The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Ole Miss EDGE Jared Ivey plans on taking full advantage. Ivey recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Ivey also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, crafting his pass-rush arsenal, his fantastic positional versatility, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Ivey better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Jared Ivey: I was at Ole Miss’ facility. We had just wrapped up a meeting. [Defensive line] coach [Randall] Joyner asked to see Princely [Umanmielen] and I in his office. I kinda sensed what was coming (laughs).
I was super excited. I already had received an invite to the East-West Shrine. I was kinda holding out hope for the Senior Bowl. I had gotten the East-West Shrine and Hula invites last year as well. I decided to go back to school. A big reason why was because I didn’t get the Senior Bowl invite last year.
I was really hoping to get one this year. I was anxious, waiting to hear back. I was super happy for myself and all of my teammates who got the invite this year. There’s gonna be a bunch of us down there. I’m super excited for our entire group.
JM: What a special story that really captures how much hard work you’ve put in. What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Jared Ivey: The biggest thing is to prove I’m exactly who you see on tape. I have the versatility needed to shine at every position I play across the entire defensive line.
JM: Your versatility really pops on tape. How would Jared Ivey write his own scouting report? Describe your skill set for us from a traits and ability perspective.
Jared Ivey: I’m a very versatile player. I can play standing up or with my hand in the dirt. I’m a do-it-all defensive lineman. I pride myself in being able to understand the game and my role at a high level. I play within the scheme. I make plays, all the routine plays when called for.
I make big plays happen. I love being the versatile guy who gives the defense a bunch of different things in one player.
JM: You had a career-high 7.0 sacks this season. How would you describe your pass-rush arsenal? I’m looking for go-to moves and counters.
Jared Ivey: We build everything off the side-scissors at Ole Miss. That’s what [defensive line] coach Randall Joyner calls it. Other people might just call it the swipe or the scissors. It’s really a footwork-based move. We build everything around the footwork.
I love my long arm as well. It really plays well as my go-to power move. My go-to finesse move is that side-scissor. They balance each other well. I like to mix it up with a cross chop. I have a diverse arsenal. That’s the 1-2-3 punch I utilize throughout the game.
It works on tackles, guards, centers, you name it. It works when I slant across the ball. It’s very reliable for me. I’ve been doing it for years. I’m very comfortable with it. That’s what our coaching staff preaches. That’s what we do in Oxford.
JM: You have a phenomenal arsenal. Jared Ivey is a three-down lineman. You defend the run early.
Jared Ivey: I definitely see myself as an every-down player. I can stop the run from anywhere on the field. My first year at Ole Miss, I played primarily on the edge. We were running like a 3-2 scheme. I played a lot of 4i, 6i and 5-technique.
My second season, I played a lot of 4i and 3-technique while also playing some 5-tech and 6i. This past season, I played a lot of wide-nine. I also played a fair amount of 4i and took on a lot of double teams. I also played a good amount of 3-technique and 2i.
My first year, I rushed from the zero-nose. I’ve rushed from the 2i, I had a sack this year while playing 2i. I had sacks this year while playing 3-technique, wide-nine, and 5-technique. Every down run or pass, I can produce on every single down.
JM: That’s a phenomenal answer. All that versatility you have, I’m curious if you’d compare yourself to any linemen at the next level.
Jared Ivey: My coaching staff says I’m a lot like DeForest Buckner. Sometimes I hear Arik Armstead and Cam Heyward, true defensive ends. It’s a bit of a lost art in our game with the rise of the “RUSH END” and bringing linebackers downhill to play defensive end.
I’m a true defensive end like those guys I mentioned who can slide inside and rush the quarterback effectively in these rush packages and overloads that everybody is doing nowadays.
I’m also sturdy enough to defend the run down there as needed. I’m also quick enough to play wide-nine and 6i. I can set the edge.
JM: This has been an outstanding conversation, one of my favorites I’ve done this year. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for DJ Ivey?
Jared Ivey: It means I attacked every single day like another practice at Ole Miss with my old coaches. I’m always going to be a high-effort guy. I run to the football with a sense of urgency. I’m going to make plays by winning my one-on-one reps.
I’m going to fly around at practice.
