You could feel it all week in Mobile: every time a rep card flipped to the Memphis area code, eyes on the sideline sharpened. The 901 didn’t just send representatives to the Panini Senior Bowl; it sent problems for offensive coordinators.
Keyron Crawford arrived as one of the most intriguing edge rushers in the class, a long, explosive pass rusher with a reel full of flashes and a rising reputation. Evaluators already had him circled as a breakout candidate with Round 3–5 buzz before the first whistle of the week. In one‑on‑ones, he validated the hype. Crawford’s first step stressed tackles from the jump, forcing them to overcompensate for his speed, and when they did, he hit an inside counter that created runway straight to the quarterback. That blend of get‑off, bend, and timing is exactly what translates on Sundays.
Teamwork told the same story. Crawford may not have produced a monster box score in the game itself, but the pressures were there, and pressures are the currency that matters in draft rooms. He consistently forced quarterbacks to hitch, slide, or throw earlier than they wanted. The arc speed and ability to corner without getting run past the spot looked like NFL traits, not just college dominance. With that week in the books, his projection feels locked into the top‑100 conversation. A strong combine and pro day could nudge him toward the back of Round 2, but the safe lane puts him solidly in Round 3 as an immediate sub‑package edge who can change third downs from his first season.
Bryson Eason brought a different type of Memphis toughness to the Senior Bowl. The veteran Tennessee defensive tackle arrived with a deep SEC résumé: over 100 career tackles, more than 20 tackles for loss, and multiple seasons as a disruptive interior presence. That body of work told scouts he was battle‑tested, and the week in Mobile simply confirmed it. In one‑on‑one pass‑rush drills, Eason’s power jumped off the field. Guards who tried to anchor against his bull rush often ceded ground, and when they sat on power, he flashed enough quickness to slip a shoulder and penetrate.
During inside‑run periods, Eason consistently reset the line of scrimmage, forcing ball carriers to hesitate and spill into help defenders. On game day, he did what he’s always done: occupied blocks, squeezed interior lanes, and kept linebackers clean to finish plays. The stat sheet may not have screamed his name, but the tape will. That’s his NFL sales pitch – plug him into your rotation, let him do the unglamorous work, and watch your run defense stabilize. Eason now looks like a Round 4–5 option with a chance to climb if a team falls in love with his film and temperament. He profiles as a rotational 1‑tech/3‑tech hybrid who can give 25–35 rugged snaps, hold up versus double teams, and offer just enough interior push to keep protection schemes honest.
By the time the 901 duo left town, they had stamped their fingerprints all over the week. Crawford gave teams a clean vision of a modern edge rusher who can win with speed and counters, while Eason reminded everyone there’s still a premium on interior muscle that doesn’t blink under SEC‑level punishment. Together, they turned Mobile into their own audition stage and left NFL decision‑makers recalibrating boards. The 901 takeover wasn’t hype; it was a preview of what some defensive line room is about to gain on draft weekend.
4 Star Sports Media is proud to partner with the Chris Hope Foundation for all written coverage of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl.
This collaboration supports CHF’s ongoing mission to provide hope and assistance to families facing serious illness, while spotlighting the nation’s top college football talent in Mobile, Alabama. Together, we’re uniting purpose and passion—celebrating excellence both on and off the field throughout Senior Bowl week.
