​The 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl is upon us. This Saturday, January 28th, some of the top talent heading into the draft will face off against each other in Mobile, Alabama. The game takes place at 2:30 EST, and will be carried by NFL Network.  Some great players have used this event to launch their NFL careers.  Some of the most well-known Senior bowlers include Walter Payton, Steve Largent, Lynn Swann, Gene Upshaw, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Jack Youngblood, Ray Nitschke, and Derrick Thomas. This year, there are some great small school players participating in the event. Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon are especially intriguing. This is the year of the running back, and both Wisconsin running back Corey Clement and San Diego State running back Donnell Pumphrey will be fun to watch in this event.  This year's game is stacked with talent, especially at receiver, and will be well worth watching.  Is there a future NFL Hall of Famer in this year's event?   This is one of the best groups of players in this event over the past few years, so the possibility is there. Following the game, draft boards will begin to solidify across the NFL.  The draft season is upon us, and this event is a critical one.  If you only watch one football game this weekend, make it the Senior Bowl; unlike the Pro Bowl, these kids will play hard on every single snap to show that they belong in the NFL. Here are the players participating in this year's game, separated by position.--Mike B.
 
Quarterbacks.
Beathard, C.J.  Iowa.
Dobbs, Josh. Tennessee.
Liufau, Sefo. Colorado.
Peterman, Nate.  Pittsburgh.
Pipkin, Antonio. Tiffin.
Webb, Davis. California.
 
Running Backs.
Clement, Corey. Wisconsin.
Dayes, Matt. North Carolino State.
Hunt, Kareem. Toledo.
Pumphrey, Donnel. San Diego State.
Rogers, Sam. Virginia Tech.
Smith, De'Veon. Michigan.
Stevenson, Freddie. Florida State.
Williams, Jamaal. BYU.
 
Wide Receivers.
Darboh, Amara. Michigan.
Dural, Travin. LSU.
Etta-Tawo, Amba. Syracuse.
Jones, Zay. East Carolina.
Kupp, Cooper. Eastern Washington.
Reynolds, Josh. Texas A&M.
Robinette, Jalen. Air Force.
Ross, Fred. Mississippi State.
Scott, Artavis. Clemson.
Staples, Jamari. Louisville.
Switzer, Ryan. North Carolina.
Taylor, Taywan. Western Kentucky.
Taylor, Trent. Louisiana Tech.
Williams, Chad. Grambling State.
 
Tight Ends.
Engram, Evan. Ole Miss.
Everett, Gerald. South Alabama.
Jarwin, Blake. Oklahoma State.
Howard, O.J. Alabama.
Roberts, Mike. Toledo.
Saubert, Eric. Drake.
Smith, Jonnu. Florida International.
Sprinkle, Jeremy. Arkansas.
 
Offensive Tackles.
Banner, Zach. USC.
Bisnowaty, Adam. Pittsburgh.
Davenport, Julien. Bucknell.
Garcia, Antonio. Troy.
Holden, Will. Vanderbilt.
Leff, Robert. Auburn.
McDermott, Connor. UCLA.
Moton, Taylor. Western Michigan.
Senior, Justin. Mississippi State.
Smith, Eric. Virginia.
 
Offensive Guards.
Dawkins, Dion. Temple.
Dunker, Jessamen. Tennessee State.
Isidora, Danny. Miami.
Feeney, Dan. Indiana.
Kalis, Kyle. Michigan.
Morgan, Jordan. Kutztown.
 
Centers.
Fuller, Kyle. Baylor.
Orlosky, Tyler. West Virginia.
Pocic, Ethan. LSU.
Toth, Jon. Kentucky.
 
Defensive Ends.
Basham, Tarell. Ohio.
Davis, Keionta. UT-Chattanooga.
Hall, Daeshon. Texas A&M.
Kpassagnon, Tanoh. Villanova.
Rochell, Isaac. Notre Dame.
Smoot, Dawuane. Illinois.
Willis, Jordan. Kansas State.
Wormley, Chris. Michigan.
 
