MOBILE, Ala. — Four members of the BYU football team were named today to the Watch List for the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, held annually for the past 73 years in Mobile, Alabama, following the conclusion of the college football season.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall, wide receiver Gunnar Romney, left guard Clark Barrington and left tackle Blake Freeman were all selected to the prestigious watchlist. The Senior Bowl showcases the best NFL Draft prospects and is considered one of the first steps in the NFL Draft process.
Hall was named Pro Football Network 2021 All-Independent Quarterback of the Year and was selected to the 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback was previously named a 2022 watch list candidate for the Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award, Manning Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy.
Barrington started all 13 games in 2021 and was named All-America at the conclusion of the season by Action Network and Pro Football Focus. The 6-6, 305-pound left guard was previously selected a 2022 preseason All-American by five organizations—Phil Steele, Action Network, The Sporting News, Lindy's Sports and Athlon Sports.
Freeland also started all 13 games for the Cougars in 2021. The 6-8, 305-pound junior left tackle was named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and Pro Football Network All-Independent First Team in 2021 and was recently name a 2022 Preseason All-American by The Athletic.
Romney was also named to the PFN 2021 All-Independent First-Team Offense. Despite missing three games due to injury, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver had 34 catches for 594 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 17.5 yards per catch and 59.4 yard per game.
Freeland and Barrington were an integral part of the Pro Football Network 2021 Offensive Line of the Year, helping the BYU offense produce an average of 33 points and 452 yards per game. Both offensive linemen were previously named to the 2022 preseason watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. Barrington, Freeland and Hall were also selected to the Pro Football Network top 100 players list heading into the 2022 college football season.
The 2023 edition of the Senior Bowl will take place at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium on Feb. 4 and will be broadcast live on NFL Network. The 2022 Senior Bowl produced a record tying 106 total picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, representing 40 percent of the draft, including 45 of the top 100 players selected.