The NFL playoffs are up to full-speed, the college football playoff and championship is complete, and the Senior Bowl is just weeks away. In the middle of it all is the annual East West Shrine Game. This year in St. Petersburg, there will be a whole new collection of college football players looking to wow scouts and fans alike in hopes of gaining some traction moving towards their dreams of being a star at the professional football level. Names like Dick Butkus, Joe Greene, Larry Csonka, Martin Gramatica, Steve Atwater, and Brett Favre all appeared in previous editions of the game. 2018 Buccaneers draft pick Justin Watson played for the East last year, and subsequently received an invitation to the Senior Bowl while Denver Broncos standout undrafted rookie, Phillip Lindsay played for the West team. So, if you’re settling down to take in the action, here are a few guys to look for. First, let’s introduce you to the competitors. EAST 2019 ROSTER NUMBER POSITION NAME SCHOOL NUMBER POSITION NAME SCHOOL 1 RB JORDAN ELLIS VIRGINIA 4 WR TERRY GODWIN II GEORGIA 5 WR RYAN DAVIS AUBURN 8 RB MARQUIS YOUNG MASSACHUSETTS 9 WR TERRY WRIGHT PURDUE 10 QB JORDAN TA'AMU MISSISSIPPI 11 QB DAVID BLOUGH PURDUE 14 QB TAYLOR CORNELIUS OKLAHOMA STATE 17 WR JAMAL CUSTIS SYRACUSE 19 K MATTHEW GAY UTAH 24 RB TY JOHNSON MARYLAND 33 RB DARNELL WOOLFOLK U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY 50 C SEAN RAWLINGS MISSISSIPPI 53 OG TYLER JONES NORTH CAROLINA STATE 54 C ALEC EBERLE FLORIDA STATE 55 C LAMONT GAILLARD GEORGIA 57 OT OLISAEMEKA UDOH ELON 58 OT JUSTIN SKULE VANDERBILT 65 OG BUNCHY STALLINGS KENTUCKY 66 OG JOSHUA MILES MORGAN STATE 67 OC NICK ALLEGRETTI ILLINOIS 71 OT ETHAN GREENIDGE VILLANOVA 73 OT MATREZ IVEY FLORIDA 78 OT TYREE ST. LOUIS MIAMI 80 TE DANIEL HELM DUKE 81 TE MATTHEW SOKOL MICHIGAN STATE 84 WR JESPER HORSTED PRINCETON 85 WR DAMARKUS LODGE MISSISSIPPI 87 TE CARSON MEIER OKLAHOMA 2 S DELVON RANDALL TEMPLE 6 CB DERRICK BAITY, JR. KENTUCKY 15 CB JIMMY MORELAND JAMES MADISON 16 CB RASHAD FENTON SOUTH CAROLINA 18 P AJ COLE III NORTH CAROLINA STATE 21 CB TIM HARRIS VIRGINIA 23 S LUKAS DENIS BOSTON COLLEGE 25 S CHRIS JOHNSON NORTH ALABAMA 31 CB ISAIAH WHARTON RUTGERS 34 LB MALIK CARNEY NORTH CAROLINA 36 S ZEDRICK WOODS MISSISSIPPI 40 LB KHALIL HODGE BUFFALO 42 LB SIONE TAKITAKI BRIGHAM YOUNG 44 LB TRE WATSON MARYLAND 45 LB ULYSEES GILBERT III AKRON 47 LS JACOB BOBENMOYER NORTHERN COLORADO 51 LB COLE HOLCOMB NORTH CAROLINA 90 DL MICHAEL DOGBE TEMPLE 91 DL JORDAN BRAILFORD OKLAHOMA STATE 92 DL KYLE LAWRENCE PHILLIPS TENNESSEE 95 DL CHRIS SLAYTON SYRACUSE 96 DL CORTEZ BROUGHTON CINCINNATI 97 DL KEVIN WILKINS RUTGERS 98 DL RICKY WALKER VIRIGINIA TECH 99 DL MATHIEU BETTS LAVAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: WR, JAMAL CUSTIS (SYRACUSE) Custis has had a solid week of practices, and a solid game this Saturday could improve his status on some NFL draft boards. He’s got similar height to Buccaneers wide recevier Mike Evans, and then there was this tweet from Bucs staff writer, Carmen Vitali. That leaping grab on the far side is Jamal Custis out of @CuseFootball. The 6’5 receiver says he models his game after @MikeEvans13_ ...so the kid’s smart, too #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/JiNeCijLS2 — Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) January 16, 2019 Anyone who models himself after the best receiver Tampa Bay has ever seen deserves a look. Plus, there’s no reason not to look at every position on the field when considering late round draft prospects. DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: DL, JORDAN BRAILFORD (OKLAHOMA STATE) Why should you watch Jordan Brailford? Becuase the Buccaneers are. Team-Prospect meetings Day1 of #ShrineWeek (East): OL Lamont Gillard: NO, MIA, MIN, BAL, CAR DE Jordan Brailford: ARI, DEN, NYG, CAR, TB QB Jordan Ta'amu: MIA OT Tyree St. Louis: NYG, MIN WR DaMarkus Lodge: LAC, BUF, NYG CB Jimmy Mooreland: TEN, HOU RB Ryan Davis: NYJ, HOU, NYG — Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 15, 2019 He’s listed on the roster as a defensive lineman, but he’s an edge guy. As a defensive coordinator, you could play him standing up or put his hand on the ground and have him attack that way. It’s fully feasible for him to do both, which makes him very valuable to a scheme-less team like the