Defensive Tackles.
Adams, Montravius. Auburn.
Glasgow, Ryan. Michigan.
Johnson, Jaleel. Iowa.
Ogunjobi, Larry. Charlotte.
Smart, Tanzel. Tulane.
Tomlinson, Dalvin. Alabama.
Tu'ikolovatu, Stevie. USC.
Vanderdoes, Eddie. UCLA.
Watkins, Carlos. Clemson.
 
Inside Linebackers.
Anzalone, Alex. Florida.
Boulware, Ben. Clemson.
Gedeon, Ben. Michigan.
Harris, Connor. Lindenwood.
Herdman, Jordan. Simon Fraser.
Langi, Harvey. BYU.
Reddick, Haason. Temple.
Riley, Duke. LSU.
 
Outside Linebackers.
Anderson, Ryan. Alabama.
Biegel, Vince. Wisconsin.
Bowser, Tyrus. Houston.
Marcus, Eligwe. Georgia Southern.
Phillips, Carroll. Illinois.
Rivers, Derek. Youngstown State.
 
Cornerbacks.
Douglass, Rasul. West Virginia.
Elder, Corn. Miami.
Justin, Thomas. Georgia Tech.
Kazee, Damontae. San Diego State.
King, Desmond. Iowa.
Langley, Brendan. Lamar.
Lewis, Jourdan. Michigan.
Maulet, Arthur. Memphis.
Penton, Aarion. Missouri.
Robinson, Ezra. Tennessee State.
Sutton, Cameron. Tennessee.
Thomas, Dwayne. LSU.
White, Marquez. Florida State.
White, Tre'Davious. LSU.
 
Safeties.
Evans, Justin. Texas A&M.
Gerry, Nate. Nebraska.
Jenkins, Rayshawn. Miami.
Jerome, Lorenzo. Saint Francis (PA).
Johnson, John. Boston College.
Melifonwu, Obi. Connecticut.
Sterns, Jordan. Oklahoma State.
Travis, Damarius. Minnesota.
 
Kickers.
Elliott, Jake. Memphis.
Gonzalez, Zane. Arizona State.
 
Punters.
Baker, Toby. Arkansas.
Vogel, Justin. Miami.
 
Long Snappers.
Hola, Colin. Louisville.
Mazza, Cole. Alabama.

Every season, great linebackers inexplicably fall off of the draft board.  London Fletcher went undrafted and went on to start 215 consecutive games at the position en route to four Pro Bowls over sixteen seasons.  Zach Thomas was a 5th round pick and one of the greatest linebackers of his era.  2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison?  Undrafted.   Baltimore Ravens defensive standout Zachary Orr was also undrafted. History suggests that there are some great linebackers who are flying under the radar as we head towards the 2017 NFL Draft. Players like Reuben Foster and T.J. Watt get all the attention from most sports sites and analysts. However, scouting careers are made by finding great players who have slipped through the cracks.  One of these players is Georgia State linebacker Alonzo McGee.
 
Alonzo McGee is an explosive player who has performed well against all levels of competition, including against programs like Wisconsin.  His highlights show an  extremely intelligent player who can read offenses, who understands offensive blocking schemes, and who can be a disruptive force in the middle of a defense.  He looks the part of a potential future Pro Bowler on film (highlights here), and off the field he is an extremely high character, hard working individual.   McGee is both intelligent and versatile; he has thrived in three collegiate programs and has started at a high level at both inside and outside linebacker.  This is a kid who deserves to be in the conversation on day 1 or 2 of the draft, but does not get near the amount of recognition he deserves from analysts.
 
McGee's journey is an intriguing one.  He started out at Georgia Military College and played in 11 games over one season, finishing his time there with 48 tackles and 2 sacks.  He then transferred to UAB, where he continued to develop as a player.  He played in twelve games, starting two.  There, he recorded 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. At that point in his career, one of the trademarks of his playing style began to stand out, the tackle for loss.  McGee has developed into a TFL machine as a college player, and his aggressive, instinctive style of play will be a major asset to any NFL defense. 
 
