Senior Bowl Announces Top 300 Preseason Watch List Across Multiple College Teams

The Senior Bowl has released its preseason Top 300 watch list, featuring standout college football players from several programs who are being highlighted as top NFL draft prospects. Oklahoma leads with 10 players, including junior quarterback John Mateer, wide receiver Deion Burks, running back Jaydn Ott, and seven defensive players such as defensive end Mason Thomas and safety Robert Spears-Jennings. Michigan State has three players on the list—safety Nikai Martinez, punter Ryan Eckley, and tight end Jack Velling—with Martinez leading the team in defensive snaps last season. Miami has five players named, including key offensive and defensive contributors like quarterback Beck and defensive end Mesidor, with the Senior Bowl trimming its watchlist this year from 850 to 300 to spotlight premier talent. Missouri also has seven players included, featuring junior Cayden Green, who is projected as the highest draft pick among their group, and several transfers like McClellan and Young who made significant impacts last season. The Senior Bowl's executive director emphasized that this preseason list marks the start of a rigorous scouting process as the season progresses, with official invitations to the game to be extended later in the college football season.