SENIOR BOWL SCOUT SCHOOL
WHEN: June 3-5, 2024
WHERE: Senior Bowl HQ – 151 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL
WHO: Registration is now closed!
To support former NFL players, many of which played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, we are proud to announce our annual Senior Bowl Scout School program. Currently, over one-third (34%) of the players on NFL rosters began their NFL journeys in Mobile, Alabama and we feel a responsibility to assist them when they transition away from the playing field. June 3-5, 2024, NFL alums with at least two years of accredited service are invited to explore scouting as a potential career path. The course will be led by Senior Bowl Executive Director and 18-year NFL scouting veteran Jim Nagy and Dan Hatman, Director of Scouting Development at The Scouting Academy. Nagy and Hatman will pull back the curtain on the lifestyle and all aspects of both pathways with NFL scouting departments; pro/advance scouting and college scouting.
2024 GUEST SPEAKER:
Zack Crockett, Southeast Area Scout, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bio: Zack Crockett is in his second season as a college scout for the Steelers. He spent the previous 14 years with the Las Vegas Raiders as an area scout (2009-22). Crockett, who was affiliated with the Raiders for 23 seasons as both a player and front office member, was the franchise’s Southeast Area Scout. He had served in the role since 2009 when he retired from NFL football, having played fullback for the Raiders from 1999-2007. A native of Pompano Beach, Fla., Crockett graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He was drafted in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts as a fullback and was later signed as a free agent by the Raiders.
“There is a high demand for former NFL players in the scouting profession and, for whatever reason, few guys even consider it as a viable career option. Most former players we’ve spoken with think that coaching or broadcasting are the only post-playing career avenues in football and that simply isn’t the case. NFL teams are always looking for scouting candidates with strong playing backgrounds and this seminar will help educate former players on the profession”, explains Nagy. “We want former NFL players to be able to make educated choices about their future and hearing first-hand from those that went from playing in the NFL to scouting in the NFL is important”, adds Hatman. This involvement with the Reese’s Senior Bowl will provide invaluable networking opportunities with scouts, coaches, and upper management.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
- Structure and Roles within NFL Scouting Departments
- Lifestyle of Pro/Advance scouts vs College Area scouts
- NFL scouting calendar
- Player evaluation and report writing
- Film analysis
- Player grading and projection
- Advance scouting of opponents
- How to make a college school scouting visit
- Mock School Scouting Visit @ Univ of South Alabama
- Pro-day measuring and testing
- Presenting reports/players in meetings
In addition to the curriculum, participants will have the opportunity to ask their own unique questions and talk strategy on how they can build a career in scouting through their network and experiences.
“Scout School was everything! It helped me realign my focus and better understand my passion for the game in a different light. It was invaluable for me and I’m forever grateful for Mr. Jim Nagy and the Reese’s Senior Bowl Staff for the insight and information along with the opportunity to evaluate prospects and give evaluations on a prospect with the proper guidance and direction. The icing on the cake was being able to attend the Reese’s Senior Bowl Game Week, as a group leader for the National Team QB’s. While getting real live exposure to the ends and outs of the evaluation process, amongst NFL decision makers, GM’s, coaches, and scouts. It was life changing for me!” - Julius Pruitt, Former Miami Dolphins (Alumni), Current RB Coach (Ouachita Baptist University)
“As a former player who had been through the draft process, played in the Senior Bowl in 1998, was drafted, played in NFL, won a Super Bowl and having done several internships with NFL teams post playing, I thought I had a pretty good idea of scouting and the evaluation process. But the experience and invaluable knowledge gained going to RSB Scout School with the in depth amount of invaluable information, time, conversations, evaluations & projects Jim and staff provided at RSB Scout School took it to another level.” - Brad Jackson, NFL Veteran and Super Bowl Champion.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Scout school participants are free to book hotel rooms anywhere in the Mobile area but for logistical purposes we encourage attendees to stay at one of the numerous hotels downtown Mobile near Senior Bowl headquarters at 151 Dauphin Street (i.e. Renaissance Riverview, Battlehouse, Hampton Inn, Admiral, Holiday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, etc.).
AIR TRAVEL:
The most convenient air travel option would be flying into Mobile Regional Airport (MOB); however, we encourage you to investigate both Pensacola International (PNS) and Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT) for possible cheaper flights. Both PNS and GPT are approximately a 1-hour drive from downtown Mobile.
FOLLOW-ON OPPORTUNITIES:
Group Leader Game Week Program – Participants will be offered the opportunity to return for the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Game Week as a Group Leader. Group Leaders will be tasked with getting each prospect everywhere they need to be in a timely fashion. For entirety of the week, the Group Leaders lead their assigned position group through player registration, informal/formal interviews, media, practice, gameday, and more.
Fall Scouting Apprenticeship Program – Selected participants will spend the fall shadowing Reese’s Senior Bowl area scouts. This program allows Scout School participants to learn from some of the best in the business regarding conducting school calls and attending games. This initiative raises awareness in the profession and hopefully leads to a career path in the NFL, as participants will be able to network with other scouts or high level executives they cross paths with at the games they attend.
“The scouting apprenticeship/group leader role gave me experience learning to evaluate pro potential talent, opportunities to network with college personnel, and ultimately provided opportunities to foster tangible relationships with a bevy of people in football spaces.” – Greg Moore, former Indianapolis Colts WR, current educator & private trainer/coach.