The 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 2:30 p.m. ET in Mobile, Alabama. The game will include four players from the University of Michigan. Those players are Donovan Edwards (RB), Kalel Mullings (RB), Josaiah Stewart (EDGE), and William Wagner (LS).
While none of these players will hear their name called on night one of the NFL draft in April, they all head to the Senior Bowl with an opportunity to show NFL teams they have what it takes to contribute at the next level.
The practices for this year’s Senior Bowl will be held January 28-30. These sessions are where NFL scouts try to get a good look at the participants. The practices are the opportunity for the participants to get on an NFL team’s radar.
Donovan Edwards – Running Back
Donovan Edwards has had a roller coaster type of career at Michigan. With his burst and acceleration in the open field, he will likely get some looks from NFL teams. But it will probably be limited to a 3rd down type of back role as Edwards hasn’t shown consistency over his career to run between the tackles on early downs.
DONOVAN EDWARDS
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— uofmcoverage (@uofmcoverage) November 23, 2024
Michigan’s offensive strategy never really showcased Edwards ability to impact the game as a receiver. As a freshman against Maryland, Edwards had a 10 reception, 170 yard, 1 TD game. The tools are still there, but with Michigan committed to a ground and pound offensive game plan, Edwards didn’t get to the opportunities that he might have got elsewhere.
A realistic goal for Edwards would be to impress NFL teams enough to find his way into a late round selection. Otherwise, he’s probably looking at being an undrafted free agent. With his big play ability, there are NFL teams that would give him a shot at making their roster.
Kalel Mullings – Running Back
Kalel Mullings came to Michigan as a linebacker but eventually found his way to the offensive side of the ball. Mullings is a 5 year player, but the fact that he didn’t find his way to heavy workload until 2024 might play to his benefit at the next level. Mullings only total 14 carries in 2022, 36 carries in 2023, before carrying the ball 185 times in 2024. That’s not much wear and tear, especially at the running back position.
Mullings should find his way onto an NFL roster and eventually in a role as a between the tackles runner. He does have some shake and burst at the second level to go with his power. He finishes runs exactly how you would think a former linebacker would finish runs, with aggression.
A pair of 3rd down runs from Kalel Mullings that helped change the entire outlook on Michigan’s 2024 season:
63 yard run vs. USC, Michigan trailing 24-20 with 2:33 left in the 4th QTR.
27 yard run vs. OSU, tie game with 3:25 left in the 4th QTR.
Both runs led to a… pic.twitter.com/onUKIRpt3Z
— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) January 3, 2025
Mullings should hear his name called anywhere between rounds 5 and 7 but if he has a great showing in Mobile, that could change.
Josaiah Stewart – EDGE
Josaiah Stewart started his career at Coastal Carolina but was welcomed with open arms in Ann Arbor before the start of the 2023 season. Stewart totaled 5.5 sacks in 2023 while rotating with a very deep Michigan defensive front that season. For the 2024 campaign, Stewart’s snaps went up and so did his sack total as he finished with 8.5.
Stewart thrived in Wink Martindale’s NFL style defense. Being coached by a NFL veteran like Martindale should only help Stewart’s draft stock. Stewart is currently projected somewhere between the top 15-20 at the edge position in this year’s draft. A strong showing in Mobile would certainly help solidify or improve that status.
A pair of 3rd down runs from Kalel Mullings that helped change the entire outlook on Michigan’s 2024 season:
63 yard run vs. USC, Michigan trailing 24-20 with 2:33 left in the 4th QTR.
27 yard run vs. OSU, tie game with 3:25 left in the 4th QTR.
Both runs led to a… pic.twitter.com/onUKIRpt3Z
— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) January 3, 2025
Stewart has the best chance of the four Michigan Senior Bowl participants to have his name called on day 2 of the draft.
William Wagner – Long Snapper
What a thrill for William Wagner to get a chance to compete at the Senior Bowl. Wagner is one of two long snappers competing at the Senior Bowl. The other long snapper is Austin Brinkman of West Virginia.
It’s unlikely that Wagner will hear his name called during the NFL draft, but he’s sure to get his chance to make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent. That’s his opportunity in Mobile, sparking interest from some teams that have a need.
Recap
They say the draft starts in Mobile. For these four participants from the University of Michigan, that definitely rings true. They also say you don’t need to convince every team in the NFL to give you a shot, you only need to convince one team.