East-West Shrine Game- Players to watch

The East-West Shrine game is this Saturday and guys like Jimmy Garrapolo, ZaDarius Smith and Shaq Evans are recent alums, as are Steelers like Ulysses Gilbert III, LT Walton, Anthony Chickillo.

Below is a writeup on some players attending and who to watch. Michael Onwenu, Calvin Throckmorn, Kyle Murphy -Rhode Island and Jon Runyan-Michigan have been impressing on the O line.

McTelvin Agim-Arkansas, Raekwan Williams DT Mich St, Mike Danna DT Michigan, Kelly Bryant QB Mizzou have showed well and Mason Kinsey WR-Berry College has been unstoppable apparently.

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The East-West Shrine Game is the first big all-star game of the pre-draft process, and while not featuring as many high-profile prospects as the Senior Bowl, it's undoubtedly a worthwhile event in which a handful of participants will eventually make plays in the NFL. Some will become stars.Recent alumni include Jimmy Garoppolo, Za'Darius Smith, Justin Simmons, Terron Armstead and Shaq Barrett.Here are the five prospects from each team to keep a close eye on during this year's game.

East Team

Michael Onwenu, G, MichiganOnwenu is a large, heavy guard who carries his 350-plus pounds well. His frame is very unusual in that he has shorter arms and isn't imposingly tall. Because of his size, he's rarely pushed back into the quarterback and plays with high-level awareness of stunts and blitzes with just enough lateral movement to get to a secondary block when needed. Most offensive line prospects aren't "NFL strong" as rookies. It looks like Onwenu is.

Kendall Coleman, EDGE, SyracuseColeman is a technician with his hands, rarely letting offensive tackles to get into his frame, and when they do, his arsenal of pass-rushing moves allows him to counter. While not overly twitchy, Coleman is decently smooth once his momentum starts moving forward, an attribute which gives way to an effective inside move. Coleman needs to get stronger, because at times he can get manhandled. But the senior was productive thanks to his fundamentally sound hand usage during his time with the Orange.



Parnell Motley, CB, Oklahoma On mostly average-at-best Oklahoma defenses, Motley stood out as a play-making cornerback. His pass breakup figures improved from nine to 11 to 13 in his final three seasons with the Sooners, and he hauled in six interceptions in that span. Listed at 6-feet and 180 pounds, Motley isn't super strong and his hips can be a little tight, but his feet are lightning quick, and he obviously plays with high-end awareness at the catch point.

Alex Highsmith, EDGE, CharlotteHighsmith went into the season with a fair amount of draft hype after 18.5 tackles for loss in 2018. Then, the 6-foot-3, 240-ish pound edge rusher amassed 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in 2019. He held his own against Clemson early in the year and flashed a nice blend of quickness, power, and hand use around the corner as a senior. There will definitely be Day 3 appeal with Highsmith in April.

Garrett Marino, DT, UABA strong penetrator on the inside, the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Marino tallied 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss for UAB in 2019. And he reached those figures in many ways. He won with first-step quickness through a gap, a deadly swim move, or simply shedding blockers on his way into the backfield. While not a super athlete for the defensive tackle position, Marino has an NFL-caliber toolbox to be disruptive on the inside.

West Team

LeVante Bellamy, RB, Western MichiganSpeed. Speed. And more speed. That's what you get with Bellamy. He brings a full-throttled game to every contest. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound burner had runs of 47, 55, 73, and 75 yards as a redshirt senior and averaged a bulky 6.0 yards per carry over 617 totes in his illustrious career for the Broncos. He scored 23 times in 2019 and has some lateral juice along with good vision, so he's not just a straight-line player.



Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon Throckmorton was Mr. Reliable for the Ducks in his long career in Eugene, as he played multiple positions across the line and didn't look out of place in any of them. The senior relies on good fundamentals, a strong base, and good balance to flourish, as he's not a dancing bear by any stretch of the imagination and will probably be plugged in at guard in the NFL.

Kevin Dotston, OL, Louisiana-LafayetteDotson is a steamroller in the run game at 6-foot-4 and 320-plus pounds. While he's not exactly light on his feet, his steps are efficient and get him to where he needs to be on combo blocks. He plays with outstanding knee bend, so he rarely loses the leverage battle. And once he latches on, it's over. His run-blocking is ahead of his ability as a pass protector at this point, but Dotson's inherent strength allows him to anchor well and his plus balance keeps him under control on pass plays.

Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan StateWhile run-stopping specialists aren't as valuable as they once were, there are still spots for them in a defensive line rotation in the NFL. And Williams is as good as they come halting inside run plays. The nose tackle accumulated 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks in his final two seasons at Michigan State. His hands constantly fire into offensive linemen, and they're strong enough to effortlessly dispatch them on his way to the ball-carrier. He's up there with Derrick Brown in terms of block-defeating, run-stopping prowess.

Luq Barcoo, CB, San Diego StateThe lanky outside corner was a football magnet in 2019 with nine interceptions and 16 pass breakups. He reacts instantly in zone and has the length needed to get his hands on the football as often as he did. A zone-heavy team could very well be interested him on the third day of the draft.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/east-west-shrine-game-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-include-sleeper-at-running-back/

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

Steelers like Ulysses Gilbert III, LT Walton, Anthony Chickillo.

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Wouldn’t bother with that game if that’s what they are pulling from it...lol.

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

Wouldn’t bother with that game if that’s what they are pulling from it...lol.

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Yeah, I guess the Steelers couldn't use somebody like ZaDarious Smith, or Shaquil Barrett who played in the Shrine game. One can make a case that the Steelers screwed up by drafting the wrong pass rusher from Kentucky when they took Bud Dupree instead of Smith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6K0...&index=157

Sarcasm.

