Notre Dame will be well represented at Saturday’s Reese’s Senior Bowl at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Quarterback Riley Leonard, linebacker Jack Kiser, and defensive end R.J. Oben are representing the Fighting Irish in the annual game. The Senior Bowl, attended by NFL scouts and draft analysts, attracts some of the leading college football players and NFL prospects.
Just a little more than a week after losing the College Football Playoff National Championship game to Ohio State, Leonard, Kiser, and Oben are suiting up to showcase their skills one more time this season. Despite a successful year that culminated with a trip to the title game, Leonard, Kiser, and Oben are determined to impress upon decision-makers that their respective skill sets can advance to the next level.
Irish Defensive Players Vie for NFL Attention at the Senior Bowl
Kiser led the Irish in solo tackles in 2024 with 55 over 16 games. He also recorded a pair of sacks and two fumbles. He led the Irish in the postseason, registering six solo tackles in the Sugar Bowl. He also had a sack for a loss of 10 yards and forced a fumble in that win over Georgia. Against Penn State in the Orange Bowl, Kiser tied a career-high mark with a team-best 10 tackles—four solo, six assisted. He posted five tackles in the loss to Ohio State.
Oben, a Duke transfer, was relatively quiet for much of the season. However, he picked up the pace and intensity in the postseason. Against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, he recorded a 12-yard solo sack while forcing a fumble late in the second quarter. The critical stop set up a touchdown for the Irish. He had two assisted tackles against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. He also registered a solo tackle in the national championship game.
More to Prove for Riley Leonard at the Senior Bowl
After leading the Irish to an impressive 14-2 record and a berth in the National Championship, Leonard is set to demonstrate to scouts his dynamic skillset. Known for his dual-threat abilities, Leonard excelled throughout the 2024 season. The Duke transfer effectively utilized his arm and his legs to break down opposing defenses all season. As an elusive runner, Leonard still needs to prove that he can be a weapon when passing the ball. He did not take many snaps from under center this season. He has appeared on point in Senior Bowl practices throughout the week.
Leonard, an Alabama native, admitted this week that he is still feeling the repercussions of the physical title game loss against Ohio State.
“I’m still feeling it,” Leonard said on Collegefootballnetwork.com after a Senior Bowl practice this week. “Those dudes could hit. I took a lot of them. But it’s good to be out here. But shoot, everything goes away as soon as you step onto the field. It’s good to be back. The weather is a whole lot warmer than it is in South Bend, so it’s like a vacation for me coming home. To be able to work with the best in the country, what more could you ask for?
“Everybody talks about the long season in the NFL and the longer season in college, playing 16 games this year for me, but sign me up,” he added. “I want to play as many games as possible. What am I going to do in the off-season? I’m just trying to play ball. As many games as possible. That’s why I’m here this week. I’m playing. If you give me a chance to play football, I’m going to play it.”
Irish Players Look to Solidify Their Draft Stock
The Senior Bowl presents a unique challenge and a significant opportunity for Leonard, Kiser, and Oben. After a stellar season and unprecedented Irish victories in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl, the three Notre Dame standouts will now face top-tier competition from across the nation to showcase their skills to NFL scouts and executives. Solid performances from the trio in the Senior Bowl could go a long way in proving to scouts that they are worth selecting in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
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