2018 East-West Shrine Game

​The 2018 East-West Shrine Game is upon us as the 2018 NFL Draft Season officially kicks off. Theevent takes place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida this Saturday, January 20th at 3 PM EST.  Practices run through the week, and the game will be televised on NFL network. Some great players have starred in the Shrine Game through the years, including Walter Payton, Brett Favre, and Willie Roaf.  This year, prospects will attempt to make a name for themselves at the game (rosters below).  Here are some story lines for the game.
 
Jake Wieneke had a fantastic record as a college player at South Dakota State University.  I've been high on him for the past few years, and expect him to be a solid NFL player. He's a guy to watch closely this week.  Chase Edmonds from Fordham is another fantastic small school player who could make an impact in the NFL early on as a third down back.  Brandon Facyson, the CB from Virginia Tech, is an athletic machine who could impress scouts with his physical attributes. Matthew Thomas, the Florida State linebacker, is a sleeper heading into the draft. He was a 5 star recruit coming out of high school in a class that included Laremy Tunsil, Derrick Henry, Alex Collins, and Vernon Hargreaves III.  Thomas' career in college was stalled by injuries and suspensions, so workouts, medical reports, and interviews will be huge for him.  One thing is for certain, Thomas flashes lots of talent at times.
 
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett looked good on the first day of practice and emerged as a leader on the field.  This will impress scouts considering him heading into the draft. Michigan State center Brian Allen, Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs, and Miami CB DeVonta' Delaney stood out early in practice. Who are teams talking to early? Here are some interview reports:
 
 Broncos: South Florida QB Quinton Flowers.
Buccaneers: Houston WR Steven Dunbar.
Cardinals: FSU LB Matthew Thomas.
Chargers: Weber State TE Andrew Vollert, Louisville Safety Chucky Williams. Dolphins: Louisiana-Lafayette S Tracy Walker.
Eagles: Sam Houston State DT P.J. Hall.
49ers: Delaware DT Bilal Nichols.
Rams: Mississippi State LS Hunter Bradley, UNLV WR Devonte Boyd.
Redskins: FSU LB Matthew Thomas.
Saints: Michigan State C Brian Allen, Texas DT Poona Ford.
 
Here are your Shrine Game rosters.--Mike B.
Rosters:

WEST TEAM
Quarterbacks 
Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State
Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech
Nick Stevens, Colorado State

Running backs 
Jordan Chunn, Troy
Justin Jackson, Northwestern
Phillip Lindsay, Colorado

Wide receivers 
Jeff Badet, Oklahoma
Bryce Bobo, Colorado
Devonte Boyd, UNLV
Steven Dunbar, Houston
Jordan Thomas, Mississippi State
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State

Tight ends
Blake Mack, Arkansas State
Andrew Vollert, Weber State
David Wells, San Diego State

Offensive linemen
Dejon Allen (OG), Hawaii
Jacob Alsadek (OG), Arizona
Jake Bennett (C), Colorado State
Zachary Crabtree (OT), Oklahoma State
Mark Korte (OT), Alberta
Cody O'Connell (OG), Washington State
Jacob Ohnesorge (C), South Dakota State
Greg Senat (OT), Wagner
Coleman Shelton (C), Washington
Brett Toth (OT), Army
Salesi Uhatafe (OG), Utah


Defensive linemen
Poona Ford (DT), Texas
Marcell Frazier (DE), Missouri
P.J. Hall (DT), Sam Houston State
Alec James (DE), Wisconsin
Justin Lawler (DE), SMU
James Looney (DT), California
Filipo Mokofisi (DT), Utah
Bilal Nichols (DT), Delaware
Joe Ostman (DE), Central Michigan
Conor Sheehy (DE), Wisconsin (injured)

Linebackers
James Hearns (OLB), Louisville (injured)
Leon Jacobs (OLB), Wisconsin
Joel Lanning (QB/ILB), Iowa State
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones (OLB), Arkansas State
Tegray Scales (OLB), Indiana
Kenny Young (ILB), UCLA

Defensive backs
Secdrick Cooper (S), Louisiana Tech
Dane Cruikshank (CB), Arizona
Josh Kalu (CB), Nebraska
Heath Harding (CB), Miami (Ohio)
Davontae Harris (CB), Illinois State
Godwin Igwebuike (S), Northwestern
Natrell Jamerson (S), Wisconsin
Afolabi Laguda (S), Colorado
Malik Reaves (CB), Villanova
Cole Reyes (S), North Dakota
Linden Stephens (CB), Cincinnati
Chucky Williams (S), Louisville

Specialists
Matthew McCrane (K), Kansas State
Drew Scott (LS), Kansas State
Shane Tripucka (P), Texas A&M

EAST TEAM
Quarterbacks 
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
Riley Ferguson, Memphis
Quinton Flowers, South Florida

Running backs 
Chase Edmonds, Fordham
D'Ernest Johnson, South Florida
Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt

Wide receivers 
Regis Cibasu, Montreal
Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa
DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State
Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech (injured)
Justin Watson, Pennsylvania
Jester Weah, Pittsburgh
Javon Wims, Georgia (injured)

Tight ends
Damon Gibson, Minnesota State
Cam Serigne, Wake Forest
Ethan Wolf, Tennessee

Offensive linemen
Tony Adams (OG), N.C. State
Brian Allen (C), Michigan State
Kyle Bosch (OG), West Virginia
Aaron Evans (OT), UCF (injured)
Nico Falah (OG), USC (injured)
Austin Golson (C), Auburn
Cory Helms (OG), South Carolina
Connor Hilland (OG), Williams & Mary
Jaryd Jones-Smith (OG), Pittsburgh
Austin Kuhnert (C), North Dakota State
Brad Lundblade (C), Oklahoma State
KC McDermott (OT), Miami
Jamar McGloster (OT), Syracuse

Defensive linemen
Curtis Cothren (DE), Penn State
Parker Cothren (DT), Penn State
Folorunso Fatukasi (DT), UConn
Dalton Keene (DE), Illinois State
Marcus Martin (DE), Slippery Rock
Jamiyus Pittman (DT), UCF
Deadrin Senat (DT), South Florida
Kentavius Street (DE), N.C. State
Chad Thomas (DE), Miami

Linebackers
Parris Bennett (ILB), Syracuse
Jason Cabinda (ILB), Penn State
D.J. Palmore (OLB), Navy
Jacob Pugh (OLB), Florida State
Matthew Thomas (OLB), Florida State
Chris Worley (ILB), Ohio State

Defensive backs
DeVonta' Delaney (CB), Miami
Brandon Facyson (CB), Virginia Tech
Tre Flowers (S), Oklahoma State
Grant Haley (CB), Penn State
Avonte Maddox (CB), Pittsburgh
Trey Marshall (S), Florida State
Jordan Martin (S), Syracuse
Deatrick Nichols (CB), South Florida
Jeremy Reaves (CB), South Alabama
Greg Stroman (CB), Virginia Tech
Jamar Summers (S), Connecticut
Tracy Walker (S), Louisiana-Lafayette
Damon Webb (S), Ohio State

Specialists
Hunter Bradley (LS), Mississippi State
Drew Brown (K), Nebraska
Joseph Davidson (P), Bowling Green