Alonzo McGee is a player who is capable of picking up new defensive systems and immediately playing at a high level.  Once UAB's program folded, McGee transferred to Georgia State. In his first game at Georgia State, he tied the school record for tackles for loss with 4. This was en route to a 12.5 TFL season that set a Georgia State season record.  McGee did this as an inside linebacker, and was named an honorable mention for All-Sun Belt Conference.  The following season, he switched to outside linebacker and continued to play at an extremely high level, again receiving an honorable mention for All-Sun Belt Conference.  His two season career at Georgia State ended with 167 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4.5 sacks.  The numbers alone show that McGee is a worthy NFL prospect, but numbers aren't everything.  McGee has the intangibles that make a great NFL prospect.
 
This is a player who has thrived at multiple positions in multiple programs.  Alonzo McGee's character is a huge part of what makes him a great NFL prospect.  Here at Matt and Mike Sports, we had a chance to interview Alonzo McGee (interview here), and he is clearly a student of the game.  In his own words, McGee's approach as a player is to "train hard and give 110 % effort with everything that I do."  Some players study film during team film sessions.  McGee goes above and beyond that, spending his free time studying plays and watching additional film on his own.  In his own words, being successful while playing for multiple programs "just takes discipline and extra effort." 
 
Alonzo McGee is a team-first player; to him, his teammates are family, and he will do everything he can for them on the field.  He practices hard and plays hard.  He watches film twice a day to prepare for games, and he makes the most out of time spent in practice.  Most importantly, He is an extremely respectful and driven individual who is willing to play wherever his team needs him to.  On the field, he is a relentless tackler who puts his hard work studying film and playbook to use on every play.  His preparation in the week leading up to game day is a big part of the reason why he has been so successful as a collegiate player.  He understands what the offense is doing on each play, and puts that knowledge to work, allowing him to make big plays and generate tackles for loss.  This is a player that is extremely coachable, competitive, and with huge amounts of upside.
 
Great players are not built on talent alone. While some players skate by on athletic talent alone, great players are built by hard work and a relentless passion for the game.  Ray Lewis was athletic, but he also had a firm understanding of both his defense and of opposing offenses.  Brian Urlacher understood his own defensive scheme well enough to make every player around him better.  Vontaze Burfict studies film to a point where he remembers his mistakes on specific plays from his past. Great players not only look great on film, but also understand the game itself.  McGee's passion for film, his work ethic, and his love for his teammates will make him a critical asset to any NFL team lucky enough to draft him.
 
I'm a defensive-minded guy, and to me, McGee displays all the traits of a future starting NFL linebacker.  He is an outstanding tackler, he knows how to read run plays and shed blocks, and can generate strong pressure in the backfield.  He prepares hard for every single game, both in practice and in his own free time, which gives him an edge against opponents.  For Alonzo McGee, football is not just a hobby or a job, it is a passion.  His drive and passion for the sport will allow him to develop into an elite defender in the NFL.  While he may not be a finished product as a prospect, no prospect is.  He has room to improve in pass coverage, but so did Denzel Perryman. Perryman has quickly emerged as one of the key cogs in the San Diego Chargers defense.   With McGee's strong passion for hard work and film study, he will constantly work to get better as a player. Alonzo McGee has all the tools necessary to step into an NFL defensive system and play at a high level.  He has the team mentality to do anything to help his team, and will thrive wherever the team needs him, whether on special teams or in the middle of a defensive unit.  Given a year or a couple of years of development as a pro, McGee could emerge as a key cog in an NFL defense. He likely will emerge in a similar way to Zachary Orr of the Ravens, taking the league by storm to emerge as a key young player in an NFL defensive scheme.
 
