With just the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl remaining, we are just a couple weeks away from Draft Season being in full swing. Thursday's East-West Shrine Bowl, gives NFL Talent Evaluators their first crack at seeing potential prospects in action against an opponent fully stocked with NFL-Caliber talent. Played since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl benefits the Shriner's Children's Hospital Network, which is dedicated to providing high-quality speciality care to children regardles of their families' ability to pay. 

Players selected to play in the game are college seniors who have been selected via a consensus from representatives from all 32 teams, meaning they have already been evaulated as showing potential for having a future career in the NFL. Notable Packers Alumni of the game include Brett Favre and Forest Gregg. An average of 300 East-West Shrine alumni are on NFL rosters every year, including 70 from the 2021 game alone. Throughout it's nearly hundred years of history, 77 of the game's alumni have gone on to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame (Favre and Gregg included).

Each team consists of roughly 65-70 players each, with the Mississippi River as the deciding factor of whether a player is on the East or the West team, although it is noted that only the best players will play regardless. This appears to ring true as several players on each roster are obviously "misaligned" based on the location of the prospects' school.

 

Here's a breakdown of who and what to watch for in this year's game:

 

 

Quarterbacks

 

East

D'Eriq King - Miami

EJ Perry - Brown

Dustin Crum - Kent State

 

West

Skylar Thompson - Kansas State

Brock Purdy - Iowa State

Jack Coan - Notre Dame

 

This QB group needs to prove that they're more than just game managers or potential back-ups. I was hoping King would have attempted a position switch to WR or RB, and he'll likely get such questions this week or during the Combine should he receive an invite. Probably the most intriguing prospect is Crum out of Kent State, who might prove better if he's surrounded by better talent than what he was playing with for the Golden Flashes. Notre Dame's Jack Coan and Iowa State's Brock Purdy have to show and prove that they can play mistake free football and limit the interceptions. Brown's EJ Perry, a Boston College transfer, is a hot name in scouting circles after throwing for more than 6,000 yards in 2 years playing for his dad in the Ivy League. I'm curious to see how his mechanics compare to the rest of the group, and if he can push the ball downfield with some real speedsters on the East roster. Skylar Thompson from Kansas State has some questions to answer about his arm strength, but he might be the most effecient QB in the group as he rarely turns the ball over, operating with precision within the confines of his offense and his own game.

 

 

Running Backs

 

East

Isaih Pacheco - Rutgers

Cavin Turner - Hawaii

Pierre Strong - South Dakota State

Ronnie Rivers - Fresno State

Leddie Brown - West Virginia

Zander Horvath - Purdue

 

West

Trestan Ebner - Baylor

Jashaun Corbin - Florida State

Ty Chandler - North Carolina

Clint Ratkovich - Northern Illinois

Keaontay Ingram - Southern California

 

The player who immediately jumps off this list is Pierre Strong, who put up gaudy numbers for the Jackrabbits with 7.1 YPC. I don't expect him to necessarily do that during the game, but if he makes more than a few splash plays I say he deserves a Combine invite and Day 2 consideration. Keaontay Ingram, who transferred from Texas to USC, had a lot of hype from his prep days but it never materialized in Austin and he never fully took the #1 role for the Trojans either. He needs to take those fresh legs and seize this opportunity or risk falling into the back of the Draft because he's a good multi-purpose back. Rutgers' Pacheco and West Virginia's Brown probably should have stayed in school for one more year, as neither really elevated themselves this past year, and will need a strong perfomance to prove they deserve hearing their names called on the back end. Ebner out of Baylor never really got himself going in 4 years in Waco, but he earned himself an invite anyway, if he can make a play or two, he might find himself a priority Undrafted Free Agent.

 

Wide Receivers

 

East

Jaivon Heiligh - Coastal Carolina

Kyle Phillips - UCLA

Charleston Rambo - Miami(FL)

Jaquarii Roberson - Wake Forest

Tanner Conner - Idaho State

Samori Toure - Nebraska

Josh Johnson - Tulsa

 

West

Stanley Berryhill III - Arizona

Jerreth Sterns - Western Kentucky

Dareke Young - Lenoir-Rhyne

Tyquan Thornton - Baylor

Davontavean Martin - Oklahoma State

Ty Fryfogle - Indiana

Emeka Emezie - North Carolina State

 

I really love this WR group, they've got some real talent and will be sleepers from Round 2 well into Day 3. Ty Fryfogle didn't have the exact same heroics that he exhibited in 2020, but I look for him to prove he's the best WR on the field when he's out there. Charleston Rambo finally put it all together in Coral Gables after being buried on the depth chart with the Sooners. UCLA's Kyle Phillips could be a slightly more athletic Hunter Renfrow if he latches on with the right team. Johnson lined up in the backfield and out wide for Tulsa, and I expect the coaching staff for the East to do the same. Depending on how he's evaluated, he could cement himself on the back end of Day 2 with a solid performance. Wake Forest's Roberson needs to show that he can continue to play at a high level against better competition, as the ACC wasn't all that great this year. Right down the road at NC State, Emezie has a similar delimma of being permanently labeled as a possession receiver or not having the speed to produce in the pros. Despite a historic season, Coastal Carolina's Heiligh with his acrobat like moves and Lenoir-Rhyne's Young also have questions abound if they can produce amongst a group with more blue chippers than their used to seeing on the same football field.

