It’s not unusual for a player in the Senior Bowl to have an older sibling or cousin who played in the game previously, but to happen 15 years later is extremely rare.

That’s the case this year for former Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante, however. His older brother, Larry, played in the 2010 Senior Bowl following his career at Nebraska and prior to spending six years in the NFL with four different teams.

Now 23, Eugene Asante remembers crowding around the television with his family to watch Larry in the Senior Bowl. And big brother made one of the game’s biggest plays, a forced fumble on running back Dexter McCluster of Ole Miss that helped along a 31-13 victory for the North team.

“As a kid, knowing that he played in the Senior Bowl was a big thing for me,” Asante said Monday during a meeting with local media to preview the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. “… I still remember to this day the things that he did in the game. I believe he had a forced fumble in that game. He made a big special teams play on a guy by the name of Dexter McCluster, I believe, who was a great player.

“It was just a great thing to experience as a young kid watching my brother. He’s certainly somebody that I always looked up to. To this day, I just appreciate him for everything he did and paving the way in his football career. That’s kind of how the story started. I’m excited to put it full force this year for myself.”

Asante is one of three former Auburn players in this year’s Senior Bowl, which takes place Feb. 1 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. He’s joined by running back Jarquez Hunter and fellow linebacker Jalen McLeod, who will team up for the American squad against the National team in the annual college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase.

Asante came to Auburn in 2022 after three seasons at North Carolina. After redshirting his first year with the Tigers due to injury, he totaled 134 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries — one of which he returned 67 yards for a touchdown vs. Texas A&M in 2023 — and was elected as a permanent team captain at the end of the 2024 season.

“He was captain up there at Auburn, everyone’s favorite guy in the building,” Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said. “…I was joking with Eugene at the Pro Day last spring. We invited Eugene last year, and then he ended up going back to school, and I was teasing him. I said, ‘15 years, that’s a pretty good gap between you and your own brother,’ but excited to get him here. He is Mr. Auburn on campus up there.”

Auburn finished with a losing record in all three of Asante’s seasons with the team, missing out on bowl-eligibility by a single game in 2024. However, he said he’s confident he’s leaving the Tigers in good hands heading into Hugh Freeze’s third season as head coach.

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“From where we started, there was so many things that players were going through, so much adversity that I feel like the players are going through internally and as football players,” Asante said. “I feel like having Coach Freeze at the helm of it, I do understand his vision and what he has planned for that institution and that football team. When you have great leadership, great things come from it. I saw so many transformations in terms of where the program was in 2022.

“… I do believe in everything Coach Freeze is bringing to our program. I do believe we have the talent (for) our team to go be successful this year. As a player, I’m going to miss putting on that jersey every single Saturday, but I do know that I have teammates there that will continue to lay the foundation for what Auburn needs to be.”

Kickoff for the 2025 Senior Bowl is set for 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, with television coverage on NFL Network Tickets are available at seniorbowl.com/tickets.

Senior Bowl 2025 game week schedule

Monday, Jan. 27

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally, Cottage Hill Baptist Church, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 30

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

USA Health Doc Rock, Soul Kitchen, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31

Saints Cheer Krewe clinic, Jaguar Training Center, noon-3 p.m.

— open to high school-aged cheerleaders and dancers

— cost, $75

Friday Night Street Party (Downtown Mobile)

— Player parade, 6 p.m.

— Free concert featuring Eli Young Band & Sammy Kershaw, Cathedral Square, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 1

Senior Bowl Fan Fest (free), South Lawn of Hancock Whitney Stadium, 10:30 a.m.

Legacy Tailgate HBCU Experience (free), South end of Jaguar Training Center, 10:30 a.m.

Path to the Draft players walk, outside Hancock Whitney Stadium, 11 a.m.

Senior Bowl game, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

— performances by Jaguar Marching Band & Saints Cheer Krewe