While Alonzo McGee may not be the biggest defensive name in this year's draft, he might have the most upside of any defensive player, especially for a guy who's floating around in the conversation as a later-round pick or potential UDFA.   Glimpses of greatness already show up regularly in his college film, and with a year or two working with an NFL coaching staff, this kid could become a perennial Pro Bowler.  He is hard working, versatile, athletic, and willing to do whatever it takes to help his team compete.  While right now he's relatively off the radar, if given a chance, he will take the NFL by storm.  If he can harness the flashes of greatness that he has shown on film, he will be special. He will be a steal for any team lucky enough to take him in 2017.--Mike B.

Alonzo McGee is an outstanding linebacker prospect from Georgia State University.  After one season at Georgia Military College (with 48 tackles and 2 sacks over eleven games), McGee transferred to UAB. There, he played in twelve games, starting two. There, he recorded 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. There, he started at both outside linebacker in 2015 and inside linebacker in 2016.  In both seasons, he received an honorable mention for All-Sun Belt Conference.   While at Georgia State, he recorded 167 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4.5 sacks. Alonzo McGee is a phenomenal player who deserves to be on every team's radar, and on film, he stands out on every snap.  We were fortunate enough to have a chance to interview Alonzo, and here it is. Questions in black, Alonzo's responses in blue:
 
 
Mr. McGee, you are an extremely talented player on the field, and showcase great instincts on film.  What, in your opinion, makes you stand out as an NFL prospect? 
 
 I train hard and give 110% effort with everything that I do. I plan to continue to work hard and allow my play to do the talking. In addition to going hard every single play, my mental toughness and ability to overcome adversity also makes me a good prospect.
 
As a college player, you learned multiple defensive schemes after transferring from Georgia Military College to UAB, and then from UAB to Georgia State.  You have performed at an extremely high level on all three teams.  How do you balance learning a new system with continuing to develop as a player? How does that experience help prepare you for life in the NFL?
 
It just takes discipline and extra effort. I spend a lot of my free time studying our plays and watching additional film. These experiences speak to my ability to adjust to change while continuing to grow and thrive as a player.
 
 
What coach (or other individual) has had the greatest impact on you as a player so far?  Why?
 
My linebacker coach PJ Volker had the greatest impact on me because not only did he help me become a better football player, but he also taught my life skills such as the importance of punctuality and being the best me every single day.
 
You have started at both outside and inside linebacker during your college career. Which position would you consider to be most natural to you?
 
I feel like I naturally adjusted well to both of them. I’m willing to play whichever position the team needs me at.
 
In 2015, you  set the Georgia State season record for tackles for loss with 12.5.  In your first game with the team, you tied the school record for tackles for loss with 4. You clearly have a strong understanding of offensive game plans, and are able to perform at a very high level even during your first game in a new defensive system. What are some things that you do during the week to help you prepare for game day?  What role does film study play in your preparation on a weekly basis?
 
I watch film twice a day and that really helps me to prepare specifically for the offense that I’m getting ready to face. I make sure that I don’t take practice time for granted, I practice how I’m going to play so that on game day it comes naturally.
 
On the field, you are a phenomenal player.  What are some things that make you stand out off the field?  How does life off of the field contribute to the player you are on the field?  What are some of your personal strengths?
 
I was always taught that respect gets you a long way in life so off the field, you will always catch me being respectful. I also love helping others, so in my spare time you can catch me volunteering and giving back to my community. Family is a very important value of mine. I consider my teammates an extension of my family so when we are on the field, there is nothing I won’t do for them.
 
What was your earliest experience with the game of football?  How did you first develop a love for the game?
 
I first started playing football at age 6 at Dillion Park in Sumter, SC for the Bulldogs. My love for the game was developed based on my father sharing stories about his football career. The 1st time I set foot on a football field, I knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and play this game.  
 
Who is your favorite player in the NFL?  Are there any players, current or retired, who you specifically try to emulate on the field?
 
 D.J. Swearinger is my favorite NFL player. On the field, I try to emulate Ray Lewis because he plays with so much passion.
 
What is your greatest strength as a prospect?
 
 I read the offensive linemen well, pursue the ball, and make sound tackles. I’m an instinctive play and I’m going to go hard every single play.
 
