The East-West Shrine Bowl 2025

[GunnerBill]

We are fast approaching one of my favourite events in the pre-draft calendar, the East-West Shrine Bowl. I still long for the days when it was the Shrine Game not the Shrine Bowl and when it was played on the Saturday of Conference Championship weekend, not the Thursday of that week, but because the NFL pushed the Superbowl out a week with an 18 game season the Senior Bowl decided staying in the pre-Superbowl bye slot would be too late and therefore the Shrine game sacrificed its slot. 

 

That's a shame and I think it has affected the game a little bit the past couple of years, especially because you used to get smaller school kids turning up, balling out all week and then getting replacement calls to go down to Mobile for Senior Bowl practices starting the following Monday. 

 

Anyway, this year's game is Thursday 30 January and it is going to get the most attention it has in a long time because Shedeur Sanders (and his brother Shilo) have both accepted invitations. I'm not sure if a Shrine Bowler has ever been drafted 1st overall in an NFL Draft, if they have it was a long time ago. Gayle Sayers being drafted 4th overall back in 1965 is the best I can come up with. Sanders may not end up 1st overall but if 4th is indeed the highest a Shrine Bowlers has ever been selected there is a fair chance Sanders beats that. 

 

The rest of accepted invites have some interesting names among them too. Picked out a few to keep an eye on below:

 

Zy Alexander - Corner - LSU

Tall, thin, rangey cornerback. Classic LSU corner who excels in zone coverage probably looking like a late day 2 / early day 3 pick

 

Fadil Diggs - Edge Rusher - Syracuse

Powerful, athletic edge rusher. Technically unrefined but physically talented. Plays a big smaller than his size probably day 3 but developmental traits.

 

Jamon Dumas-Johnson - Linebacker - Kentucky

Versatile off the ball linebacker who transferred from Georgia to Kentucky this year. Former 4-star recruit, if he tests well and has a good process could end up as an early day 3 pick.

 

Tre Harris - Wide Receiver - Ole Miss

Big bodied receiver who put up a 1,000 yard season and is a big play threat. Needs some route running polish but if he tests well will go off the board on day 2.

 

Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle - Maryland

No, not that Jordan Phillips. This one is sleeper day 3 guy who still needs a lot of technical refinement but has a really explosive first step that will impress teams. 

 

Jay Higgins - Linebacker - Iowa

One of my early draft crushes for 2025. Archetypal, modern, instinctive, coverage linebacker. Watch him rise in this process. I think he could sneak into day 2.

 

Kenneth Grant - Defensive Tackle - Michigan

Big, powerful, 1 tech who is going to dominate against the run but has some burst to penetrate too. After Shedeur Sanders the second most likely day 1 guy on the roster.

 

Kyle McCord - Quarterback - Syracuse

Let the nation in passing yards in 2024 having transferred from Ohio State. Likely does get picked on day 3 as a developmental guy. 

 

Shavon Revel - Corner - ECU (won't play)

Really talented, long corner, out of East Carolina. I think his tape is borderline first round worthy, but tore his ACL in September might end up in day 2.

 

 

I'll update this thread with the guys that caught my eye after the game in a couple of weeks time. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

52 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

We are fast approaching one of my favourite events in the pre-draft calendar, the East-West Shrine Bowl. I still long for the days when it was the Shrine Game not the Shrine Bowl and when it was played on the Saturday of Conference Championship weekend, not the Thursday of that week, but because the NFL pushed the Superbowl out a week with an 18 game season the Senior Bowl decided staying in the pre-Superbowl bye slot would be too late and therefore the Shrine game sacrificed its slot. 

 

That's a shame and I think it has affected the game a little bit the past couple of years, especially because you used to get smaller school kids turning up, balling out all week and then getting replacement calls to go down to Mobile for Senior Bowl practices starting the following Monday. 

 

Anyway, this year's game is Thursday 30 January and it is going to get the most attention it has in a long time because Shedeur Sanders (and his brother Shilo) have both accepted invitations. I'm not sure if a Shrine Bowler has ever been drafted 1st overall in an NFL Draft, if they have it was a long time ago. Gayle Sayers being drafted 4th overall back in 1965 is the best I can come up with. Sanders may not end up 1st overall but if 4th is indeed the highest a Shrine Bowlers has ever been selected there is a fair chance Sanders beats that. 

