The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins plans on taking full advantage. Higgins recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Higgins also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his versatile abilities as a big-bodied pass-catcher, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Higgins better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Jayden Higgins: I was at Iowa State. My offensive coordinator called me into his office and handed me the Reese's Senior Bowl box. I was very excited and felt extremely blessed to receive this opportunity.
I'm ready to go out there and compete. Throughout the years, all of the players I've looked up to played in the Senior Bowl. This is awesome.
JM: It doesn’t sound like it took much, but what motivated you to accept the invite?
Jayden Higgins: It's another opportunity to go out there and compete. I'm ready to display my skill set out on that field. I'm going to continue putting great things on tape. I want to dominate at the end of the day.
JM: What are you looking to prove to general managers and scouts when you get in front of those evaluators in Mobile?
Jayden Higgins: I'm just looking to prove I'm the same player they see on tape. I'm the same receiver they've been talking about throughout the season.
I'm a hard worker. I want the scouts to see I'm somebody who is going to give his all to the team.
JM: How would you describe your skill set? You're a bigger-bodied guy. Self-scout your traits and abilities for us.
Jayden Higgins: Although I do have a bigger body than most receivers, I'd say I'm still shifty and versatile. I'm 6-4, 215, but I can still play in the slot. I can play anywhere on the field. My versatility is exceptional. It helps me a lot.
My overall approach, I incorporate a bunch of different styles into my game. I take a little bit from a whole bunch of different receivers. I try to play free and fast.
JM: Speaking of, who are some of those players you take inspiration from? Do you model your game after any of them?
Jayden Higgins: I like to watch a lot of Keenan Allen. Tee Higgins has a bigger body like me. Obviously guys like Julio Jones and Andre Johnson back in the day. I like Davante Adams.
JM: Does Jayden Higgins have a favorite route to run?
Jayden Higgins: That's tough. I love to run all the routes. Whatever the route is, I can run it 100 different ways. I can make it all look the same. I like to run whatever route the coach calls.
JM: I want to talk about that versatility. Do you see yourself playing that “X” boundary role at the next level because of your frame? You mentioned you could play in the slot as well.
Jayden Higgins: I could play either/or. I could play wherever the team needs me to play. I just want to help the offense. Obviously, I primarily played that “X” role at Iowa State.
They also moved me around. I played the slot. I played a little “Z” as the move receiver. I can play anywhere, wherever I'm needed.
JM: You're extremely versatile. What’s on Jayden Higgins’ pre-game playlist?
Jayden Higgins: I like Rod Wave and Polo G a lot. Those are my go-tos.
JM: This has been so awesome. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Jayden Higgins?
Jayden Higgins: It means I went out there and showed the scouts everything I believe I am. I want to be the same player they saw on film. I'm going to make plays. I'm a playmaker. I'm going to do what I continue doing.
