The McShay Show – Senior Bowl Day 3 Takeaways: Receivers Shine, Second Impressions, and Wednesday Standouts

Host: Todd McShay, with Daniel Jeremiah & Bucky Brooks
Date: January 29, 2026
Podcast: The Ringer

Overview

This episode dives deep into Day 3 of 2026 Senior Bowl practices, spotlighting which wide receivers popped, emerging prospects outside the top tier, and which defenders and linemen solidified (or didn’t) their stock. The conversation is sharp, lively, and loaded with insider evaluations, giving a real-time look at NFL Draft boards taking shape.

Theme: With a lighter quarterback year, the focus is fully on receivers, defensive linemen, and other positions—relishing the chance to dig beneath the QB headlines and highlight Day 2/3 impact players for NFL teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Wide Receiver Showcase

(03:50–25:43)

• Stronger Third Tier Emerges:
  The top four (Carnell Tate, Jordan Tyson, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon) are likely top-20 picks, but the excitement is about tier-three prospects pushing up the board.

  Notable Names & Performances:

  • Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
    • “The play of the week so far… Malachi Fields… tracked [an off-target deep ball] down… I don’t think any other pass-catcher is capable of doing that.” – Daniel Jeremiah (04:49)
    • Great tracking, natural hands, impressive at 6'4" despite slightly smaller hands (06:11-06:29).
    • “To see it in person… that was special and it tells you why you’re going to start seeing his name in that top-50 discussion.” – DJ (06:29)
  • Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
    • “He is noticeably more explosive… the way he’s able to accelerate off the line and out of breaks, I was blown away.” – Bucky Brooks (08:24)
    • Consistently making big one-on-one catches (08:22–08:46).
  • Tyron Montgomery (John Carroll)
    • “How… in the bleep did Tyron Montgomery and Ted Hurst… not wind up at a big school in the portal era?” – DJ (09:15)
    • Undersized but exceptional at separating; holds school records (10:47).
    • “Every time you look up it feels like Montgomery’s making a play.” – DJ (11:58)
  • Reggie Virgil (Texas Tech)
    • “He’s had as good a week as anyone here, regardless of position.” – BB (13:09)
    • Plays with patience as a route-runner and a threat after the catch.
  • Josh Cameron
    • Big, powerful, wide catch radius; needs to clean up ball security and route detail (13:43–15:39).
    • “With him and the ball… he’s really reliable as a punt returner… looks different.” – DJ (16:11)
  • Slot/Speed Standouts:
    • Kevin Coleman (Missouri), Barion Brown (LSU), Devin Vossen (South Alabama)
      • All clocked 20+ mph on practice tracking. “Barion Brown was the fastest player at any position on the first day of practice.” – DJ (20:39)
      • Vossen praised for intangibles: “He’s just a diamond in the rough… there’s a place for him in the NFL when you can be that reliable.” – DJ (25:05)
    • Barion Brown: “Uncovering like that today… big-time catches, NFL-style stuff.” (18:43–21:30)

• NFL Projection Take:
  Both hosts agree this is the most dynamic third tier at WR in years, projecting as possible top-100 picks (11:58).

2. Second Impressions – Defensive Line & Edge Rushers

(26:28–46:00)

• Edge & DL Class Depth:

  • First impressions were all about the DL; Day 2 reaffirms depth, especially among edge prospects.
  • Derrick Moore (Michigan)
    • “Maybe not as flashy [today]… but he’s a true set-the-edge physical type player and then he can work off that to get pressure to the quarterback. Moore has been the most consistent.” – BB and DJ (29:09–31:46)
  • Zion Young (Michigan State)
    • “Plowing J.C. Davis… these are the tone-setters. He’s been a tone-setter, an edge-setter… been playing well all week.” – BB (36:08–37:50)
  • T.J. Parker
    • Flashes elite talent but questions on motor/fire: “I want to see, I’m curious to talk to scouts about the interviews and all that stuff. Maybe it’s about unlocking him.” – DJ (34:50 onwards)

• Defensive Line Prospects to Watch:

  • Caleb Banks (Florida) and Lee Hunter (Texas): Both viewed as potential top-50 picks; Banks’ intensity and leadership noted (44:53).
  • Grayson Halton (Oklahoma): Standout one-tech, “runs the room,” high energy, explosive first step (54:34–57:23).

