With the 2024 college football season almost officially coming to a close, that means senior bowl games will be underway soon. The National Championship is set to take place on Monday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. EST, 6:20 p.m. CT.
For the teams that aren't in the National Championship, which is everyone except Ohio State and Notre Dame, programs have already moved on from the 2024 season and are looking ahead to the 2025 season.
With a new season comes changes to each program, especially filling the empty holes left behind from the transfer portal, and players head to the NFL because of eligibility or because they want to try their luck. The good news for seniors at the end of each season, at least the ones who are heading to the NFL, is they get one more chance to show what they have in a game situation by heading to senior bowls.
There are a lot of different bowls for seniors that send out invites, but the most prestigious one that every NFL scout and executive will be watching is the Reese's Senior Bowl.
What is the Reese's Senior Bowl
The Reese's Senior Bowl is essentially an all-star game for college seniors who plan to head to the NFL. This game is considered a big step in helping players get drafted, as it is known as the premier senior bowl game before the NFL Combine.
The game is played under Pro Bowl rules, and the coaches are selected each year to represent the National and American conferences. The game is played in Mobile, Alabama and this year will be held on February 1, at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Which Iowa Hawkeyes have accepted their invites?
Iowa will have two players representing in the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl. Defensive back or CASH Sebastian Castro and defensive lineman Yahya Black were both invited and accepted their invitations to play in the prestigious game.
Castro dealt with some injury in 2025, but even coming into the season was known as one of the top, if not the top, defenders for the Hawkeyes. Castro is technically a defensive back but played in what is called the CASH position in Phil Parker's defense. This position can be best described as a mix of the linebacker and defensive back position in which the player needs the speed and pass-break ability of a defensive back but also the size and grit of a linebacker.
The Oak Lawn, Illinois native had a down year this season, dealing with a bit of injury, but was still able to produce respectable numbers, especially in the absence of Cooper DeJean for the Hawkeyes this season. Castro recorded 57 total tackles, 39 solo tackles, one pass defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 2024.
Following a dominant 2023 season, Black's numbers dropped just a bit in 2024 but still had a great stat line. Black recorded 34 tackles, 18 solo tackles, two passes defended, one sack, and one forced fumble for the Hawkeyes in 2024.
Iowa fans can see both Castro and Black in the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday, February 1, at 1:30 p.m. CT.