Feb. 1, 2026, 5:04 a.m. CT
Eight Texas A&M veterans took part in the Panini Senior Bowl game on Saturday afternoon, including former Nebraska tight end turned one-year Aggie rental Nate Boerkircher, who quickly became one of the more beloved players on the roster during the 2025 season, especially after his memorable game-tying catch in the final seconds of Texas A&M’s epic 41-40 road win over Notre Dame.
While his stats don’t jump off the page, reeling in 19 receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns, the Nebraska native was one of the most reliable in-line blockers, and, based on Pro Football Focus’s assessment of his 2025 performance, Boerkircher finised in the green in on offense (74.3), receiving (67.2), pass blocking (64.4), and run blocking (72.2).
If starting quarterback Marcel Reed didn’t have star wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver at his disposal, I can almost guarantee you that Boerkircher would have ended up with at least 30 receptions or more, given his dependability in short-yardage throws. Either way, Boerkircher showcased his full skill set this past season, earning an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he caught the attention of NFL scouts this week.
Showing off his smooth route running and soft hands, Boerkircher’s highly impressive 50/50 catch in tight man coverage made waves on social media, further boosting his draft stock in the process. On Saturday, The Athletic NFL Draft writer/scout, Dane Brugler, released his Senior Bowl “winners” at every position, naming Boerkircher as the standout tight end.
“In his six college seasons (five at Nebraska plus the 2025 season with the Aggies), Boerkircher never topped 200 receiving yards. However, that is more an indictment of the offenses he played for than of him. At 6 foot 5 and almost 247 pounds, Boerkircher snapped off routes all week and did a great job catching the ball through contact. His success as a pass catcher this week, combined with his blocking highlights from last season, means he will be a popular mid-round target.”
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Before the Senior Bowl practices took place, Boerkircher was not predicted to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft by most experts, but thanks to a solid showing this week, he looks like an absolute steal in the mid rounds for teams in need of veteran blockers with high upside in the passing game.
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