth round after making headlines for wearing political shirts to interviews with his prospective employers.

KSR will keep a close eye on all of the action to let you know which former Cats are leaving a lasting impression this week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

How to Watch Kentucky Wildcats at the Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl is Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 pm EST on the NFL Network. The practices are where the real draft magic happens. The NFL Network will be broadcasting live Tuesday-Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm EST.

You can see four Kentucky helmets while watching coverage of the Senior Bowl. Running back Ray Davis, cornerback Andru Phillips, linebacker Trevin Wallace, and offensive tackle Jeremy Flax will be in action this week, but I’m not sure for which team. They still have not yet updated rosters on the official Senior Bowl website.

Shout out to Flax. Few expected him to make an impact for the Cats ahead of the 2023 season. Not only did he fight off a transfer for his starting spot, but after a strong outing at the Hula Bowl, he earned an invitation to Mobile and the Combine in Indy. He might just have a future in professional football after all.

Trevin Wallace Among Senior Bowl Firsts

The extra year of COVID-19 eligibility has created far-reaching consequences throughout the sports world. After all, Miami is rolling out a ninth-year senior next fall. To remedy the solution at the draft level, this year is the first year the Senior Bowl is not exclusive to seniors. Underclassmen can participate in these postseason showcases, paving the way for Trevin Wallace.

During his three years at Kentucky, Wallace showed he has the tools to be a playmaker on NFL defenses while still learning how to precisely play the linebacker position. In a conversation with The Draft Network, he shared what he wants to show scouts this week at the Senior Bowl.

I want to show the scouts that I can play linebacker at an extremely high level. I’ve received good feedback from the scouts. I’m always working to improve my eye discipline. I want to showcase that my eye discipline has gotten a lot better.

I’m also excited for the pass-rushing drills, those one-versus-one opportunities against running backs in pass protection drills. That’s what I want to show the scouts.

Trevin Wallace to The Draft Network

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— Kristen Saban Setas (@kristensabanset) January 26, 2024

Kentucky Alumni Join LCA Staff

Even though Cutter Boley will not be throwing passes at LCA this fall, the Big Blue Nation will still see plenty of Kentucky Wildcats on the sideline. Cam Garner was a student equipment manager who worked his way into becoming an off-the-field graduate assistant over the last three seasons. He’ll be the defensive coordinator for LCA next fall. A few other names from the past will be joining him: WR Cornell Burbage, DL Jacob Hyde, and WR Ryan Timmons.

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