If you could choose to accomplish one thing in your career, what would it be?
 
I would like be a part of a Superbowl team.
 
What points would you like to make to any scouts who might be reading this interview?
 
If you give me an opportunity, I guarantee you that I will be a valuable addition to your organization. I am willing to do whatever it takes to be the most dominant player at my position. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to interview with us Alonzo. We look forward to watching your career unfold in the NFL, and best of luck through the draft process! --Mike Bertasso and Matt Koontz, Matt and Mike Sports.
 
We would like to thank Glen Wallace from Peterson Sports for facilitating this interview. Glen has asked us to add the following statement, that Glen Wallace, James Peterson and Dave Thompson and the entire Peterson Sports family are very proud of Alonzo.

The 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is upon us, this Saturday, January 21st at 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time.. Unlike the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game, which have a long tradition, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is a much younger event, founded in 2012.  Some players, including Jhurell Pressley, Trevone Boykin, Marquette King, Chris Conley, Geremy Davis, and Zach Wagenmann have used this game as a stepping stone into the NFL. This year, there are some great names to watch in this event; one that stands out to me is Tarik Cohen, the underrated and relatively unknown running back from North Carolina A&T.  He's a great sleeper in a deep class of great running backs, and could use this game to vault himself into the national spotlight. If you haven't seen him play, you need to watch this game. Brady Gustafson shows some sleeper potential at quarterback.   All of these players will be exciting to watch, and some will make it into the NFL.  While this game does not yet have the hype that the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game do, there is absolutely talent to be found in this event. I highly recommend following both this game and the Shrine Game tomorrow if you can; watch one on your computer and one on TV even.  If you aren't familiar with the NFLPA Bowl yet, this year is the perfect year to check it out. Here's a full list of the players participating in tomorrow's game.--Mike B.
 
Quarterbacks:
Gustafson, Brady. Montana.
Higgins, Ryan. Louisiana Tech.
Leidner, Mitchell. Minnesota.
Maguire, Sean. Florida State.
Nelson, Philip. East Carolina.
Ward, Greg. Houston.
 
Running Backs/Fullbacks.
Brown, Algeron. BYU.
Cohen, Tarik. North Carolina A&T.
Gibson, Teriyon. New Mexico.
Henderson, De'Angelo. Coastal Carolina.
Logan, TJ. North Carolina.
Mizzell, Taquan. Virginia.
Muhammad, Khalfani. California.
Tillery, Lenard. Southern.
Wales, Anthony. Western Kentucky.
Williams, Marquez. Miami (FL).
 
Wide Receivers.
Bourne, Kendrick. Eastern Washington.
Davis, Robert. Georgia State.
Hatcher, Keon. Arkansas.
Hogan, Krishawn. Marian.
Lenoir, Lance. Western Illinois.
Pascal, Zach. Old Dominion.
Rector, Michael. Stanford.
Seales, Jhajuan. Oklahoma State.
Shelton, Rodney. Michigan State.
Thomas, Noel. UCONN.
Tillman, Jamir. Navy.
Wheelwright, Robert. Wisconsin.
Williams, Chad. Grambling State.
Wilson, Tillman. Navy.
 
Tight Ends.
Brunskill, Daniel. San Diego State.
Carter, Cethan. Nebraska.
Daniels, Darrell. Washington.
Iese, Nate. UCLA.
Lyles, Jamal. Michigan State.
Towbridge, Keith. Louisville.
 
Offensive Tackles.
Catalina, Tyler. Georgia.
Eide, Andrew. BYU.
Eluemunor, Jermaine. Texas A&M.
Knappe, Andreas. UCONN.
Leamon, Javarius. South Carolina State.
Myers, Levon. Northern Illinois.
Pirsig, Jonah. Minnesota.
Theaker, Nathan. Wayne State.
 
Offensive Guards.
Boutte, Joshua. LSU.
Braden, Ben. Michigan.
Cooper, Ethan. Indiana University of PA.
Eldrenkamp, Jakob. Washington.
Lee, Cameron. Illinois State.
Levin, Corey. Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Simonich, Jake. Utah State.
Ugokwe, Jerry. William and Mary.
 