 

 

Tight Ends

 

East

Armani Rogers - Ohio

Lucas Krull - Pittsburgh

Derrick Deese Jr. - San Jose State

Nick Muse - South Carolina

 

West

Gerrit Prince - Alabama-Birmingham

Teagan Quitoriano - Oregon State

Chigoziem Okonkwo - Maryland

Jelani Woods - Virginia

 

 

This is probably the most peculiar position group in this year's game. Nick Muse didn't get a lot of love at South Carolina, and I'd be curious to see what he could do with a better QB throwing him the ball. Jelani Woods out of UVA is a terror at 6'7/275, and he should be targeted mightily in the red zone. On the opposite end of the spectrum Lucas Krull got his fair share of opportunities at Pitt, but did he create those opportunities or did his QB/OC do it for him?  Derrick Deese Jr from lowly San Jose State finally broke out his last year, and he's probably the guy I'd most like to see create mismatches while on the field. He's got a decent build and catch radius to him which should lend him opportunities against a safety or small or linebacker. Armani Rogers, previously a Quarterback for UNLV and then Ohio, is looking to make a position change in order to extend his playing career and will provide an interesting storyline to follow.

 

Offensive Linemen

 

East

Tyrese Robinson - Oklahoma

Jack Snyder - San Jose State

George Moore - Oregon

Luke Tenuta - Virginia Tech

Zach Tom - Wake Forest

Myron Cunningham - Arkansas

Alec Lindstrom - Boston College

Zachary Thomas - San Diego State

Ryan Van Denmark - Conneticut

Brock Hoffman - Virginia

Bamidele Olaseni - Utah

Vederian Lowe - Illinois

 

 

West

 

Jaxson Kirkland - Washington

Xavier Newman-Johnson - Baylor

Obinna Eze - TCU

Jean Delance - Florida

Austin Deculus - LSU

Cordell Volson - North Dakota State

Josh Seltzner - Wisconsin

Blaise Andries - Minnesota

Dawson Deaton - Texas Tech

Kellen Diesch - Arizona State

Hayden Howerton - Southern Methodist

Luke Wattenberg - Washington

Devin Cochran - Georgia Tech

 

 

I have Diesch as the top tackle for the game, he's slightly undersized, and he's probably not as strong as he should be, but he's got proabably the best technique in the entire class. Washington's Kirkland will probably be viewed by many scouts as the better prospect because he's got a bigger frame and strength to boot....things you can't exactly teach. Obinna Eze was a massive mountain mover for the Horned Frogs, and if he can show up in practice and in the game, I don't see him escaping the 4th or 5th Round, and NDSU's Volson has a similar evaluation. Minnesota's Andries might have a little too much weight on him, so his weigh-in will be watched closely. If he's still a little too heavy, he needs to show that that weight won't impair his game at the next level. Boston College's Alec Lindstrom, who is the younger brother of Falcon's All-Pro Chris Lindstrom, is looking to do more than just ride his namesake into the NFL, and boasts an impressive pass protection grade from PFF. Utah's Bamidele Olaseni is my "super sleeper" in this position group....I don't expect him to impress, but he should show he more than belongs in an NFL offensive line rotation.

 

 

 

Defensive Linemen

 

East

Marquan McCall - Kentucky

Matt Henningsen - Wisconsin

Ben Stille - Nebraska

Jeffrey Gunter - Coastal Carolina

Thomas Booker - Stanford

Eyioma Uwazurike - Iowa State

Noah Eliss - Idaho

LaBryan Ray - Alabama

Taylan Humphrey - Louisiana-Lafayette

 

West

David Anenih - Houston

Brayden Thomas - North Dakota State

Nolan Cockrill - Army

Matthew Butler - Tennessee

Derrick Tangelo - Penn State

Ryder Anderson - Indiana

Deione Knight - Western (Canada)

DJ Davidson - Arizona State

Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa - Notre Dame

 

 

Can the Cyclines Uwazurike crack the Top 100 in the Draft as a pure 1-Technique? I think so. He's a large man and he moves pretty good for his size. He doesn't have to necessarily dominate, just show he can consistently move the pile and demand double teams, NFL scouts will come calling. The beleaguered LaBryan Ray is looking at probably his last real shot at serious Draft Value, if he can't pull off even an average showing he's probaby just fielding offers as an UDFA, playing for the Crimson Tide is not going to be enough to hear his name called. Kentucky's McCall is rumored to be almost 400 lbs at one point; that will NOT hold up in the NFL. He's gotta come way down to play consistently in the NFL plus work on his nagging character issues. Nebraska's Stille has some value with the ability to play 1T, 3T, and 4T, he just needs to show he as the required strength to do so, if not he may need to cut some weight and add agility to exhist in a even front only. The Vols Matthew Butler was buried at Tennessee, but showed enough to get an invite. He's got a long road to cementing his Draft status. 

