5 players to watch in the 2026 Saunier Bowl

It's officially time to turn your attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, and the draft season begins this week with the Senior Bowl.More than 140 prospects will be available.Here are five to watch for fans.

CHARLOTTE - Echoes of fans and fireworks still ring through Bank of America Stadium and Uptown Charlotte;The excitement of the play-off match to be played at home for the first time in 10 years keeps the excitement high throughout the off-season.But now it's time to start a new year and with it a new draft class.

The trip to the pennant begins Monday with the Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.More than 130 of the nation's top players descend on the port city for a week of workouts, practices and meetings with all 32 teams. They come from different schools and study every position from quarterback to long snapper.

With that in mind, here are five players fans should keep an eye on during the week of Senior Bowl practices and in next Saturday's game.

*This article was previously published with Reuben Bain and D'Angelo Ponds.They have since reportedly scrapped Senior Bowl week.

KC Concepcion : WR, Texas A&M

Not only is Concepcion a potential first-round receiver, but he's also a Charlotte native (starring at Chambers High).He began his career at NC State before finishing his junior season at Texas A&M.What a career it has been.He won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile football player in football.In the 2025 season alone, Concepcion had 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, as well as 10 rushes for 75 yards and a rushing touchdown.

The receiver also served as the Aggies' punt returner, hauling in 26 returns for 456 yards, including two for touchdowns.

Concepcion is quick and can stretch the field like that, and he led all other wide receivers in receptions that resulted in either a first down or a touchdown (48).

Jalon Kilgore: Safety, South Carolina

A versatile, big-bodied defensive back, Kilgore has both the intangibles and intelligence to be an exciting nickel or safety prospect in this draft class.He is 6-1 and 211 pounds, and will leave school as a true junior, meaning he is still a young man with a high ceiling.In his final year with the Gamecocks, Kilgore was named the team's permanent captain.

In his three years in Columbia, Kilgore had 59 tackles, seven passes defensed and 2.6 interceptions per season.He also served as a punt returner, although it was primarily his freshman year when he returned nine punts for 49 yards.

Pro Football Focus rated Kilgore's tackles in 2025 at 77.7 total.Drafts strongly project him as a day three prospect.

Jude Bovry: OT, Boston College

Bowry, Maryland's top offensive tackle prospect out of high school, spent the last three years with Boston College.He was named the starting left catcher in 2024 and has been there ever since.He's explosive and passers have trouble getting past him, but scouting reports indicate that his arm length could take him inside at the NFL level.It will be interesting to see how coaches and scouts use him during Senior Bowl practice to get a better sense of how the league views Bowry.

Kyle Lewis: LB, Pittsburgh

Lewis spent three years dominating the midfield.His 2024 season notably saw him finish with 100 tackles and 7.0 sacks.In all, over the past two seasons, Lewis has amassed 179 tackles, 10.0 sacks and six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Designed by selecting the 2nd Line Linebacker NFL, but it's up to his 5-1, 220 pound to become a big safety.Be aware of the arrangement of the bugs and crime against this week for the best idea about his playing the lion.

Max Iheanahor: OT, And Arizona

Iheanachor is a very interesting prospect, especially as an offensive tackle.Born in Nigeria, he played soccer for most of his childhood and teenage years before switching to basketball.He didn't play football until he was a teenager in college.

At 6-6, 330 pounds, he's quick on his feet — and has the benefit of years of football and basketball — making him a perfect fit to make the transition to the next level.With the Sun Devils, Iheanachor has established himself as a football talent, and he has a chance to do so again this week in one-on-one drills, potentially bringing out his stock.

general manager Dan Morgan held a year-end press conference Tuesday to review the 2025 season and look ahead.