Centers.
Clayborn, Jamaal. Mississippi State.
Guillermo, Jay. Clemson.
Koloamatangi, Leo. Hawaii.
McMeans, Anthony. New Mexico State.
 
Defensive Ends.
Adams, Keion. Western Michigan.
Calvin, Jonathan. Mississippi State.
Donahue, Dylan. West Georgia.
Ebukam, Samson. Eastern Washington.
Malveaux, Cameron. Houston.
Neal, Lewis. LSU.
O'Connor, Patrick. Eastern Michigan.
Valoaga, Jeremiah. UNLV.
 
Defensive Tackles.
Albury, Imarjaye. Florida International.
Ankou, Eli. UCLA.
Hamilton, Darius. Rutgers.
Henderson, Cornelius. Jackson State.
Henderson, Roderick. Alabama State.
Jones, DJ. Mississippi.
Stewart, Grover. Albany State.
Weitl, Cass. Northwest Missouri State.
 
Linebackers.
Allen, Chase. Southern Illinois.
Bower, Tashawn. LSU.
Brown, Blair. Ohio.
Bullough, Riley. Michigan State.
Cole, Dylan. Missouri State.
Gilchrist, Kennan. Appalachian State.
Irving, Isaiah. San Jose State.
Johnson, Tre'von. Weber State.
Lotulelei, Tau. UNLV.
Orimolade, Folarin. Dartmouth.
Taumoepenu, Pita. Utah.
Usher, Nick. UTEP.
Wacha, Lucas. Wyoming.
Williams, Avery. Temple.
 
Defensive Backs.
Agnew, Jamal. San Diego.
Allen, Brian. Utah.
Borders, Breon. Duke.
Chappell, Devin. Oregon State.
Colbert, Adrian. Miami (FL).
Griffin, Shaquill. Central Florida.
Jerome, Lorenzo. St. Francis (PA).
Lawrence, Desmond. North Carolina.
Lewis, Ryan. Pittsburgh.
Maulet, Arthur. Memphis.
McTyer, Torry. UNLV.
Millines, Darrion. SMU.
Nacua, Kai. BYU.
Porter, Reggie. Utah.
Smith, Maurice. Georgia.
Thomas, Ahmad. Oklahoma.
Thornton, Joshua. Southern Utah.
Tyler, Jeremy. West Virginia.
Tyson, Mike. Cincinnati.
Wilson, Brandon. Houston.
 
Kickers.
Bergner, Miles. South Dakota.
Sanchez, Rigoberto. Hawaii.
 
Punters.
Boy, Alex. Nevada.
Fraser, Christopher. Cornell.
 
Long Snapper.
Dowling, Nolan. Western Kentucky.
Northnagel, Bradley. California.
​

The 2017 East-West Shrine Game will be broadcast this Saturday on NFL Network at 3 PM Eastern Standard Time.  While the game is the most watched event of the week, practices and interviews are often way more telling as far as a player's draft stock heading out of the week.  Here are some quick hits from this week's practices.--Mike B.
 
Darius English (DE, South Carolina) is looking like a sleeper after strong performances in practice, especially individual drills, that confirm the fact that he is a talented player. He's a guy that will outperform his draft stock.
 
Trey Hendrickson (DE, Florida Atlantic) shined at times, especially on Monday in pass rushing drills. Looked dominant against the offensive linemen there.
 
Josh Tupou (DT, Colorado) also looked great in one-on-one drills. He's showcasing a phenomenal bull rush this week, and is likely sitting in the 5th round, at worst, after this week.
 
Richie Brown (LB, Mississippi State) has looked great in practice so far this week, especially against the run. He should see his stock rising after this event.
 
Fabian Moreau (CB, UCLA) sounds like a 4th round pick according to scouts at the event. That being said, he could slip slightly higher. Good hip movement throughout practice as well, might have the best hips of any db in this event.
 
