Arizona State Lineman Boosts Draft Stock at Senior Bowl

Right tackle Max Iheanachor impresses scouts, could rise to 2nd round pick

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:23pm

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Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor has seen his NFL draft stock rise significantly after a strong performance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Iheanachor, who only started playing football in 2021 after a basketball background, has impressed scouts with his size, athleticism, and rapid improvement, and is now being projected as a potential second-round pick, with an outside chance of sneaking into the first round.

Why it matters

Iheanachor's rise is a testament to his hard work and potential, and shows that talented athletes can find success in football even if they don't have an extensive background in the sport. His performance at the Senior Bowl could lead to him being drafted higher than expected, which would be a major boost for both him and the Arizona State football program.

The details

Iheanachor, a 6-foot-5, 325-pound right tackle, was originally projected as a third-round draft pick before the Senior Bowl. However, his strong showing in practices has caused his stock to rise, with NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah saying he could now be a second-round pick and potentially sneak into the first round. Iheanachor, who only began playing football in 2021 after a basketball background, has impressed scouts with his size, athleticism, and rapid improvement, taking "a leap" during the second day of Senior Bowl practices according to Jeremiah.

  • The Senior Bowl will be played on January 31, 2026.
  • Iheanachor was ASU's starting right tackle for 28 straight games before sitting out the Sun Bowl game against Duke.

The players

Max Iheanachor

A right tackle for the Arizona State Sun Devils football team who has seen his NFL draft stock rise significantly after a strong performance at the 2026 Senior Bowl.

Daniel Jeremiah

An NFL media analyst who praised Iheanachor's performance at the Senior Bowl, saying he could now be a second-round pick and potentially sneak into the first round.

Saga Tuitele

The offensive line coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils, who watched Iheanachor's practices at the Senior Bowl and praised his hard work and development.

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What they’re saying

“Iheanachor looks the part at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds with good length. The thing that stood out to me, though, was the continued growth I saw from him over the course of the week. He took to the coaching he received here and adjusted, taking a leap on the second day of practice. Keep in mind, Iheanachor, who grew up playing soccer and basketball, didn't begin his football career until 2021. He might just be scratching the surface of his potential. I view him as a likely second-round pick with a chance to sneak into the first round.”

— Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media Analyst

“He's a great example of what hard work and perseverance can do. He was pretty raw when he got here, and he just kept getting better and better. You could see it from when he got here to his first 15 spring practices, and that just continued.”

— Saga Tuitele, Arizona State Offensive Line Coach

What’s next

The 2026 Senior Bowl will be played on January 31, where Iheanachor will have one final chance to impress NFL scouts before the upcoming draft.

The takeaway

Iheanachor's rapid rise from a community college basketball player to a potential early-round NFL draft pick is a remarkable story that showcases the power of hard work, perseverance, and raw athletic ability. His performance at the Senior Bowl has put him firmly on the radar of NFL teams, and could lead to him being selected much higher than originally projected in the upcoming draft.