Haitian & Cameroonian American RJ Oben among NFL prospects after Senior Bowl victory

The 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl showcased some of the top college football players in the country, offering them a chance to impress NFL scouts ahead of the draft. Among them was RJ Oben, a defensive standout of Haitian and Cameroonian descent, who helped lead the American team to a 22-19 victory over the National team at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium on Feb. 1.

The annual all-star game, played in front of a sold-out crowd of 40,000, featured two major storylines for the American team.

Notre Dame standouts take the field

Notre Dame’s Oben, quarterback Riley Leonard and linebacker Jack Kiser were among the few Fighting Irish players who accepted Senior Bowl invitations. While several of their teammates declined after Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff National Championship loss, Oben, Leonard and Kiser seized the opportunity to prove themselves on a national stage.

During the week of practice, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman visited his former players, offering support as they prepared for the game.

Jack Bech honors his late brother

Another key storyline came from TCU wide receiver Jack Bech, who dedicated his performance to his late brother, Tiger Bech, a former Princeton kicker killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year’s Day.

How the game played out

The National team struck first, scoring on the opening drive when quarterback Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State connected on a 32-yard pass to Jayden Higgins of Iowa State. A successful two-point conversion from Elijah Arroyo of Miami made it 8-0.

For the American team, Leonard struggled early, taking a first-half sack. By halftime, the score was tied 8-8.

In the third quarter, kicker Ryan Fitzgerald of Florida State put National team ahead with a 39-yard field goal, breaking the tie at 11-8.

The National team held on to the lead, setting up a dramatic finishe. With the American team trailing late, quarterback Seth Henigan of Memphis found Bech for a two-yard touchdown, sealing the come-from-behind victory.

Bech’s emotional MVP moment

After catching the game-winning touchdown, Bech was named Senior Bowl MVP, celebrating with his family in an emotional postgame moment.

“As you all know, my brother passed away one month ago today,” Bech said. “So I was wearing the number seven. We all had sevens on our helmets.”

Scouts take note of Oben

While Bech had the highlight moment, NFL scouts paid close attention to Oben, evaluating his consistency and explosiveness off the edge, according to CBS Sports.

Oben, the son of former NFL player and Super Bowl champion Roman Oben, embraced the opportunity, showing flashes of dominance throughout practice and the game.

Meanwhile, Leonard viewed the week as a shot at redemption after Notre Dame’s national championship loss.

“Man, the way it ended, I’m so happy for everybody on our team,” Leonard said. “A lot of people think we were here to raise our draft stock or make ourselves look good. But I think the American team had a very clear goal—we were just here to win.”

What’s next for Oben and Leonard?

Both Oben and Leonard now set their sights on the NFL draft, with training and pre-draft workouts scheduled in the coming weeks.

For the National team, quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon reflected on his college career. A Heisman finalist, Gabriel played at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon and honored all three schools by wearing a helmet featuring their logos.

“Yeah, I think with anything, there’s good and bad and there’s learning, growing—just continuing to improve every single day,” Gabriel said. “That’s my goal, that’s what I want to continue to do throughout this process, but it’s been a fun one, it’s been a good one.”

Gabriel is projected as a fourth-round draft pick.

Oben’s performance adds to the always growing list of Haitian American football players excelling at the collegiate level. Notre Dame freshman offensive lineman Guerby Lambert, Western Kentucky’s defensive backs Nazir Ward, and Dave Herard, James Madison running back Jobi Malary and cornerback Kalin Jean, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and others have been gaining national recognition, showcasing the increasing presence of Haitian talent in college football.

As Oben prepares for the next chapter, his Senior Bowl performance has solidified his status as a prospect to watch heading into the 2025 NFL draft.

The post Haitian & Cameroonian American RJ Oben among NFL prospects after Senior Bowl victory appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Haitian & Cameroonian American RJ Oben among NFL prospects after Senior Bowl victory was first posted on February 4, 2025 at 1:09 pm.