Eric Saubert (TE, Drake) stood out all week. Here's a guy that significantly helped his draft stock.  look for him to rise heading through the draft process.
 
Blake Jarwin (TE, Oklahoma State) is another guy who has looked pretty good in practices this week. That should put him squarely on many teams' radars as a later pick.
 
Taylor McNamara (TE, USC) made some nice catches in practice this week.
 
Adam Pankey (G, West Virginia) has looked pretty versatile this week, he's played both tackle and guard in practice. That versatility will help his draft stock.
 
Gunner Kiel (QB, Cincinnati) struggled at times in practice, but also looked good on some throws. If he has a big game this Saturday, it will help him out a lot.
 
Alex Torgerson (QB, Pennsylvania) has had a strong week, to me, the best of any quarterback in this event.
 
Eli McGuire (RB, Louisiana-Lafayette) has looked great in practice this week. He's also impressed teams with interviews. His stock appears to be rising.
 
Dare Ogunbowale (RB, Wisconsin) has looked strong in practice. He looks especially good catching the ball out of the backfield, and interestingly the Chargers have met with him; is he a long-term replacement for Danny Woodhead?
 
Gabe Marks (WR, Washington) has looked good in drills this week. He's burning defensive backs, and looks like a talented special teamer as well.

​The 2017 East West Shrine Game takes place this Saturday, January 21st, 2017 at 3 PM EST at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. This event, in a very real sense, kicks off the draft season; as the first major scouting all-star game, scouts from all 32 NFL teams will be paying close attention to practices this week in Florida.  Some players in this event will find NFL success; Raymond Berry, Gale Sayers, Gino Marchetti, Randy White, and Paul Warfield all played in the Shrine Game en route to the NFL. Others will find success of the field; former president Gerald Ford played in the 1935 East-West Shrine Game as a center.
 
This event is a great one for NFL teams; they finally get a chance to work with players on a face-to-face basis and see how players respond to questions, new teammates and new systems in a short one-week practice and game session.  Teams will use events such as the Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl to see how players fare against different competition (for example a small school player against a DI player). To me, these events are far more valuable tools for scouting individual players than pro days and the Combine.  There are some great names in this year's game.  Here's the roster, and I'll add some observations from practice to the draft section of the site through the week. --Mike B.
 
