Senior Bowl Announces 2026 Scouting Staff

The Senior Bowl has announced its 2026 scouting staff, and while much of the attention is on the top college talent heading to Mobile, there’s also a New York Jets connection. Former Senior Bowl scout TJ McCreight, who worked last season’s event, is now part of the Jets’ scouting department. The announcement highlights the game’s track record of developing not only NFL prospects, but also front-office talent across the league

MOBILE, ALA. – The Senior Bowl today announced its scouting staff for the upcoming college football season. With combined decades of experience, the staff brings a unique blend of on-field knowledge, scouting acumen, and player development insight. Their backgrounds encompass multiple Super Bowl victories, high-level coaching and playing tenures, and leadership roles across all levels of football operations.

Several members of last year’s Senior Bowl scouting staff earned full-time opportunities at the next level this offseason, continuing the game’s tradition of developing top talent on and off the field. Tyler Ramsey (Cincinnati Bengals) and TJ McCreight (New York Jets) accepted scouting roles with NFL organizations, while others transitioned to the collegiate ranks, including Charlie Parkinson (University of Oklahoma) and Julius Pruitt (Ouachita Baptist University).

The Senior Bowl scouting department plays a pivotal role in serving the NFL by bringing the best players to Mobile, providing NFL teams with a prime opportunity to evaluate top prospects in a competitive environment. Acting as the crucial first stage of the NFL draft process, the department helps ensure that NFL decision-makers have comprehensive exposure to the most promising talent available. This diverse team is committed to upholding the Senior Bowl’s tradition as the premier showcase for NFL Draft prospects.

This commitment is reflected in the Senior Bowl’s draft success each April, consistently producing at least 100 players selected in every NFL Draft class since 2021 — underscoring the well-known adage that “the draft starts in Mobile.” Last year alone, 50 Senior Bowl participants were selected in the top three rounds, reinforcing the game’s reputation as the premier all-star event showcasing “the best of the best.”

“Experienced scouts bring a discerning eye and rare gifts to the evaluation process. I’m absolutely thrilled to have each and every scout on board for the 2026 cycle. Their extensive NFL front‑office, coaching, and playing backgrounds give us a level of film intuition and player insight that will enhance our ability to evaluate players,” says Senior Bowl Executive Director Drew Fabianich. “This team’s collective excellence — from Super Bowl rings to decades of college and pro personnel assignments — ensures our evaluations meet the highest standard. With this group in place, we’re confident that Senior Bowl week will again deliver the most trusted preview of draft talent for NFL decision‑makers and prospects alike.”

Alongside this expert group of evaluators, Executive Director Drew Fabianich and Director of Football Operations Jack Gilmore will also play key roles in the player evaluation process and final Senior Bowl invitation selections. Scouting efforts are also supported by advanced resources such as NextGen Prospect (the teams’ scouting database), Telemetry, and Pro Football Focus—valuable tools that enhance film study efficiency and provide in-depth on-field metrics.

We are proud to announce the following individuals as scouts for the 2026 Senior Bowl Scouting Department (listed in alphabetical order): Matt Dudek, Mark Gorscak, Drew Hughes, Brad Jackson, Tom McConnaughey, Ronnie McGill, JP McGowan, Robert Morris, Dave Razzano and Seth Turner. This year’s staff will also be supported by in-house scouting assistants Michael Newsome and Jackson Roby.

2026 SENIOR BOWL SCOUTING STAFF

Matt Dudek – Matt Dudek joins the Senior Bowl staff as a regional scout, bringing 17 years of experience leading personnel, scouting, and recruiting operations at Mississippi State, Michigan, Arizona, Rutgers, and Pitt. Notably, he is the first in college football history to hold the title of General Manager. Throughout his career, Dudek has overseen the development of over 100 NFL draft picks, including numerous Senior Bowl participants and top draft selections. In addition to his scouting duties, he currently serves as a Senior Account Executive at Teamworks.

Mark Gorscak – Mark Gorscak brings nearly three decades of NFL scouting experience to the Senior Bowl staff, including 28 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Widely recognized as the official 40-yard dash starter at the NFL Scouting Combine for over 20 years, Gorscak is entering his second season as a Senior Bowl scout. During his distinguished career with the Steelers, he scouted nationally and contributed to four Super Bowl appearances, including victories in Super Bowls XL and XLIII. Before transitioning to the NFL, he spent 16 years coaching at the high school and collegiate levels and served as the first general manager of the Pittsburgh Gladiators during the Arena Football League’s inaugural 1987 season. Gorscak holds a degree in psychology from Dickinson College and a master’s in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami. He was featured in ESPN The Magazine’s 2010 NFL Preview as one of the “90 Faces of the NFL” and was honored in 2022 with the C.O. Brocato Memorial Award for Lifetime Service to NFL Scouting.

Drew Hughes – Drew Hughes is entering his second season as a Senior Bowl scout following three years as player personnel coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before transitioning to the NFL, Hughes built a strong reputation as one of the top personnel directors in college football, with key roles at UCF, NC State, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Over his collegiate career, Hughes was instrumental in recruiting more than 60 players who were eventually selected in the NFL Draft—many of whom also competed in the Senior Bowl.