 

The rest of accepted invites have some interesting names among them too. Picked out a few to keep an eye on below:

 

Zy Alexander - Corner - LSU

Tall, thin, rangey cornerback. Classic LSU corner who excels in zone coverage probably looking like a late day 2 / early day 3 pick

 

Fadil Diggs - Edge Rusher - Syracuse

Powerful, athletic edge rusher. Technically unrefined but physically talented. Plays a big smaller than his size probably day 3 but developmental traits.

 

Jamon Dumas-Johnson - Linebacker - Kentucky

Versatile off the ball linebacker who transferred from Georgia to Kentucky this year. Former 4-star recruit, if he tests well and has a good process could end up as an early day 3 pick.

 

Tre Harris - Wide Receiver - Ole Miss

Big bodied receiver who put up a 1,000 yard season and is a big play threat. Needs some route running polish but if he tests well will go off the board on day 2.

 

Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle - Maryland

No, not that Jordan Phillips. This one is sleeper day 3 guy who still needs a lot of technical refinement but has a really explosive first step that will impress teams. 

 

Jay Higgins - Linebacker - Iowa

One of my early draft crushes for 2025. Archetypal, modern, instinctive, coverage linebacker. Watch him rise in this process. I think he could sneak into day 2.

 

Kenneth Grant - Defensive Tackle - Michigan

Big, powerful, 1 tech who is going to dominate against the run but has some burst to penetrate too. After Shedeur Sanders the second most likely day 1 guy on the roster.

 

Kyle McCord - Quarterback - Syracuse

Let the nation in passing yards in 2024 having transferred from Ohio State. Likely does get picked on day 3 as a developmental guy. 

 

Shavon Revel - Corner - ECU (won't play)

Really talented, long corner, out of East Carolina. I think his tape is borderline first round worthy, but tore his ACL in September might end up in day 2.

 

 

I'll update this thread with the guys that caught my eye after the game in a couple of weeks time. 

I usually get a "big man crush" on some lineman coming out. Last year it was T'Vondre Sweat. O'Cyrus Torrence was the year before.

 

This you Grant looks to be that guy. He would help out run defense next year a ton...and has some pass rush juice.  Kills me because he'll probably be long gone before our pick.

Edited January 17 by BuffaloBillyG

[OldTimer1960]

Great post Gunner and thank you.  Looking forward to this and the Senior Bowl and all the draft talk.

 

i won’t be surprised if the Bills top 3 picks are all D.  

[gonzo1105]

Saw that Tre Harris accepted his invite but he isn't on the official roster unless I'm just completely missing it. I also think its smart for Sanders to play in this game because he has 3 of his WR's in this game who he already has a rapport with so naturally he should look better than throwing to a bunch of guys he never has.

[GunnerBill]

12 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

Saw that Tre Harris accepted his invite but he isn't on the official roster unless I'm just completely missing it. I also think its smart for Sanders to play in this game because he has 3 of his WR's in this game who he already has a rapport with so naturally he should look better than throwing to a bunch of guys he never has.

 

Huh. He was when I pulled this list together on Thursday. You are right though his name is no longer there. Shame. 

[Solomon Grundy]

On 1/17/2025 at 2:27 PM, GunnerBill said:

We are fast approaching one of my favourite events in the pre-draft calendar, the East-West Shrine Bowl. I still long for the days when it was the Shrine Game not the Shrine Bowl and when it was played on the Saturday of Conference Championship weekend, not the Thursday of that week, but because the NFL pushed the Superbowl out a week with an 18 game season the Senior Bowl decided staying in the pre-Superbowl bye slot would be too late and therefore the Shrine game sacrificed its slot. 

 

That's a shame and I think it has affected the game a little bit the past couple of years, especially because you used to get smaller school kids turning up, balling out all week and then getting replacement calls to go down to Mobile for Senior Bowl practices starting the following Monday. 

 

Anyway, this year's game is Thursday 30 January and it is going to get the most attention it has in a long time because Shedeur Sanders (and his brother Shilo) have both accepted invitations. I'm not sure if a Shrine Bowler has ever been drafted 1st overall in an NFL Draft, if they have it was a long time ago. Gayle Sayers being drafted 4th overall back in 1965 is the best I can come up with. Sanders may not end up 1st overall but if 4th is indeed the highest a Shrine Bowlers has ever been selected there is a fair chance Sanders beats that. 