Adams, Rodney. WR. South Florida.
Adeboyejo, Quincy. WR. Mississippi.
Andrews, Gavin. T. Oregon State.
Are, Abdul-Kareem. G. Florida State.
Auclair, Anthony. TE. Laval.
Augusta, Josh. DT. Missouri.
Austell, Erik. T. Charleston Southern.
Brown, Billy. WR. Shepherd.
Brown, DeAngelo. DT. Louisville.
Brown, Richie. LB. Mississippi State.
Calitro, Austin. LB. Villanova.
Carr, Austin. WR. Northwestern.
Carr, Jason. DT. West Georgia.
Carter, Jamal. S. Miami.
Clements, Jarod "Chunky". DT. Illinois.
Coley, Stacy. WR. Miami.
Cox, Bryan. DE. Florida.
Cox, Marcus. RB. Appalachian State.
Crowley, Lucas. C. North Carolina.
Cutrer, Jeremy. CB. Middle Tennessee State.
Davis, Justin. RB. USC.
Davis, Kevin. LB. Colorado State.
DeCoud, Treston. CB. Oregon State.
Dimick, Hunter. DE. Utah.
Ellis, Brooks. LB. Arkansas.
English, Darius. DE. USC.
Gedeon, Ben. LB. Michigan.
Gennesy, Avery. T. Texas A&M.
Gilbert, Jimmie. LB. Colorado.
Glass, Tyquwan. CB. Fresno State.
Godin, Matthew. DT. Michigan.
Goforth, Randall. S. UCLA.
Golladay, Kenny. WR. Northern Illinois.
Goodman, Evan. T. Arizona State.
Gray, Geoff. G. Manitoba.
Griffey, Tre. WR. Arizona.
Hairston, Nate. CB. Temple.
Hamilton, Karel. WR. Samford.
Harlow, Sean. T. Oregon State.
Hendrickson, Trey. DE. Florida Atlantic.
Hester, Treyvon. DT. Toledo.
Hill, Delano. S. Michigan.
Holden, Will. T. Vanderbilt.
Hughley, Tobijah. C. Louisville.
Ivie, Joey. DT. Florida.
Jarwin, Blake. TE. Oklahoma State.
Jeter, Colin. TE. LSU.
Johnson, Zach. G. North Dakota State.
Joseph, Dieugot. T. Florida International.
Kalis, Kyle. G. Michigan.
Keena, Eric. P. North Texas.
Kiel, Gunner. QB. Cincinnati.
King, Andrew. LB. US Military Academy.
Lampkin, Ashton. CB. Oklahoma State.
Ledbetter, Jerimiah. DE. Arkansas.
Lee, Marquel. LB. Wake Forest.
Lunt, Weston. QB. Illinois.
Magliore, Paul. LB. Arizona.
Magnuson, Erik, T, Michigan.
Marks, Gabe. WR. Washington State.
Mathers, I'Tavius. RB. Middle  Tennessee State.
McGuire, Elijah. Louisiana-Lafayette.
McLaughlin, Jonathan. T. Virginia Tech.
McNamara, Taylor. TE. USC.
McQuay, Leon. S. USC.
Moreau, Fabian. CB. UCLA.
Moss, Avery. DE. Youngstown State.
Mullens, Nick. QB. Southern Mississippi.
Munson, Calvin. LB. San Diego State.
Myrick, Jalen. CB. Minnesota.
Nickerson, Hardy. LB. Illinois.
Norton, Storm. T. Toledo.
Ogunbowale, Dare. RB. Wisconsin.
Olugbode, Kenneth. LB. Colorado.
Onwualu, James. LB. Notre Dame.
Orndoff, Scott. TE. Pittsburgh.
Pankey, Adam. G. West Virginia.
Penton, Aarion. CB. Missouri.
Price, Ejuan. DE. Pittsburgh.
Rehkow, Austin. P/K. Idaho.
Rivers, Derek. DE. Youngstown State.
Roberts, Michael. TE. Toledo.
Robinette, Jalen. WR. Air Force.
Roullier, Chase. C. Wyoming.
Rush, Cooper. QB. Central Michigan.
Salako, Victor. T. Oklahoma State.
Saubert, Eric. TE. Drake.
Scelfo, Joe. C. North Carolina State.
Schult, Karter. DE. Northern Iowa.
Senior, Justin. T. Mississippi State.
Singleton, BJ. DT. Houston.
Skipper, Dan. T. Arkansas.
Smith, De'Veon. RB. Michigan.
Smithson, Anthony Fish. S. Kansas.
Steelhammer, Weston. S. Air Force.
Stevens, Tony. WR. Auburn.
Stewart, Orion. S. Baylor.
Stribling, Channing. CB. Michigan.
Taylor, Steven. LB. Houston.
Terrell, Zach. QB. Western Michigan.
Tevi, Sam. T. Utah.
Thomas, Dymonte. S. Michigan.
Thompson, Tedric. S. Colorado.
Tocho, Jack. CB. North Carolina State.
Tom, Cameron. C. Southern Mississippi.
Torgersen, Alek. QB. Pennsylvania.
Travis, Damarius. S. Minnesota.
Tupou, Josh. DT. Colorado.
Watson, Brad. CB. Wake Forest.
Weiler, Nick. K. North Carolina.
Westerkamp, Jordan. WR. Nebraska.
Whitfield, Kermit. WR. Florida State.
Williams, Joe. RB. Utah.
Wise, Deatrich. DE. Arkansas.
Witherspoon, Ahkello. CB. Colorado.
Woods, Xavier. S. Louisiana Tech.
Worth, Will. QB. Navy.
Yancey, DeAngelo. WR. Purdue.