Buccaneers’ new coaching staff is claiming to be. A solid week of practices at the Shrine Game could lead up to a solid game performance as well. Bottom line though, if Tampa Bay is talking to him, you want to know about him. WEST 2019 ROSTER NUMBER POSITION NAME SCHOOL NUMBER POSITION NAME SCHOOL 2 WR KEESEAN JOHNSON CSU FRESNO 3 WR RON'QUAVION TARVER UTAH STATE 4 QB BRETT RYPIEN BOISE STATE 5 RB NICK BROSSETTE LOUISIANA STATE 6 QB MARCUS MCMARYION CSU FRESNO 9 WR JON DUHART OLD DOMINION 11 TE KENDALL BLANTON MISSOURI 12 QB EASTON STICK NORTH DAKOTA STATE 15 K JOHN BARON II SAN DIEGO STATE 19 WR SHAWN POINDEXTER ARIZONA 22 RB DEVINE OZIGBO NEBRASKA 24 RB DARRIN HALL, JR. PITTSBURGH 47 TE ANDREW BECK TEXAS 50 C NICK LINDER INDIANA 52 C JOHN KEENOY WESTERN MICHIGAN 57 OT PAUL ADAMS MISSOURI 60 OT BRIAN WALLACE ARKANSAS 66 OG KEATON SUTHERLAND TEXAS A&M 70 OT JACKSON BARTON UTAH STATE 72 OG LANARD BONNER ARKANSAS STATE 74 OG OSHEA DUGAS LOUISIANA TECH 76 OG JUWANN BUSHELL-BEATTY MICHIGAN 77 OT RYAN POPE SAN DIEGO STATE 78 OT TREY PIPKINS SIOUX FALLS 80 WR BRODY OLIVER COLORADO MINES 8 CB BLACE BROWN TROY 13 CB KA'DAR HOLLMAN TOLEDO 14 CB MAZZI WILKINS SOUTH FLORIDA 18 LB BJ BLUNT MCNEESE STATE 20 LB DREW LEWIS COLORADO 21 LB CODY BARTON UTAH 23 CB JORDAN WYATT SOUTHERN METHODIST 26 S ADARIUS PICKETT UCLA 27 S ANDREW WINGARD WYOMING 29 LB JOE DINEEN KANSAS 31 CB NMONTRE HARTAGE NORTHWESTERN 32 S TYREE KINNEL MICHIGAN 43 DL MARKUS JONES ANGELO STATE 46 DL LANDIS DURHAM TEXAS A&M 48 LB JUSTIN HOLLINS OREGON 49 DL DERICK ROBERSON SAM HOUSTON STATE 51 LS CHRIS WILKERSON STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE 82 P JACK FOX RICE 90 DL ARMON WATTS ARKANSAS 95 DL DAYLON MACK TEXAS A&M 96 DL DANIEL WISE KANSAS 97 DL CHRIS NELSON TEXAS 98 DL JOEL VAN PELT CALGARY OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: RB, DEVINE OZIGBO (NEBRASKA) Head coach Bruce Arians and his staff once made beautiful running back music with a young man named David Johnson. Johnson, a third round draft pick out of Northern Iowa proceeded to become one of the best running backs in the league. In the last couple of years, Johnson has been derailed by injuries and was one of many Cardinals who underperformed in 2018. Still, his underperforming topped any year the Buccaneers have seen from a running back in the last couple of seasons. It’s a copycat league, and who better to copy than yourself, when you’ve had some success? Devine Ozigbo is about the same height, size, and runs at about the same speed as Johnson did coming out of college. Oh, and he’s projected to be a day two or early day three draft pick. Like David Johnson. I’m not saying you should draft him first in your fantasy draft next year, but if we see some similarities, he may be a guy the Bucs look at when April comes around. DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: CB, Blace Brown (Troy) If you like cornerbacks with some length and athleticism who like to play aggressively and targets the ball on every snap, then this is the guy for you. Credit The Draft Network’s Trevor Sikkema for turning me on to him with this article on the TDN website. Since then, I’ve only seen more of what I like to see out of a corner, and what I feel like new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will be looking for this off-season.<doc-sep>At the 2018 East-West Shrine Game, Texas’s Poona Ford turned a strong performance into an invitation to the Senior Bowl on the following weekend. Though Ford was mindbogglingly excluded from the Scouting Combine and ultimately went undrafted, the player Ford showed himself to be in Tampa Bay showed up for the Seahawks in 2018. On the opposite sideline during the 2018 Shrine Game, a safety from Oklahoma State named Tre Flowers showed off his tremendous size and length for the East Team. In total, nine players from last year’s game were connected to Seattle between then and training camp—whether it was a pre-draft workout, signing with the team as a UDFA or starting 15 games, like Flowers did as a rookie. Though the college all-star circuit is already under way, the Shrine Game truly kicks off the lead up to the draft. We’ll start off the draft coverage here at Field Gulls with my watch list for the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. Devine Ozigbo, RB (5-foot-10, 219 pounds) Player