Brad Jackson – Brad Jackson, a 1998 Senior Bowl alum and two-time participant in the Senior Bowl Scout School, is entering his fourth season as a Senior Bowl scout. A six-year NFL veteran, Jackson played for the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers, starting five games at linebacker during the Ravens’ dominant 2001 season that culminated in a victory in Super Bowl XXXV. A two-sport athlete at the University of Cincinnati, Jackson lettered in both football and basketball and graduated as the third-leading tackler in Bearcats history. He was selected 79th overall in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Post-retirement, Jackson participated in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Colts (2007) and Falcons (2010) and has worked extensively in sports media in the Baltimore area.

Tom McConnaughey – Tom McConnaughey enters his second season as a Senior Bowl scout, bringing over four decades of experience as a player, coach, and NFL scout. He recently retired after a 28-year NFL scouting career, including the past three seasons as a national scout with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to that, McConnaughey spent 25 years with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, 14 of them as the team’s national scout. During his tenure, the Chargers won five AFC West titles. He was originally hired by Hall of Fame GM Bobby Beathard. A former all-conference wide receiver at Central Arkansas, McConnaughey played five professional seasons across the NFL and USFL, including stints with the Saints, Jets, Eagles, Vikings, and as a standout starter and leading receiver for the New Jersey Generals. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Arkansas and is a member of multiple halls of fame, including those at Central Arkansas, Spokane Falls Community College, the Northwest Athletic Conference, and Ourlads Scouts Hall of Fame.

Ronnie McGill – Ronnie McGill enters his second season as a Senior Bowl scout following a successful professional scouting career, most recently serving as Director of Pro Scouting for the Houston Texans. His NFL journey began in 2009 with the Tennessee Titans as a seasonal scouting assistant. From 2010 to 2020, McGill was a key contributor to the New England Patriots’ personnel staff, helping the organization capture five AFC Championships and three Super Bowl titles (XLIX, LI, LIII). He joined the Texans in 2021, where he remained through the 2023 season. A four-year letterman at the University of North Carolina, McGill ranks among the program’s all-time top ten in both career rushing yards and touchdowns.

 JP McGowan – JP McGowan is entering his second season as a Senior Bowl scout in 2025, bringing over a decade of NFL scouting experience. He began his professional career as a scouting assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2014) before spending nine seasons as an area scout with the Miami Dolphins (2014–2023). Prior to his time in the NFL, McGowan served as a recruiting assistant at Texas A&M University from 2007 to 2013. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M (2010) and a master’s degree from the University of Washington (2011).

Robert Morris – Robert Morris brings extensive football experience to the Senior Bowl scouting staff. A two-time letterman at the University of Colorado, Morris was part of the 1976 Big 8 Championship and Orange Bowl team. He spent 21 years coaching college football, including 11 seasons with Bill Mallory at Indiana, where the team appeared in six bowl games. Morris also served as Defensive Coordinator at Purdue from 1994 to 1997. Transitioning to scouting, Morris began with the Cleveland Browns in 2003 as a Southwest area scout. He later spent seven years with the San Francisco 49ers, including a Super Bowl appearance. Throughout his scouting career, Morris has focused on the Southwest and Midwest regions, with particular expertise in defensive backs evaluation. In recent years, Morris has held leadership roles as Player Personnel Director and General Manager in spring professional leagues including the AAF, XFL, and USFL, as well as coaching in The Spring League. Over a dozen players from teams he has been associated with have gone on to play in the NFL.

Michael Newsome – Michael Newsome is entering his fourth year as an in-house scouting assistant. Prior to his time with the Senior Bowl, Michael has spent time on both the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars scouting staffs. Newsome played defensive line at The University of Alabama from 2011-2014, where he was a member of back-to-back National Championship teams.

Dave Razzano – Dave Razzano brings 34 years of NFL scouting experience to the Senior Bowl. He most recently served as General Manager of the Memphis Showboats in the United Football League. Razzano began his career with the San Francisco 49ers (1988–1992), contributing to multiple Super Bowl-winning teams. He then spent 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, including two Super Bowl appearances, followed by a stint with the Arizona Cardinals during their 2009 Super Bowl run. Razzano later worked with the Indianapolis Colts for five seasons before joining the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in 2018.

Jackson Roby – Jackson Roby is entering his second year as a scouting assistant with the Senior Bowl after spending the past year working as a personnel analyst and offensive line assistant at Arkansas State.  Roby is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he was a five-year player for the Crimson Tide from 2018-2022.

Seth Turner – Seth Turner returns to the Senior Bowl for his second stint as a scout, having previously served in 2019. Turner played 14 of his 19 NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning a Super Bowl ring in 2002. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and New York Jets. A 1997 graduate of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, Turner was a four-year letterman at linebacker and defensive end during his collegiate career.

About The Game

The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama, the past 76 years.  More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year. This past April, the game produced 106 total picks, representing 40 percent of the entire NFL draft. The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CT at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium.

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