Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Four Wildcats Named to 2024 Senior Bowl Watchlist
8/23/2023 9:35:00 AM | Football
MOBILE, Ala. — A quartet of Northwestern football student-athletes have been named to the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist: QB Ben Bryant, WR A.J. Henning, DB Garnett Hollis, Jr. and LB Xander Mueller.
The Reese's Senior Bowl, held annually in Mobile, Alabama, is the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL draft process. The event is entering its 75th iteration and has produced 100 total draft picks for three straight years, including 40 players selected on the first two days this past April.
Last season, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Evan Hull represented the Wildcats at the event, with their performances helping build the pair's NFL draft cases and eventual selections by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth and fifth round, respectively.
Mueller, who started all 12 games for the Wildcats last season, finished 11th in the Big Ten in total tackles with 87. He led the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and interceptions (2) in 2022. Under the tutelage of interim head coach and defensive coordinator David Braun, he will look to help transform Northwestern's defense in 2023.
After appearing in eight games in 2022, of which he started in four, Hollis is looking to stabilize a rejuvenated 'Cats secondary this season. The Nashville, Tennessee, native recorded 24 tackles, an interception, three passes defended and two forced fumbles last season.
Bryant and Henning, a pair of local products entering their first season in Evanston, will look to augment their NFL draft resumes this season. Bryant, who threw for over 5,800 yards in his last two years at Eastern Michigan and Cincinnati, will compete for the starting quarterback job. Henning, after three successful seasons as a return game specialist at Michigan, will look to bolster Northwestern's receiving corps in 2023.
The Reese's Senior Bowl game between the National and American teams will kickoff at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the University of South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets for the event here, and the game will be televised on NFL Network.
The Reese's Senior Bowl, held annually in Mobile, Alabama, is the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL draft process. The event is entering its 75th iteration and has produced 100 total draft picks for three straight years, including 40 players selected on the first two days this past April.
Last season, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Evan Hull represented the Wildcats at the event, with their performances helping build the pair's NFL draft cases and eventual selections by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth and fifth round, respectively.
Mueller, who started all 12 games for the Wildcats last season, finished 11th in the Big Ten in total tackles with 87. He led the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and interceptions (2) in 2022. Under the tutelage of interim head coach and defensive coordinator David Braun, he will look to help transform Northwestern's defense in 2023.
After appearing in eight games in 2022, of which he started in four, Hollis is looking to stabilize a rejuvenated 'Cats secondary this season. The Nashville, Tennessee, native recorded 24 tackles, an interception, three passes defended and two forced fumbles last season.
Bryant and Henning, a pair of local products entering their first season in Evanston, will look to augment their NFL draft resumes this season. Bryant, who threw for over 5,800 yards in his last two years at Eastern Michigan and Cincinnati, will compete for the starting quarterback job. Henning, after three successful seasons as a return game specialist at Michigan, will look to bolster Northwestern's receiving corps in 2023.
The Reese's Senior Bowl game between the National and American teams will kickoff at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the University of South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets for the event here, and the game will be televised on NFL Network.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballFootball - Western Illinois Cinematic Recap (9/5/25)
Monday, September 08
Football - Week 3 Monday Press Conference (9/8/25)
Monday, September 08
Football - Western Illinois at Northwestern Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
Football - 'Cats Roll Western Illinois, 42-7 in Home Opener (9/5/25)
Saturday, September 06
