“HUGE” As Nine Tar Heels named to prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Every college football player’s aspiration is to help their team secure a national championship, while also hoping for the chance to be selected in the NFL Draft.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl, regarded as an All-Star Game for post-college football season, offers NFL Draft hopefuls an excellent opportunity to showcase their skills to NFL scouts.
Although UNC has lost standout players Drake Maye, Devontez Walker, and Cedric Gray to the 2024 NFL Draft, several Tar Heels on the current roster are being considered as 2025 NFL Draft prospects.
These players—Marcus Allen, Power Echols, Desmond Evans, Omarion Hampton, Max Johnson, J.J. Jones, Willie Lampkin, Bryson Nesbit, and Kaimon Rucker—have received nominations for the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.
Hampton is among the top running backs in the country, leading the ACC and finishing fifth nationally with 1,504 rushing yards last season. Rucker is recognized as one of the best edge rushers in college football, having led North Carolina with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2023.
Senior Bowl watch list for these 9️⃣#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/bxihvodm32
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 21, 2024
Nesbit ranks among the top tight ends in the nation, amassing over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in the past two years. Jones is set to step into the role of UNC’s top wide receiver, having led the team with 711 receiving yards last season.
Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson is competing for the starting quarterback position with Conner Harrell. If Johnson secures the starting role, he’ll be protected by standout All-ACC lineman Willie Lampkin.
On the defensive side, Echols is expected to pair up with Rucker, with Echols returning after recording 102 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Evans had a solid season as a 5-star recruit with 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Meanwhile, Marcus Allen is likely to take a leading role in the secondary after his sophomore season, having recorded 49 tackles, one interception, and a team-high eight pass breakups.