FIRST QUARTER

The Americans won the coin toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff. The Nationals will defend the south end zone at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

After a touchback on the kickoff, the Americans will start at their 20-yard line with South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler at quarterback.

PREGAME

The 75th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl will kick off at noon CST Saturday under a cloudy sky with a temperature in the low 60s and a light southern breeze at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. NFL Network is televising the game.

The all-stars are divided into American and National teams. The Nationals are wearing orange jerseys and pants with two black stripes bordering a white stripe on the sleeves and down the legs. The Americans are wearing gray jerseys and pants with two orange stripes bordering a white stripe on the sleeves and down the legs.

Each helmet bears a sticker of a parrot drinking a margarita in memory of noted Mobilian Jimmy Buffett, who passed away since last year’s Senior Bowl.

The American is the home team, at least in makeup. Thirty-three of the American’s players came from the SEC plus the roster also features three former Coastal Alabama prep stars – Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, Auburn cornerback D.J. James and Ole Miss defensive end Cedric Johnson – and South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley. The National team’s SEC representatives are Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun. Troy edge rusher Javon Solomon and running back Kimani Vidal also are National players.

The Americans have 13 of the 18 all-stars who played at Alabama high schools and colleges:

· Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort High School)

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· South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley

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· Alabama defensive lineman Chris Braswell

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· Miami (Fla.) guard Javion Cohen (Central High School in Phenix City, who played at Alabama in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons)

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· Alabama defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe

· Auburn defensive lineman Marcus Harris (Park Crossing High School)

· Auburn cornerback D.J. James (Spanish Fort High School)

· Ole Miss defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson High School)

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· Georgia long snapper William Mote (Spain Park High School)

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· Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson High School)

· Alabama kicker Will Reichard (Hoover High School)

· Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson

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· Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville High School)

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The National players with Alabama football roots include:

· UCF wide receiver Javon Baker (who played at Alabama in the 2020 and 2021 seasons)

· Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson (who played at Alabama in the 2021 and 2022 seasons)

· Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (Pinson Valley High School, who played at Auburn in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons)

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· Troy defensive end Javon Solomon

· Troy running back Kimani Vidal

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The head coach for the National team is Jeff Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. The head coach of the American team is Terrell Williams, the defensive-line coach of the Tennessee Titans.

The Senior Bowl coaching staffs consist of assistants from around the NFL.

The Senior Bowl assembled a quarterback set of Bradley, Tennessee’s Joe Milton III, Tulane’s Michael Pratt and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler for the American team and Nix, Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. for the National team. But Penix will not play in Saturday’s game.

There’s also been a roster change: Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske, who worked with the American team all week, will play for the National team on Saturday.

Hancock Whitney Stadium is serving as the site of the Senior Bowl for the fourth time. South Alabama opened its 25,450-seat stadium in the 2020 season.

The first Senior Bowl was played at Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1950. The next 70 games were played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, which is about 9 miles east of South Alabama’s facility.

Hancock Whitney Stadium has proven providential for the National team, which has not lost a Senior Bowl game there.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.