The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton plans on taking full advantage. Felton recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Felton also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his explosive abilities as a big-bodied wide receiver, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Felton 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?
Tai Felton: I was at Maryland’s facility, actually. Our player personnel guy gave me a heads-up that my Senior Bowl invite had arrived. I was super excited. My biggest thing man, I’m all about the competition. I’m definitely excited to get out to Mobile and compete.
I’m ready to see players from other conferences and get a feel for how I stack up. I was excited when I got the invite.
JM: What specifically are you looking to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Tai Felton: I’m 100% looking to display my playmaking ability and my overall skill set as a wide receiver. I can be dominant at all three levels. Whether that’s the short passing game, intermediate, or as a deep threat.
I want the scouts and GMs to understand how much I love the game. On my film, you’ve seen me play as a kick returner and punt returner. I’ve made some tackles out at gunner on special teams, from my freshman year all the way to my senior year.
I want everybody to see how much I love the game. I can make a huge impact in all phases.
JM: And you’re explosive. You had a huge season, putting up 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. Those were career highs in all categories. You rewrote the record books. What changed for you this season?
Tai Felton: My confidence. I feel like ever since my freshman season, you saw at least slight improvement every single year. My freshman year to my senior year, I had more yards and touchdowns every season.
It speaks to my confidence and my work ethic. My work ethic stayed consistent throughout my entire college football career. My senior year though, the mental aspects of my game took a giant leap. It improved my confidence as a whole, and my numbers improved as a result.
JM: How would you describe your skill set as a receiver? Describe your traits and abilities. Self-scout yourself for us.
Tai Felton: I feel like I’m an all-around receiver. I know people call me skinny, but I’m a tough receiver. I always pop right back up after taking a hit. I’m a willing blocker on the perimeter. I make big-time plays at all three levels on the field.
Like I said before, I make plays in the short passing game, from the hitch route to a 70-yard touchdown. I can go deep and catch the go-ball as well. I just want to display my playmaking abilities in Mobile. I’m willing to make plays at every level.
JM: Talking about the hitch route or the go ball, do you have a favorite route to run?
Tai Felton: Shoot (laughs). I had coach Josh Gattis as my offensive coordinator, man. He got me on those option routes. I started to love option routes. I ran a ton of those this past season. I could run them however I want to.
I could sit down in the zone. When I do that, I have a lot of space to juke defenders in the open field. I can also break across a defender’s face and go make something happen. I loved that option route this year. Coach Gattis put me on that one.
JM: We’ve talked about route-running and your ability to be a three-level playmaker. I want to discuss your role now. I know you moved around, but do you see yourself fitting that “X” role at the next level because of your height advantage on the boundary?
Tai Felton: Shoot. I played all over the field this season, whether that was X, Z, or H. Whatever scheme the team wants me to fit, I’m willing to play whatever helps the team. I feel like I can play all three positions. It really just depends on where the team wants me to play.
JM: The jersey swap is so much fun at the next level. Anyone you have your eye on?
Tai Felton: I have to say my guy Dante Trader Jr. He’s going to be at the Senior Bowl as well! We’re going to the next level in the same draft class. We put in a lot of work together ever since our freshman year.
The come-up we had together, the way we’re leaving the Maryland program in a better place. We fell short of our goals our senior season, but we definitely took the program to different heights. We’re excited to be going into the NFL together.
It’d be awesome to swap jerseys with Dante Trader Jr. at the next level, reminiscing on where we started and how far we’ve come.
JM: You and Dante Trader Jr. are going to get that opportunity! This has been an outstanding conversation. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Tai Felton?
Tai Felton: I would say it means I had a lot of fun and displayed my love for this game. I’m going to make an impact while enjoying a great experience in Mobile. I want to lead my teammates while chatting about football with the scouts. I’m going to have fun while competing out there. That’s 100% what I want my Senior Bowl experience to look like.
I’m excited to get my story out there.
