Overview:
RJ Oben, a defensive standout of Haitian and Cameroonian descent, showcased his expertise within the Senior Bowl as NFL scouts evaluated prime prospects.
The 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl showcased a number of the prime faculty soccer gamers within the nation, providing them an opportunity to impress NFL scouts forward of the draft. Amongst them was RJ Oben, a defensive standout of Haitian and Cameroonian descent, who helped lead the American workforce to a 22-19 victory over the Nationwide workforce on the College of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium on Feb. 1.
The annual all-star recreation, performed in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 40,000, featured two main storylines for the American workforce.
Notre Dame standouts take the sphere
Notre Dame’s Oben, quarterback Riley Leonard and linebacker Jack Kiser have been among the many few Preventing Irish gamers who accepted Senior Bowl invites. Whereas a number of of their teammates declined after Notre Dame’s School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship loss, Oben and Leonard seized the chance to show themselves on a nationwide stage.
In the course of the week of follow, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman visited his former gamers, providing help as they ready for the sport.
Jack Bech honors his late brother
One other key storyline got here from TCU extensive receiver Jack Bech, who devoted his efficiency to his late brother, Tiger Bech, a former Princeton kicker killed within the New Orleans terrorist assault on New Yr’s Day.
How the sport performed out
The Nationwide workforce struck first, scoring on the opening drive when quarterback Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State linked on a 32-yard cross to Jayden Higgins of Iowa State. A profitable two-point conversion from Elijah Arroyo of Miami made it 8-0.
For the American workforce, Leonard struggled early, taking a first-half sack. By halftime, the rating was tied 8-8.
Within the third quarter, kicker Ryan Fitzgerald of Florida State put the American workforce forward with a 39-yard subject purpose, breaking the tie at 11-8.
The Nationwide workforce responded, establishing a dramatic end. With the American workforce trailing late, quarterback Seth Henigan of Memphis discovered Bech for a two-yard landing, sealing the come-from-behind victory.
Bech’s emotional MVP second
After catching the game-winning landing, Bech was named Senior Bowl MVP, celebrating together with his household in an emotional postgame second.
“As you all know, my brother handed away one month in the past in the present day,” Bech mentioned. “So I used to be sporting the quantity seven. All of us had sevens on our helmets.”
Scouts pay attention to Oben
Whereas Bech had the spotlight second, NFL scouts paid shut consideration to Oben, evaluating his consistency and explosiveness off the sting, in keeping with CBS Sports activities.
Oben, the son of former NFL participant and Tremendous Bowl champion Roman Oben, embraced the chance, exhibiting flashes of dominance all through follow and the sport.
In the meantime, Leonard seen the week as a shot at redemption after Notre Dame’s nationwide championship loss.
“Man, the way in which it ended, I’m so comfortable for everyone on our workforce,” Leonard mentioned. “Lots of people assume we have been right here to boost our draft inventory or make ourselves look good. However I feel the American workforce had a really clear purpose—we have been simply right here to win.”
What’s subsequent for Oben and Leonard?
Each Oben and Leonard now set their sights on the NFL draft, with coaching and pre-draft exercises scheduled within the coming weeks.
For the Nationwide workforce, quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon mirrored on his faculty profession. A Heisman finalist, Gabriel performed at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon and honored all three faculties by sporting a helmet that includes their logos.
“Yeah, I feel with something, there’s good and unhealthy and there’s studying, rising—simply persevering with to enhance each single day,” Gabriel mentioned. “That’s my purpose, that’s what I need to proceed to do all through this course of, but it surely’s been a enjoyable one, it’s been a great one.”
Gabriel is projected as a fourth-round draft decide.
Oben’s efficiency provides to the at all times rising listing of Haitian American soccer gamers excelling on the collegiate degree. Notre Dame freshman offensive lineman Guerby Lambert, Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty and others have been gaining nationwide recognition, showcasing the growing presence of Haitian expertise in faculty soccer.
As Oben prepares for the subsequent chapter, his Senior Bowl efficiency has solidified his standing as a prospect to observe heading into the 2025 NFL draft.