Summary: Some running backs are just easy to identify as Pete Carroll’s type. Ozigbo is that type. The former Cornhusker runs incredibly hard and finishes with the kind of physicality Carroll craves. Of course, with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny on the roster, there isn’t a huge need for running back. However, last year the Seahawks spent a considerable amount of time scouting pass-catching, satellite backs, such as Ito Smith. Though Ozigbo isn’t that player, he is extremely explosive (Rotoworld’s Josh Norris likened him to Matt Breida, a 94th percentile athlete). Ozigbo would be a like-for-like replacement for Mike Davis, who is a free agent. Davis was shoehorned into the third down role in 2018, and performed admirably. Ozigbo would provide the team with a far more natural pass catcher and athlete in space, while also providing further early down depth. (A note: There are some terrific writers and scouts at Shrine Game practices this week. The section below will be for sharing their observations, practice clips and the like.) What They’re Saying: #Nebraska RB DeVine Ozigbo gets a big gain on the screen play pic.twitter.com/iROfVeS3Re — PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 16, 2019 It's challenging for RBs to pop at all-star events. That said, it's impossible to not be impressed w/Nebraksa RB Devine Ozigbo @ Shrine practice. Sturdy, muscular frame & a smooth runner. Easy change of direction ability. Catching the ball naturally. Love what I'm seeing. — Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) January 16, 2019 #NDSU QB Easton Stick hits @HuskerFBNation RB Devine Ozigbo on the wheel route. Ozigbo then took the next play to the house on a run to the left side. pic.twitter.com/2oEd7lJxKc — PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 16, 2019 Shawn Poindexter, WR (6-foot-4, 217 pounds) Player Summary: After two quiet seasons to begin his career at Arizona, Poindexter exploded onto the scene in 2018, hauling in 42 catches for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns. As Poindexter’s 18.1 yards per reception would indicate, he has a penchant for the big play. At 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds, he’s a long strider who can get vertical with ease. Poindexter has the size and the downfield ability, and, as a former volleyball player, he has the potential to be an excellent threat inside the paint. Russell Wilson and Paul Richardson formed a great partnership, with Richardson’s length, catch radius and downfield ability giving Wilson the same security Sidney Rice once did. Poindexter is in this mold. What They’re Saying: No catch, but barely. Heck of an effort here from @UofA WR Shawn Poindexter: pic.twitter.com/koA2xIppl0 — The Draft Network (@DraftNetworkLLC) January 16, 2019 Video: Fresno State’s Marcus McMaryion throws deep to @ArizonaFBall WR Shawn Poindexter at West @Shrine_Game practice. pic.twitter.com/vyLrPrRiYE — Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 14, 2019 Bunchy Stallings, OG (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) Player Summary: Entering their second offseason under Mike Solari, Seattle’s evaluation of offensive linemen remains a fascinating case study. Under Tom Cable, they had a hyper specific type of athlete and build in mind. Under Solari, that’s changed considerably—highlighted by the selection of the not-at-all-athletic Jamarco Jones. While their new direction should remain under the microscope through their second draft with Solari as offensive line coach, they have an unquestioned need at guard. Both D.J. Fluker and J.R. Sweezy are pending free agents, and both played great football in 2018. There will potentially be multiple holes along the interior, if one or both of Sweezy and Fluker aren’t re-signed. Stallings is in the mold of a Solari guard, with tremendous size and pedigree—having just been named first-team All-SEC. Bunchy Stallings with the enormous pancake block. (2018) pic.twitter.com/5cJ9adFZP1 — KY Clips (@KY_Clips) September 9, 2018 Stallings is a physical, tone-setting presence who plays with a legitimate edge to his game. Bunchy Stallings will NOT let you mess with Benny Snell. pic.twitter.com/LbSHdD4q2P — Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) September 30, 2018 What They’re Saying: OL standouts from East