If you were looking for the moment Arkansas’ 2026 draft class stopped being a regional talking point and became a national one, it happened in Mobile. The Hogs didn’t just show up to the Panini Senior Bowl; they took over the week.
Arkansas set a program record with six former Razorbacks in the game, and they played like a group intent on proving the SEC grind travels anywhere. Taylen Green walked into Ladd‑Pebbles Stadium with an opportunity every transfer quarterback craves: a neutral field, NFL eyes, and a chance to show command. His week in Mobile was about timing and trust. In red‑zone and move‑the‑ball periods, Green worked through progressions, took the profit throws, and used his legs only when the picture truly broke down, instead of defaulting to scramble mode. The ball came out on time, and when he ripped deeper digs and sails, you could see the arm talent that once made him one of the most intriguing dual‑threats in the portal.
For Mike Washington Jr., the assignment was simple: be himself. The bruising back brought his SEC calling card to the Panini Senior Bowl – decisiveness and finishing power. In inside‑run sessions, he pressed the hole with patience, trusted his blocks, then lowered his pads to turn modest creases into plus gains, echoing the form that fueled a 1,000‑yard, 16‑touchdown close to his Razorback career. Scouts noticed the details: no wasted motion, no drifting, and a mindset that delivered blows instead of absorbing them. Washington’s stock quietly ticked up as the week rolled along. He now looks every bit like a Day 3 hammer back, a Round 4–5 type who steps into a rotation as an RB2/3 and immediately handles short‑yardage and four‑minute situations.
Up front, Fernando Carmona Jr. used the week to reinforce what his Arkansas tape already says: he’s a pro‑ready tackle with the length and movement skills to survive on the edge. In one‑on‑ones, Carmona’s footwork and independent hands allowed him to steer speed rushers past the pocket and anchor against power without over‑setting. He wasn’t perfect, but he rarely looked out of control, and offensive line coaches love that kind of calm anchor in a mid‑round developmental starter. It’s easy to see him landing in the Round 3–4 range as a swing tackle with a clear path to winning a starting job by Year 2.
On defense, Xavian Sorey Jr. might have been the tone‑setter for this Arkansas group. The linebacker came downhill with bad intentions in team periods, blowing up pullers and stacking run fits that ended behind the line of scrimmage. At just under 6‑2 and around 220 pounds, he played bigger than the listing, triggering fast and finishing with real pop while still holding up in coverage against backs and tight ends. Combine that with a season where he led the Razorbacks in tackles, lived in opposing backfields, and grabbed an interception, and you get a modern second‑level defender built for today’s space game. Sorey now profiles as a firm Day 2 name, a Round 2–3 linebacker who contributes instantly on special teams and sub packages and grows into an every‑down starter.
Cameron Ball and Julian Neal rounded out the Hog contingent with quiet, professional work. Ball’s interior snaps didn’t always hit social media, but coaches will live on that tape: he held the point, ate double teams, and forced backs to bounce off script. Neal, officially locked into the game early in the process, showcased smooth hips and length on the back end, staying attached to bigger boundary targets and flashing the ability to transition inside. Both look like smart Round 5–7 investments, with Ball projected as a rotational run-defender and field‑goal unit anchor, and Neal offering inside‑out secondary depth plus special‑teams value as he refines his technique.
By the end of the week, the story felt bigger than a handful of good practices. As we have chronicled all week, Arkansas didn’t just send bodies to fill out the roster; it sent pros who treated the Senior Bowl like a launchpad. From Green’s command to Washington’s power, from Carmona’s poise to Sorey’s violence and the steady presence of Ball and Neal, the Razorbacks turned Mobile into a billboard for their brand of football – and they likely just cashed it in for real draft capital.
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.