 

The rest of accepted invites have some interesting names among them too. Picked out a few to keep an eye on below:

 

Zy Alexander - Corner - LSU

Tall, thin, rangey cornerback. Classic LSU corner who excels in zone coverage probably looking like a late day 2 / early day 3 pick

 

Fadil Diggs - Edge Rusher - Syracuse

Powerful, athletic edge rusher. Technically unrefined but physically talented. Plays a big smaller than his size probably day 3 but developmental traits.

 

Jamon Dumas-Johnson - Linebacker - Kentucky

Versatile off the ball linebacker who transferred from Georgia to Kentucky this year. Former 4-star recruit, if he tests well and has a good process could end up as an early day 3 pick.

 

Tre Harris - Wide Receiver - Ole Miss

Big bodied receiver who put up a 1,000 yard season and is a big play threat. Needs some route running polish but if he tests well will go off the board on day 2.

 

Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle - Maryland

No, not that Jordan Phillips. This one is sleeper day 3 guy who still needs a lot of technical refinement but has a really explosive first step that will impress teams. 

 

Jay Higgins - Linebacker - Iowa

One of my early draft crushes for 2025. Archetypal, modern, instinctive, coverage linebacker. Watch him rise in this process. I think he could sneak into day 2.

 

Kenneth Grant - Defensive Tackle - Michigan

Big, powerful, 1 tech who is going to dominate against the run but has some burst to penetrate too. After Shedeur Sanders the second most likely day 1 guy on the roster.

 

Kyle McCord - Quarterback - Syracuse

Let the nation in passing yards in 2024 having transferred from Ohio State. Likely does get picked on day 3 as a developmental guy. 

 

Shavon Revel - Corner - ECU (won't play)

Really talented, long corner, out of East Carolina. I think his tape is borderline first round worthy, but tore his ACL in September might end up in day 2.

 

 

I'll update this thread with the guys that caught my eye after the game in a couple of weeks time. 

Any safeties worth keeping an eye on?

[Mark Vader]

On 1/17/2025 at 11:27 AM, GunnerBill said:

We are fast approaching one of my favourite events in the pre-draft calendar, the East-West Shrine Bowl. I still long for the days when it was the Shrine Game not the Shrine Bowl and when it was played on the Saturday of Conference Championship weekend, not the Thursday of that week, but because the NFL pushed the Superbowl out a week with an 18 game season the Senior Bowl decided staying in the pre-Superbowl bye slot would be too late and therefore the Shrine game sacrificed its slot. 

 

That's a shame and I think it has affected the game a little bit the past couple of years, especially because you used to get smaller school kids turning up, balling out all week and then getting replacement calls to go down to Mobile for Senior Bowl practices starting the following Monday. 

 

Anyway, this year's game is Thursday 30 January and it is going to get the most attention it has in a long time because Shedeur Sanders (and his brother Shilo) have both accepted invitations. I'm not sure if a Shrine Bowler has ever been drafted 1st overall in an NFL Draft, if they have it was a long time ago. Gayle Sayers being drafted 4th overall back in 1965 is the best I can come up with. Sanders may not end up 1st overall but if 4th is indeed the highest a Shrine Bowlers has ever been selected there is a fair chance Sanders beats that. 

 

The rest of accepted invites have some interesting names among them too. Picked out a few to keep an eye on below:

 

Zy Alexander - Corner - LSU

Tall, thin, rangey cornerback. Classic LSU corner who excels in zone coverage probably looking like a late day 2 / early day 3 pick

 

Fadil Diggs - Edge Rusher - Syracuse

Powerful, athletic edge rusher. Technically unrefined but physically talented. Plays a big smaller than his size probably day 3 but developmental traits.

 

Jamon Dumas-Johnson - Linebacker - Kentucky

Versatile off the ball linebacker who transferred from Georgia to Kentucky this year. Former 4-star recruit, if he tests well and has a good process could end up as an early day 3 pick.

 

Tre Harris - Wide Receiver - Ole Miss

Big bodied receiver who put up a 1,000 yard season and is a big play threat. Needs some route running polish but if he tests well will go off the board on day 2.

 

Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle - Maryland

No, not that Jordan Phillips. This one is sleeper day 3 guy who still needs a lot of technical refinement but has a really explosive first step that will impress teams. 

 

Jay Higgins - Linebacker - Iowa

One of my early draft crushes for 2025. Archetypal, modern, instinctive, coverage linebacker. Watch him rise in this process. I think he could sneak into day 2.