team drills: Bunchy Stallings and Nick Allegretti. Oli Udoh had a couple of nice reps on the other side of the field. — Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 15, 2019 Kyle Phillips, DL (6-foot-3, 272 pounds) Player Summary: Stepping into a starting role during his final two seasons at Tennessee, Phillips become a disruptive player for the Vols, collecting six sacks and 12 tackles for loss during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Phillips has a sturdy frame at 6-foot-4 and 273 pounds, and the way in which he was deployed at Tennessee will pique the Seahawks’ interest. (Phillips also earned the Piesman Trophy in 2018 for this epic touchdown against Alabama.) On early downs, Phillips was disciplined and strong enough to hold up and maintain on the edge. On passing downs, Phillips reduced inside and provided a twitchy presence rushing from the interior. Seattle loves outside-inside pass rushers and if Phillips tests well in the spring, he’ll be on their radar. What They’re Saying: Kyle Phillips is dominating in team drills. Tennessee DE very physical al on the edge, disengage and chase impressive — Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 14, 2019 #Vols DL Kyle Phillips showing off his range, working laterally down the LOS for the stop. pic.twitter.com/UvJjHD1j4I — Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) January 15, 2019 After a meh first day, Tennessee’s Kyle Phillips was great this morning (Sean Rawlings, not so much). #Panthers talked to him for a long time after practice, versatility was key talking point. pic.twitter.com/T3NBnWOFuz — Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 15, 2019 Justin Hollins, EDGE (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) Player Summary: Another defensive lineman the Seahawks could be interested in due to the variety of rolls he can fill. Though Hollins is likely too light for Seattle to be interested in him in a pure pass rushing role, they could envision him in the same way as Jacob Pugh, a Shrine Game participant in 2018 who was with the Seahawks in training camp. Hollins can rush in sub packages or play off-ball, dropping into zones. The former Duck is coming off a productive season at Oregon with 6.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 14.5 tackles for loss. His size will hurt him, but if he can test well during the pre-draft process, it would make him a highly intriguing and versatile prospect. Helping his cause is the way he carries 245 pounds—he is by no means a scrawny prospect. What They’re Saying: Justin Hollins v Paul Adams pic.twitter.com/jHGDPrXtFY — Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) January 15, 2019 @oregonfootball LB Justin Hollins beats his blocker and nearly gets to the QB. pic.twitter.com/sFH35SnVIN — PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 16, 2019 #Oregon LB Justin Hollins does a great job here of shedding a block and getting to the ball before the play could develop pic.twitter.com/kzOPAMpkFE — PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 15, 2019 Michael Jackson, CB (6-foot, 207 pounds, 32 3/8” arms) Player Summary: At the risk of sounding like Dwight K. Schrute describing himself, let me list off Jackson’s best traits: Length. Physicality. Press corner. Strong tackler. Jackhammer. Through and through, Jackson is the type of cornerback Carroll and Seattle craves. There’s reason to wonder how well Jackson will test prior to the draft, but if he can clear the Seahawks’ thresholds, he could be the latest prospect thrown into the mix. Though his ball skills need refining, with no interceptions and just six pass breakups in his final season at Miami, Jackson is a tantalizing prospect. Perfectly timed jump from Miami CB Michael Jackson on this pass breakup pic.twitter.com/z0pGtu1yhj — Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) November 5, 2017 What They’re Saying: Great hand by CB Michael Jackson on a curl route for a PBU. His length is as advertised. — Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) January 14, 2019 Michael Jackson Sr. (DB, Miami) defends Terry Godwin Jr. (WR, UGA). pic.twitter.com/XzeYK56qS4 — PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 14, 2019 A couple names not highlighted above, but worth mentioning: Wide receivers Terry Godwin (Georgia) and Jon Duhart (Old Dominion) have both met with Seattle after practice this week, per Trevor Sikkema of Pewter Report. Though it doesn’t quite have the glamour of the Senior Bowl, the Shrine Game is always an entertaining game, and a good opportunity to get familiar with prospects who will find themselves selected in the area of the draft where the Seahawks thrive.<doc-sep>
