Mid-level prospects have chance to make impression at Shrine Game
ORLANDO -- If Arizona State's Dexter Davis and Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield want to hear their names called in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft in April, they face a critical week at the East-West Shrine Game as the undersized collegiate defensive ends attempt to prove they can transition to outside linebacker in the NFL.
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| BYU's Dennis Pitta has something to prove to NFL scouts. (US Presswire) |
The Shrine Game (Saturday 3 p.m. EST) has emerged as an important kickoff week to the postseason all-star circuit. With the demise of the Hula Bowl and Blue-Gray All-Star Classic in recent years, the Shrine Game is the place for mid-round prospects to cement their status and for lower-tier players to catch the eyes of scouts.
Successful teams typically have hit the nail on the head in the first round with many of their marquee players, but sustained success and overcoming injuries comes from deep rosters bolstered by solid selections in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.
Recent Shrine Game participants include Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield (fourth round, 2006), Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford (third, 2008), Cowboys All-Pro nose tackle Jay Ratliff (seventh, 2005) and Falcons running back Jason Snelling (seventh, 2007).
Players to watch
Pitta's quarterback (and brother-in-law), Max Hall, joins him on the West squad. Hall (3,560 passing yards, 33 touchdowns in '09) must display the arm strength and accuracy needed to make all of the NFL throws to be considered of mid-round value.
Davis is joined by several Pac-10 stars seeking to boost their draft stock, including Arizona teammates Earl Mitchell (defensive tackle) and Devin Ross (cornerback), Oregon free safety T.J. Ward and UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner (five interceptions as a senior). The Big 12 is represented by solid prospects like strong safety Darrell Stuckey (Kansas), defensive tackle Lamarr Houston (Texas) and offensive guard Brandon Carter (Texas Tech).
The East team includes intriguing mid-round prospects from Buffalo (wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt) to the host-town Central Florida (defensive tackle Torrell Troup). SEC star defensive end Greg Hardy is scheduled to play, as is Alabama strong safety Justin Woodall. Hardy is currently rated a late first/early second-round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.
Among the Big Ten's contingent is Schofield, underrated offensive tackle Rodger Saffold III (Indiana), wide receiver Blair White (Michigan State) and center Jim Cordle (who played tackle in '09) and defensive end Doug Worthington from Ohio State.
On the big stage
The Shrine Game is also a good place for "small-school" prospects, or those playing outside of the FBS, to make a name for themselves. Last year, Western Illinois outside linebacker Jason Williams impressed the Cowboys enough that they used their first pick to select him (although it was in round three). Big defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill (fourth round) started for the Lions as a rookie after playing at the East-West last January.
In 2008, Tampa Bay selected wide receiver Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State), who turned scouts' heads at Shrine practices so much so that he earned a trip to the Senior Bowl. Cincinnati picked Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jerome Simpson in the second round that year.
This year's rosters include a few non-FBS prospects to keep an eye on. East quarterback John Skelton (Fordham) has the size and mobility of Ravens starter and former Delaware standout Joe Flacco, although not expected to rise up the charts as far. Cornerback Patrick Stoudamire, another player from Western Illinois, follows in Williams' footsteps and is out to prove he has more than just a famous name (he's the cousin of NBA players Damon and Salim Stoudamire and former NFL player Chris Mims).
On the West team, Eastern Washington tight end Nathan Overbay and quarterback Matt Nichols get their shot in front of scouts. Overbay will be compared to Giants tight end Kevin Boss, who came out of Western Oregon. Northern Iowa defensive end James Ruffin has been known to scouts for quite some time, thanks to big performances in the FCS playoffs, but a big week could earn him a higher grade -- he's currently rated a fifth- or sixth-round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.
The Shriners also invite players from the Armed Forces and Canada. This year that includes center Matt Morencie (University of Windsor), wide receiver Jordan Sisco (University of Regina), outside linebacker Ross Pospisil (Naval Academy), strong safety Chris Thomas (Air Force Academy) and tackle/tight end Ali Villanueva (Army).
NFL teams will not ignore the Canadian prospects -- guard Daniel Federkeil (Calgary, now with Indianapolis), wide receiver Samuel Giguere (Quebec, Indianapolis) and defensive end Israel Idonije (Manitoba, Chicago) have proven themselves more than worthy of roster spots after participating in the Shrine Game.
Mind and body
There are no 40-yard dashes or athleticism tests for most players this week like there will be at the combine in Indianapolis next month, but there will be personality and intelligence tests given the night before the hospital visit, as well as the well-documented weigh-in Monday morning.
The weigh-in is often referred to as a meat market, as players are weighed and measured while only wearing athletic shorts. Teams survey players' physiques during the process, trying to find out who has spent more time in the dining room than the weight room.
The focus of any all-star game, however, is the mid-week practices. Scouts and administrators from all 32 NFL teams stand on the sidelines and watch the overall athleticism of players, their ability to succeed in new schemes or even get a glimpse at their potential playing a new position.
Shrine game history
The Shrine Game Hall of Fame looks like Canton South, including running back Gale Sayers, wide receiver Raymond Berry and linebacker Dick Butkus. It's the oldest college football all-star contest, having been played continuously since 1925, but is entering a new chapter in its history after moving to Orlando. San Francisco was the game's home for all but the past three years, when it was held in Houston.
As the game's name suggests, the week's primary benefactor and supporter are the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children across the country. The Shriners International fraternal organization includes 375,000 members throughout North America, and their hospitals provide free medical services for children under 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.
The Shrine Game is played for a great cause and gets the postseason draft process in full swing. Soon we'll be talking about 40-yard dashes at the combine, then watching Commissioner Roger Goodell reading the first name off the board on April 22 in New York City.
But for the players taking part this week, especially those not able to go on to make a living playing professional football, it will be a great experience to be savored and remembered for the rest of their lives.
Chad Reuter is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