However, it’s not a matter of who they can and can’t use, the game hasn’t been very good to you if the list of players is what you’re pulling out of it...

Watching Throckmorton and Dotson should be fun. Especially if they play them on the same side of the center. I have read Throckmorton projects as an IOL at the next level but he played OT at Oregon, so maybe some snaps at both. Dotson started out as a nobody this season but the more I look at OL prospects the more I see his name rising. He made 1st team AP All-American at OG too. Run Bellamy behind those 2 road graders and watch the yards pile up and fast.

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

Sarcasm.

However, it’s not a matter of who they can and can’t use, the game hasn’t been very good to you if the list of players is what you’re pulling out of it...

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The majority of the guys in the game will be drafted. There will be some players that turn into starters, as well as projects, reserves and special teamers. The talent at the Senior Bowl is generally better, but this game is a place to find some potential draft steals and really evaluate some day 3 draft picks.

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

Watching Throckmorton and Dotson should be fun. Especially if they play them on the same side of the center. I have read Throckmorton projects as an IOL at the next level but he played OT at Oregon, so maybe some snaps at both. Dotson started out as a nobody this season but the more I look at OL prospects the more I see his name rising. He made 1st team AP All-American at OG too. Run Bellamy behind those 2 road graders and watch the yards pile up and fast.

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Yeah, it sounds like Throckmorton is a versatile guy that can play anywhere along the line, but yesterday apparently he had some trouble handling speed rushers at OT, so you are likely right that he projects best to move inside. Mike Danna sounds as if he is having a great week. Some of these guys could get an invite to the Senior Bowl with solid play at the Shrine game as it has happened in the past.

As I’ve mentioned for months in several threads, keep an eye on...

Alex Highsmith, OLB, Charlotte

The East vs. West Game is a nice charity cause, but it seldom produces good NFL players. Now and then, a good player emerges.


It's not close to the talent at the Senior bowl. Usually, the players that can't make the senior bowl, and are senior's play here.


For those interested, Walter Football does a decent job of picking the players that stood out, or didn't play well at all.


https://walterfootball.com/draft2020stock_20.php

I used to enjoy the walter football site. It has become so full of adds and cookies now I can't stand it. All the loads and reloads are very distracting and I don't think the analysis is as well done as it once was. I still do go there and look at their position groups some just not nearly as much as before. I wish they could return to how it was about 4-5 years ago.

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

I used to enjoy the walter football site. It has become so full of adds and cookies now I can't stand it. All the loads and reloads are very distracting and I don't think the analysis is as well done as it once was. I still do go there and look at their position groups some just not nearly as much as before. I wish they could return to how it was about 4-5 years ago.

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I agree. I don't think the analysis at Walterfootball is as good as it was. I think that was a site that had Khalil Hodge listed high, based upon statistics he racked up in college, but when I saw him at last years Shrine game he looked horrible. I think they projected him as a 4th or 5th round guy and he wasn't even invited to a minicamp in the NFL.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

I used to enjoy the walter football site. It has become so full of adds and cookies now I can't stand it. All the loads and reloads are very distracting and I don't think the analysis is as well done as it once was. I still do go there and look at their position groups some just not nearly as much as before. I wish they could return to how it was about 4-5 years ago.

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I hear ya. That's how they make their money. Get a good pop up blocker, that can help. Walter is probably is the best NFL draft site, because they are linked in to the scouts. Draft Tek is rankings can suck, but the speed and format in which they present it does not.

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Originally Posted by teegre

As I’ve mentioned for months in several threads, keep an eye on...

Alex Highsmith, OLB, Charlotte

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-Highsmith didn't put up much production in the game, but he was always around the QB in the pass rush and has multiple moves. He looks like somebody round 3-5 pick IMO.
-Mike Danna from Michigan also looked good as a pass rusher and I think he might be somebody a team looks at around the 5th
- Shaq Quarterman is a run and hit ILB from Miami and looked like Vince Williams with better speed IMO.

-Benny Lemay looked good at RB, finds the seam, tough runner, but a complimentary back that has some Tashard Choice type running style
-Adrian Killins Jr is a smaller back and showed his speed and quickness but is not gonna break tackles. Nothing the Steelers need right now.

-Binjamin Victor of Ohio St WR looked tall, lanky and made some solid catches. I think he is a project with upside.
-Freddie Swain WR Florida and Mason Kinsey of Berry both looked good as well. Kinsey is more of a slot guy, while I think Swain is an outside receiver. Again day 3 picks.

-Kevin Dotson OG Louisiana and Jon Runyan OG Michigan both looked good. Runyan moves well and is versatile, I like him for the Steelers type of Offense.
-Calvin Throckmorn looked good as well, but not as nasty of a finisher as the others.
-jack Driscoll from Auburn stood out to me as well. They had him at OT, but I think he moves inside to guard and can play, but would be a late round pick or UDFA

-the DT Agim from Arkansas was by far the best interior D lineman, but at 6'3" 300lbs, I am not sure that he can project to NT, because he isn't a 5-tech like the Steelers play.

At TE Wolf from Georgia looked decent, as did Elefson from ND state, but I think there are at least 6 prospects at the Senior Bowl that I would like better. I think this year there are lots of good TE's, but not that many guys that project to be a 1st round TE.

@El-Gonzo

Thank you for this report... especially the update on Highsmith.

I have the game taped, but my classes are kicking my butt right now. Four classes concurrently... with assignments due left & right. Plus, you know, life, kids, work, and sleep... wait... no sleep. :lol: