The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to showcase themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. SMU defensive tackle Jeffrey M’ba plans on taking full advantage. M’ba recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
M’ba also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his pro comparisons at defensive tackle, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know M’ba better ahead of his journey to the Panini Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite, and what was your initial reaction?
Jeffrey M’ba: I was driving back home after practice. I got the phone call directly from Drew Fabianich of the Senior Bowl. He told me he had good news for me. He was inviting me to the Senior Bowl!
I told him hold on, I don’t want to cause a crash on the road right now. I pulled over to have the conversation with him (laughs).
JM: That’s hilarious (laughs). What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Jeffrey M’ba: The Senior Bowl is the pre-draft showcase for me to display my talent. I feel like I’m being a little underrated. The Senior Bowl is a great place for me to improve my pre-draft stock and change the rest of my life, basically.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Jeffrey M’ba: I want to prove that I’m the best prospect in attendance. I think that’s the goal for everybody who agrees to attend the Senior Bowl. I want to showcase that I’m the player an NFL team wants in their locker room.
I’m ready to prove that I’m a player every NFL team needs. I’m going there to prove myself.
JM: How would you write your own scouting report? Self-scout yourself for us.
Jeffrey M’ba: I played many different positions throughout my college career. I’m a versatile defensive lineman. I went from playing outside linebacker to playing nose tackle. That proves my versatility.
I’m definitely very physical. I’m still scratching the surface of my potential. I still have lots of areas to improve in to become the best version of myself.
JM: It’s been quite the journey for you. From Independence, you went to Auburn and Purdue before SMU. You don’t see many prospects play at four different places.
Jeffrey M’Ba: I never really played much at Auburn. I couldn’t show a lot that season. Going from Independence Community College to the SEC, it definitely makes you feel like this is a difficult level to play at.
I went to Purdue. The coaching staff left. I wanted to trust the program and everything they were about to build. Once my coaches left, I knew I wasn’t going to succeed at the highest level at Purdue. I decided to leave as well.
I was about to train for the NFL Draft. I was supposed to enter last year’s draft. But because we had a bad season at Purdue, I wanted to stay. The Diego Pavia JUCO rule occurred when he won the lawsuit, allowing us JUCO players another year of eligibility.
I needed to come back and prove I could play at a higher level. I had more abilities to show. I wasn’t able to do that at Purdue. As soon as I heard about the Diego Pavia thing, I wanted another fresh start.
That’s basically how I came to SMU. Those are the reasons I played at four different programs. They were just situations that happened in life. The coaches who recruited me to Purdue left.
That’s life. When coaches leave a program, it puts the players they recruited in a tough spot. That’s why you see so much activity in the transfer portal nowadays.
JM: That’s a great answer. We appreciate the honesty. You took advantage of the extra year of eligibility. You had a career-high five sacks at SMU this season. You showed improvement as a pass rusher.
Jeffrey M’ba: I feel like I had way more opportunities as a pass rusher. At Purdue, we played a very disciplined defense with five defensive linemen. We played within structure. It was difficult to showcase individual talents. Sometimes we’d show five and rush three. It was a nose tackle and a couple of 4i linemen.
I played a lot more 2i at SMU. That gave me a lot of opportunities, a lot more freedom. I rushed the passer with a lot of freedom. Not only can I rush the A-gap, but I had other opportunities to rush as well.
I went out there and used my physicality. I never felt so empowered to do that. It was the fresh start I needed. That’s why I was able to record more sacks.
JM: It was obvious on tape. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL defensive tackle, who would you choose and why? Is there anyone in particular you try to study and learn from?
Jeffrey M’ba: I really like Derrick Brown and Dexter Lawrence. I want to play like them. Those are two big names (laughs). They are like Hall of Fame talents. I want to be like them. I love their physicality. Big guys who are also athletic.
Christian Wilkins, when he was playing at a high level. I’m really big, but I’m also twitchy and athletic. I can be a pass rusher. I proved I could rush the passer this year. I can’t compare myself to Derrick Brown or Dexter Lawrence yet, but I can play that one-technique spot.
JM: We’ve appreciated your time today. This has been an outstanding conversation, Jeffrey. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Jeffrey M’ba?
Jeffrey M’ba: I’m going out there with confidence. It’s difficult to say. I know I’m going out there with the right mentality to put my best foot forward. I want to take advantage of the opportunity.
I’m here to play football. As somebody who was born outside the USA, my mentality is a little bit different. I’m blessed to have the opportunity. I have to make this work, or I have to go back home and do something else.
I only think about having a good Senior Bowl. I don’t even want to think about losing a rep.