Bearcats OL Joe Cotton named to Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 Watchlist

Cincinnati senior offensive tackle Joe Cotton has been named to the 2027 Panini's Senior Bowl Top 300 Watchlist, announced by the bowl committee on Thursday morning.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Sioux Falls, South Dakota native enters his second season with the Bearcats as one of the premier offensive linemen in the Big 12. Cotton started all 13 games at left tackle for Cincinnati last fall, anchoring an offensive unit that allowed the fewest sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (43.0) in the Power Four.His performance earned him All-Big 12 honors, CSC Academic All-District recognition, and an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week nod following a dominant performance against Iowa State.

This summer he was also named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List. 

Prior to joining Cincinnati, Cotton spent three seasons at South Dakota, where he was an FCS All-American and two-time all-conference selectee.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the official kickoff to the NFL Draft process. Selection to the Top 300 watchlist highlights prospects identified by NFL scouts and Senior Bowl staff as potential high-round draft picks.

Last season, Cincinnati was represented on the Senior Bowl Top 300 list by linebacker Jake Golday, defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, and tight end Joe Royer. Both Golday (Minnesota Vikings) and Royer (Cleveland Browns) went on to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 2027 Panini's Senior Bowl will take place in Mobile, Alabama, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in January 2027.