Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante has accepted his invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, it was announced Friday.

Asante — an Alexandria, Va., native who transferred to Auburn from North Carolina in 2021 — is the first Tigers player to accept a Senior Bowl invitation this year. The annual college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase takes place Feb. 1 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Asante has 33 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 10 games for the Tigers this season and also returned a fumble 67 yards for a touchdown vs. Texas A&M. He led the Auburn team with 86 tackles in 2023, in addition to nine tackles for loss and five sacks.

Other players with in-state ties confirmed for this year’s Senior Bowl include Alabama punter James Burnip, Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson, Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (a Pinson Valley High School graduate and Troy transfer), Tulane safety Caleb Ransaw (a Sparkman High School graduate and Troy transfer), Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin (an Alabama transfer). However, McLaughlin suffered a season-ending injury earlier this week and is likely to miss the Senior Bowl.

More Senior Bowl roster additions will be announced in the days and weeks leading up to the game, which takes place at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, with television coverage by NFL Network.

Senior Bowl tickets are available at seniorbowl.com/tickets.