• “Edge Is Deep”:

  • Hosts rattled off 7–9 names tracking to top-50 grades, emphasizing class depth and fit: “You can’t have enough edges… teams value this so much.” – BB (40:58–41:04)
  • Variances in scheme fit and upside will shape how boards settle (42:54).

3. Linebacker and DB Standouts

(46:00–54:34)

• Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech, LB)

  • “All he does is take the ball away… forced fumble, interception today… the ‘Jake punch’ should replace the peanut punch.” – BB and DJ (46:00–47:41)
  • “He’s a ball magnet… four interceptions as a linebacker is ridiculous. He’s got to be in the top 50.” (47:33–49:36)

• Bud Clark (TCU, Safety)

  • Making the leap: “You could see how coachable, instinctive and impactful he is—just like Hamilton or Hufanga.” – DJ (51:05–52:46)
  • Big time pass-breakups and one-handed interception; rates with strong NFL safeties of recent drafts (51:13–52:46).

4. OL Notes & Emerging Prospects

(53:42–54:34)

• Maxi Achor (Arizona State, OT)
  • “Cleaned up technique… stoned every defender today. Moves different for a guy that size.” – BB and DJ (53:53–54:21)
  • Demetrius Crownover (Texas A&M, OT)
    • Also named as having a top day.

5. Rapid Fire: Standouts, “Verdict Still Out,” & “Nudge Guy” Prospects

(46:00–END)

Standouts:

• Nicholas Singleton (Penn State, RB)
  • “Verdict’s still out… I was hoping to see more explosion, more highlights.” – DJ (60:48–62:33)
• Chris Johnson (San Diego State, CB)
  • “Want to see his ball skills translate from tape… want to see him come out strong tomorrow.” – BB (58:32–59:40)

“Nudge” Guys (Surprising upward movers):

• Kyle Lewis (Pitt, LB/S)
  • “Playing linebacker at an extremely high level despite being 5'11” … I’m over it, he’s just going to be a good player. Use him right.” – BB (63:20–64:09)
• Taylor Green (Arkansas, QB)
  • “Seeing real progress… not a great passer but eyes in the right place, picking up coaching, and he’s intriguing for a Day 3 QB.” – DJ (65:12–67:30)
  • Hosts agree: better week than Jalen Milroe’s Senior Bowl in 2025. Mobility and size make him a QB coach’s project (67:51–68:56).

Additional Notable Quotes & Moments

• “When the ball’s in the air, it’s not a 50-50 ball, it’s [Josh Cameron’s] ball.” – Bucky Brooks (13:43)
• “Vossen… is telling guys from Notre Dame, LSU, Boston College, Missouri… where the leverage point is… he’s just a diamond in the rough.” – Daniel Jeremiah (25:05)
• “Lines stunts are making defensive linemen look good and O-linemen look bad—just play straight up!” – Bucky Brooks (70:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|----------------| | Opening Theme/non-QB focus | 00:16–03:47 | | Wide Receiver recap & tier breakdown | 03:50–25:43 | | Speed data & slot receiver highlights | 18:43–25:43 | | Defensive front seven 2nd impressions | 26:28–46:00 | | LB & DB standouts (Rodriguez, Clark, etc.) | 46:00–54:34 | | O-Line standouts | 53:42–54:34 | | Grayson Halton’s emergence | 54:34–57:23 | | “Verdict Still Out” prospects | 58:32–62:33 | | “Nudge Guy” prospects | 63:05–67:30 | | Taylor Green QB evaluation | 65:12–68:56 | | Wrap-up and final thoughts | 70:18–END |

Language & Tone

The tone is energetic, conversational, and loaded with inside scouting jargon and stories—like listening in on draft room banter. Both hosts balance big-picture draft strategy with nitty-gritty positional battles and specific coaching details from the field.

Closing Take

For draft fans and insider football junkies, this episode was a gold mine.
Without the QB hype, the dialogue uncovered depth at WR and Edge, clarified rising prospects, and gave honest, nuanced “real scout” reads on how the week’s action is shaping draft boards—especially for rounds 2–4. Names like Fields, Hurst, Montgomery, Virgil, Clark, Rodriguez, and Green are now firmly “on notice” for draft season.

For more, including mock drafts and in-depth writeups: Subscribe to The McShay Report

“Five stars.” – Daniel Jeremiah, 72:39