MOBILE, Ala. – On Wednesday, the 12^th Annual Reese's Senior Bowl was unveiled to the public that saw stars across all levels of college football make an appearance. Amongst this list, senior Mulerider defensive back, Melvin Smith Jr. was named to the watchlist as the lone star out of the Great American Conference.
 
The Reese's Senior Bowl has been highly regarded as college football's most preeminent all-star game as well as the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The event is the longest running all-star game and has been taking place in Mobile, Alabama for the past 75 years.
 
The Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist starts with a statement saying:
 
"Our scouting team has been working since last February to identify the 'best of the best' draft prospects at every level of college football for the 2025 NFL Draft."

"It takes professional evaluators to identify future professional players and this year's Senior Bowl staff will be comprised of thirteen scouts with over 200 years of NFL experience.  Our staff will rely on decades worth of relationships at the college and NFL levels to stay on top of all the risers, career backup late-bloomers, and transfers taking advantage of opportunities in their final seasons."

"One of our goals each year is to get live game exposures on as many prospects as possible so our Senior Bowl scouts will be at stadiums across the country every week this college season."

"To all players not listed, please know this is just a starting point.  Film is the most important criteria in our selection process and every player will be re-evaluated based on their tape this fall.  We know how hard you all have worked since last season, so we owe it to you to stay open-minded and exhaustive in our process."
 
This watchlist is Smith Jr.'s second watchlist to be a part of as he was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 watchlist in July. Both listings have the 2023 AFCA First Team All-American as the sole player out of the GAC as well as being just one of the few athletes out of NCAA Division II.
 
The senior out of Bossier City, Louisiana sat among the top in many statistical categories from last fall as the Bayou State native ranked second among all of Division II for pass breakups with 20(1st GAC) and was just one shy of the nation's leader. He accounted for the third-most in DII for passes defended per game with an average of 2.0 per competition (1st GAC). Smith Jr. recorded four interceptions in 2023 to bring his total passes defended to 24, a single-season program record. In the Mulerider's battle with Southwestern Oklahoma State (Oct. 28), Smith Jr. recorded the second 100-yard touchdown and first 100-yard interception for a touchdown in the program's history.
 
The 2023 First Team All-GAC member was also named to D2Football.com Elite 100 preseason list as a member of the First Team Defense.
 
The last time a Mulerider participated in the all-star game was back in 2011 when the soon-to-be inducted SAU Hall of Famer Cedric Thornton played in the contest prior to signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
 
Smith Jr. and the Muleriders are back on the gridiron September 5 (Thu.) in Durant, Oklahoma for their season-opener against Southeastern Oklahoma State at 6:00 p.m.