 

Kenneth Grant - Defensive Tackle - Michigan

Big, powerful, 1 tech who is going to dominate against the run but has some burst to penetrate too. After Shedeur Sanders the second most likely day 1 guy on the roster.

 

Kyle McCord - Quarterback - Syracuse

Let the nation in passing yards in 2024 having transferred from Ohio State. Likely does get picked on day 3 as a developmental guy. 

 

Shavon Revel - Corner - ECU (won't play)

Really talented, long corner, out of East Carolina. I think his tape is borderline first round worthy, but tore his ACL in September might end up in day 2.

 

 

I'll update this thread with the guys that caught my eye after the game in a couple of weeks time. 

Thanks Gunner. I still call it the East-West Shrine Game, and I've always enjoyed watching it.

Weird that it'll be on a Thursday, but since I don't have NFL Network I will be missing it anyway.

Look forward to your review.

[PromoTheRobot]

On 1/17/2025 at 2:27 PM, GunnerBill said:

We are fast approaching one of my favourite events in the pre-draft calendar, the East-West Shrine Bowl. I still long for the days when it was the Shrine Game not the Shrine Bowl and when it was played on the Saturday of Conference Championship weekend, not the Thursday of that week, but because the NFL pushed the Superbowl out a week with an 18 game season the Senior Bowl decided staying in the pre-Superbowl bye slot would be too late and therefore the Shrine game sacrificed its slot. 

 

That's a shame and I think it has affected the game a little bit the past couple of years, especially because you used to get smaller school kids turning up, balling out all week and then getting replacement calls to go down to Mobile for Senior Bowl practices starting the following Monday. 

 

Anyway, this year's game is Thursday 30 January and it is going to get the most attention it has in a long time because Shedeur Sanders (and his brother Shilo) have both accepted invitations. I'm not sure if a Shrine Bowler has ever been drafted 1st overall in an NFL Draft, if they have it was a long time ago. Gayle Sayers being drafted 4th overall back in 1965 is the best I can come up with. Sanders may not end up 1st overall but if 4th is indeed the highest a Shrine Bowlers has ever been selected there is a fair chance Sanders beats that. 

 

The rest of accepted invites have some interesting names among them too. Picked out a few to keep an eye on below:

 

Zy Alexander - Corner - LSU

Tall, thin, rangey cornerback. Classic LSU corner who excels in zone coverage probably looking like a late day 2 / early day 3 pick

 

Fadil Diggs - Edge Rusher - Syracuse

Powerful, athletic edge rusher. Technically unrefined but physically talented. Plays a big smaller than his size probably day 3 but developmental traits.

 

Jamon Dumas-Johnson - Linebacker - Kentucky

Versatile off the ball linebacker who transferred from Georgia to Kentucky this year. Former 4-star recruit, if he tests well and has a good process could end up as an early day 3 pick.

 

Tre Harris - Wide Receiver - Ole Miss

Big bodied receiver who put up a 1,000 yard season and is a big play threat. Needs some route running polish but if he tests well will go off the board on day 2.

 

Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle - Maryland

No, not that Jordan Phillips. This one is sleeper day 3 guy who still needs a lot of technical refinement but has a really explosive first step that will impress teams. 

 

Jay Higgins - Linebacker - Iowa

One of my early draft crushes for 2025. Archetypal, modern, instinctive, coverage linebacker. Watch him rise in this process. I think he could sneak into day 2.

 

Kenneth Grant - Defensive Tackle - Michigan

Big, powerful, 1 tech who is going to dominate against the run but has some burst to penetrate too. After Shedeur Sanders the second most likely day 1 guy on the roster.

 

Kyle McCord - Quarterback - Syracuse

Let the nation in passing yards in 2024 having transferred from Ohio State. Likely does get picked on day 3 as a developmental guy. 

 

Shavon Revel - Corner - ECU (won't play)

Really talented, long corner, out of East Carolina. I think his tape is borderline first round worthy, but tore his ACL in September might end up in day 2.

 

 

I'll update this thread with the guys that caught my eye after the game in a couple of weeks time. 

It's a massive joke the nation's leading tackler, named an all-American, was not invited to any college all-star games. Shaun Dolac will have his revenge when he's a member of the Bills.