 

 

Linebackers

 

East

Tyree Johnson - Texas A&M

Big Kat Bryant - Central Florida

Tre Walker - Idaho

Ellis Brooks - Penn State

De'Shaan Dixon - Norfolk State

Carson Wells - Colorado

James Houston IV - Jackson State

Mika Tafua - Utah

DQ Thomas - Middle Tennessee State

Ali Fayad - Western Michigan

Nate Landman - Colorado

Diego Fagot - Navy

Jeffrey Gunter - Coastal Carolina

 

West 

Zakoby McClain - Auburn

Baylon Spector - Clemson

Darien Butler - Arizona State

Nephi Sewell - Utah

Micah McFadden - Indiana

Chance Campbell - Mississippi

Jack Sanborn - Wisconsin

 

 

This linebacker corps is a "who's who" from around the nation. National leaders in Sanborn from the Badgers, Landman from Colorado, Tafua from Utah, and Fagot from Navy will be looking to prove they can do the same thing at the next level, despite their somewhat athletic limitations. The star of the group is far and away Gunter from Coastal Carolina, who has the athleticism to be a real playmaker. Texas A&M's Tyree Johnson and Brooks from Penn State need to make some plays to keep from being potentiall penciled in as MLBs only. Zakoby McClain of Auburn has the potential to be a cornerstone in a defense if he can show he can adequately defend the pass at the next level. Ali Fayad of Western Michigan, has all the makings of an elite pass rusher and I expect him to come away with a couple sacks during the game.

 

 

 

Defensive Backs

 

East

Decobie Durant - South Carolina State

Percy Butler - Lousiana-Lafayette

Reed Blankenship - Middle Tennessee State

Montaric Brown - Arkansas

Jermaine Waller - Virginia Tech

Bryce Watts - Massachusetts

Russ Yeast - Kansas State

Brad Hawkins - Michigan

Brandon Sebastian - Boston College

Juanyeh Thomas - Georgia Tech

Dallis Flowers - Pittsburg State

Shaun Jolly - Appalachian State

Bubba Bolden - Miami

Quentin Lake - UCLA

 

 

West

Jack Jones - Arizona State

Kalon Barnes - Baylor

Elijah Hicks -California

Damarion Williams - Houston

Qwynterrio Brooks - Louisville

Darrell Baker Jr. - Georigia Southern

Sam Webb - Missouri Western State

Nick Grant - Virginia

DaMarcus Fields - Texas Tech

Chase Lucas - Arizona State

Ja'Sir Taylor - Wake Forest

Kyler McMichael - North Carolina

Nolan Turner - Clemson

D'Anthony Bell - West Florida

 

Virginia Tech's Waller and Miami's Bolden should prove a tough challenge for the WRs in this game. Between MTSU's Blankenship and Michigan's Hawkins I'm intrigued as to who might be the better Strong Safety, my money is on Blankenship though as he is a little lengthier and has better range. Shaun Jolly looks to continue App State's tradition of getting a DB's name called every year. Sam Webb from FCS Missouri Western State is my darkhorse candidate with the most ability to impress NFL scouts in the game. Arizona State's duo of Jones and Lucas have some intrigue as Nickels in the pros, but both have to answer questions as to whether they can hang with speedier, twitchier receivers at the professional level.

 

 

Specialists

 

East

Parker White - South Carolina

Tommy Heatherly - Florida International

 

West

Caleb Shudak - Iowa

Ryan Stonehouse - Colorado State

Billy Taylor - Rutgers 

 

The Rams Ryan Stonehouse has a monster leg, posting an eye popping long of 81 yards in 2021....he can consistently flip the field. Parker White posted an impressive 94.1% conversion percentage for the Gamecocks with a long of 54 yards. Billy Taylor of Rutgers deserves an honorable mention for being the only long snapper between either team.

 

 

Prediction

 

With all this talent, who might prevail on gameday? I honestly think the East Team is stacked offensively, I just don't see enough talent on the West Team defensively to stop them. But keep in mind, the majority of these players have never practiced or played together, so timing and rhythm will be inconsistent. Even still, the secondary of the East looks superior too. Barring any costly gambles/mistakes, I'm predicting the East cruises to an easy 31-10 victory.

 

 

Lots of storylines, lots of hope, and lots of potential, and most importantly, lots at stake. The East-West Shrine Bowl is yet another chapter in the long road to a career in the NFL. Tune into the game live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada Thursday at 7pm CST on NFL Network.