Richard W. Rodriguez/Associated Press While it doesn't typically garner the attention of the NFL Scouting Combine or even the Reese's Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game is still an important part of the annual pre-draft process. Like the Senior Bowl, only seniors are invited to the Shrine Game. Unlike the Senior Bowl, players from Canadian football programs are also invited, even though they play under a different set of rules. While the Shrine Game doesn't generally attract as many top-tier prospects as the Senior Bowl, many quality players have used the all-star game to increase their draft stocks. Recent standouts of the East-West Shrine Game include running back Elijah McGuire, now of the New York Jets, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, now with the San Francisco 49ers. This year's edition of the East-West Shrine Game is set to commence on Saturday, January 19. We're here with everything you need to know about the game—including scheduling information, players to watch and the latest buzz from this week's practices. 2019 East-West Shrine Game Video Play Button Videos you might like When: Saturday, January 19 at 3 p.m ET TV and Live Stream: NFL Network and NFL Game Pass Prospects to Watch Paul Adams, OT, Missouri Kendall Blanton, TE, Missouri Jordan Brailford, Edge, Oklahoma State Blace Brown, CB, Troy Jordan Ellis, RB, Virginia Justin Hollins, LB, Oregon Michael Jackson Sr., CB, Miami KeeSean Johnson, WR, Fresno State Donnie Lewis Jr., CB, Tulane Devine Ozigbo, RB, Nebraska Delvon Randall, S, Temple Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State Matt Sokol, TE, Michigan State Armon Watts, DT, Arkansas *Full rosters for the East team and West team can be found at shrinegame.com. Broncos Met with Rypien The Denver Broncos appear to still be searching for an answer at the quarterback position. They added journeyman Case Keenum last offseason on a two-year, $36 million deal, but the results were mixed at best. Unsurprisingly, Denver is doing its due diligence on former Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien. He is one of the prospects the Broncos have met with ahead of the actual East-West Shrine Game, according to Trevor Sikkema of Pewter Report. Rypien passed for 3,705 yards with 40 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2018 while completing 67.3 percent of his passes. He isn't considered one of the top quarterback prospects alongside the likes of Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins, but he could be a mid-round target for the Broncos if they feel 10th overall is too high to take a signal-caller this year. Johnson Making a Case to be Drafted Another prospect the Broncos have met with, per Sikkema, is former Fresno State receiver KeeSean Johnson. The Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins have also shown interest, and there's good reason for it. Johnson, who amassed 1,340 yards and eight touchdowns in 2018, stood out in early Shrine Game practices. "Johnson performed above expectations for scouts and displayed why he’s a legitimate receiver for the next level," Tony Pauline of the Philadelphia Eagles' official website wrote. "He ran quick, crisp routes which opponents struggled to defend." In addition to his proven production, Johnson also boasts an NFL frame (6'2", 199 pounds). Don't be surprised to see him making an impact in the NFL as early as next season. Ozigbo Continuing to Impress Nebraska's Devine Ozigbo may not be mentioned among the draft's top running back prospects, but he's definitely a name to keep an eye on. He pops off game tape with his speed, shiftiness, footwork and catching ability—all traits that made him a weapon for the Cornhuskers. Ozigbo amassed 1,082 yards rushing on just 155 carries in 2018 while catching 23 passes and scoring 12 touchdowns. He has continued to impress during Shrine Game workouts as well. If you're watching the game on Saturday, definitely watch out for Ozigbo.