[Buffalo716]

I'll be there for a few days before and for the game 

[GunnerBill]

It was probably predictable that of the guys I highlighted beforehand (ie. the bigger names who accepted invites) I think I am right in saying only two suited up: Jordan Phillips, the defensive tackle out Maryland, and Jamon Dumas-Johnson, the linebacker out of Kentucky. It was a very lob-sided and unbalanced game in two ways. First, on the scoreboard where the East shut out the West on the way to a 25-0 victory, and second in terms of the contest between offense and defense where I thought the defenses for the most part had their way - especially up front - which says to me that even further down the draft the strength of this class comes on the defensive side. 

 

With that context in mind, onto the guys that stood out to me:

 

Starting on offense...

 

The MVP of the game was Jacory Croskey-Merritt (#31, running back, East) who had 97 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. He came into this game with fresh legs after playing just once for Arizona this year due to eligibility issues. He is a 6-year college player who will turn 24 just before the draft, and while he showed a really good blend of speed and power on outside runs I think he is probably restricted to an outside zone scheme that prioritises that. Would expect someone to pick him on in the latter half of day 3 and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up making a team and being a productive change of pace backup throughout his rookie contract. On the other side Corey Kiner (#26, running back, West) only managed 3 rushes for 20 yards but showed good vision to pop his longest run - a 13 yarder. I'm a sucker for running backs with good vision and Kiner has been a productive college back for Cincinnati. He is a different type of fit to Croskey-Merritt and I think suits teams who want to run more gap scheme but I expect he will be drafted in a similar range - mid to late day 3. The most productive receiver on the day was Efton Chism (#81, wide receiver, East) who had four receptions for 41 yards out of the slot. Coming out of Eastern Washington he has drawn Cooper Kupp comparisons but he is nothing like the athlete Kupp was. He ran his routes nicely, and he caught the ball, but his lack of another gear to generate YAC was evident and while his performance may have lifted him from UDFA to 7th round pick sort of status I think he is likely destined for practice squad service in the NFL. The receiver who has the most impressive play of the night was Will Sheppard (#14, wide receiver, West) who ran a really good route outside and demonstrated good route running and understanding of leverage to separate from a defender and haul in a 20 yard completion. He had over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns for Colorado in 2024 and isn't someone who was on my radar before this game. I'll go and dig into him some more but he is intriguing as a bigger body guy who can run routes and is supposed to have some speed. Initial thoughts were early day 3 type of value but in a weaker receiver class he could sneak into the end of day 2. 

 

Onto defense...

 

I'll start with Jordan Phillips (#8, defensive tackle, West) who I mentioned in my preview and was really looking forward to seeing. He played okay, and his penetration forced the East to bounce a couple of rushing attempts outside and into the arms of waiting defenders, but I thought he had a chance to force himself into day 2 consideration with a really dominant display and he didn't take that chance - still an early day 3 guy for me. His partner on the interior defensive line, Cam Horsely (#93, defensive tackle, West) did flash, however, recording a Quarterback pressure on a nice stunt up front, had a run stuff and recovered a fumble. He has only half a sack over the past two seasons in the middle of the Boston College Dline so is likely a very deep sleeper, who probably ends up a priority UDFA but he helped himself in this game. Another defensive tackle who impressed was Tonka Hemingway (#96, defensive tackle, East) who burst through a double team to record a sack, registered a tackle for loss and batted down two passes. He is another older prospect, aged 23, and I'm not sure he is a nuanced player, but in a scheme where he can just be told "see ball, get ball" he has some rotational value as a day 3 pick. Finally on the defensive fronts, the star man was Johnny Walker (#15, edge rusher, East) who had two sacks, including a forced fumble, and two tackles for loss. He is a wide 9 alignment type guy, probably best suited as an OLB in a 3-4, but after taking three years to make his mark at Missouri he has 14.5 sacks over the past two seasons and he could be a steal on day 3 of the draft. A couple of defensive backs to conclude with, firstly, Tyron Herring (#34, corner, East) who had an interception and another pass break up where his eye discipline took him to the ball and allowed him to stay in phase with the receiver. He is a late round / priority UDFA zone corner waiting to happen - he is the main player from this game that I thought the Bills scouts present would have been noting down as a scheme fit. Second was Nohl Williams (#3, corner, West) who also made a really nice play on the ball on a rep where he lost off the line but recovered and kept his eyes back on the ball rather than on the receiver. It was really good technique and I liked how aggressive he was willing to be at the line. He looks like more a press man guy and because of that will be drafted. Probably day 3 but sneaking into the end of day 2 is not impossible.