Tag: Shrine Bowl

Chargers 2023 NFL draft target: Maryland WR Jacob Copeland

Putting Maryland WR Jacob Copeland under a microscope to highlight his strengths, weaknesses and fit with the Chargers.

Over the next couple of months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2023 NFL draft.

With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Here is a report on a potential target, Maryland wide receiver Jacob Copeland.

Height: 6-0

Weight: 202 pounds

Class: Fifth-year senior

Hometown: Pensacola, FL

Career: Transferred to Maryland after four seasons at Florida. Former four-star wideout and No. 14 rated player in the state of Florida. Collected 112 catches, 1,742 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns in 40 career games. 

Strengths: Thick, physical football player who isn’t afraid to use his big pads offensively. Experience at all three receiver spots. Dodges press contact with firm arm wipes and subtle dodges. Has demonstrated knowledge of the right releases to use when he predicts the cornerback’s strategy. Sells the vertical route well off the line. Straight-line speed can get behind the secondary quickly. Change of direction skills are impressive for his build. Showcases good positioning working back to the football. Quick transition from catch to ball carrier. Keeps feet moving when hit. Makes tackling a chore for single defenders, usually requiring an assist to bring him down. 

Weaknesses: Lacks the countermeasures to ensnare himself from downfield contact. Difficult to get going in short spaces. YAC production is slim and one-dimensional. Would rather lower his head into contact than try to avoid it. Inconsistent attacking the ball on deep throws.

Final Word: A consistent starter at Florida who fought for targets in a stacked Maryland receiving corps, Jacob Copeland is an intriguing mixture of size and speed whose explosive plays suggest qualities of a dynamic flanker receiver. He already has the body of an NFL wideout, and there are raw traits that can be refined. Copeland is best when he can win the route at the line, but he has a ways to go in creating regular separation when he’s hip-to-hip. 

Fit Likelihood: Medium

Grade: 6-7th round

Film Highlights

Chargers 2023 NFL draft target: Boston College WR Zay Flowers

Putting Boston College WR Zay Flowers under a microscope to highlight his strengths, weaknesses and fit with the Chargers.

Over the next couple of months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2023 NFL draft.

With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Here is a report on a potential target, Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.

Height: 5-10

Weight: 172 pounds

Class: Senior

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Career: Earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2022. Set Boston College single-season record for receiving touchdowns with 12 scores. Played in 47 games for the Eagles, recording 200 catches, 3,056 receiving yards, and 29 touchdowns.

Strengths: Frequently schemed the ball because of his run-after-catch ability. Led the ACC with 503 yards after catch. Speed release has some sudden kick to it. Accelerates to high gear quickly and makes defenders strain. Overachieves in the quick passing game with short-area separation. Punishes ankle tacklers with twitchy open-field movement. Knows where to take the ball before the defense converges. Has brought down some tough contested catches against bigger opponents. Extra dangerous on routes stemming from pre-snap motion. 

Weaknesses: Size profiles as a slot-only option. Possesses the ability to stretch the field but big plays through the air was not the main feature of his game. Needs significant extension to reel in off-target throws. Frequently catches throws with his body.

Final Word: Zay Flowers will not be a favorite for every team, but he can be lightning in a bottle with the ball in his hands. His size might restrict him to the slot full-time, but Flowers can excel there with his athleticism and judgment of the field. The more space Flowers has to work with, the better the results.

Fit Likelihood: High

Grade: 2nd

Film Highlights

2023 NFL draft: 10 potential Chargers targets to watch at East-West Shrine Bowl

The Chargers have used the East-West Shrine Bowl to find some of their players in recent years.

The annual East-West Shrine practices begin on Saturday ahead of the all-star game on Thursday, February 2nd, at 5:30 PM PT on NFL Network.

This showcase will feature several prospects the Chargers should have on their radar in the 2023 NFL draft.

In 2022, Tom Telesco selected two players that played in the game – Ja’Sir Taylor and Zander Horvath. Additional alumni include Trey Pipkins, Easton Stick, Cortez Broughton, and Justin Jackson.

With that, here are ten players the Bolts could be targeting:

A look at the quarterbacks playing in the Shrine Bowl

A look at the quarterbacks playing in the Shrine Bowl

The college all-star circuit kicks into high gear next week with the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas followed by the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

We’ll take a quick look at the players that will be taking part in both events, going through by positions. We’ll start here with the five quarterbacks heading to Las Vegas for the Shrine Bowl.

Former Lions WR Nate Burleson inducted into the Shrine Bowl hall of fame

Former Lions WR Nate Burleson inducted into the Shrine Bowl hall of fame

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson is being honored in a big way by the East-West Shrine Bowl. Burleson is being inducted into the Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame at the annual game next week in Las Vegas.

Burleson played in the Shrine Bowl in 2003, when the game was still known as the East-West Shrine Game. Aside from his excellence on the football field, Burleson has remained an ambassador for the Shriners and their work in helping children with disabilities and medical problems.

Burleson played the final four seasons (2010-2013) of his career with the Lions, catching 194 passes in 45 games in Detroit. He’s now a co-host on the CBS Mornings news program, as well as work with CBS Sports as a host and analyst.

Congrats to Burleson on the honor! The Shrine Bowl airs on Thursday, February 2nd at 8:30 pm ET on the NFL Network.

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Falcons, Patriots to coach 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl

The Falcons and Patriots coaching staffs were chosen to coach the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl

The regular season is over for the Atlanta Falcons, but the work is not quite done for the team’s coaching staff. According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons and Patriots have been chosen to coach the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Each year, two non-playoff teams get to coach this college all-star game. Since the Falcons and Patriots both retained the majority of their coaching staffs, they made the most sense, according to Schefter.

This 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled to be played on February 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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Michigan State football LB Ben VanSumeren accepts Shrine Bowl invite

Ben VanSumeren has accepted an invite to the Shrine Bowl

Michigan State senior linebacker Ben VanSumeren has accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. The Shrine Bowl is an all-star game that takes place in Las Vegas and showcases collegiate seniors to NFL scouts. While being a showcase, it also uses its profits to benefit Shriner’s Childrens.

The game will be played on February 2nd.

VanSumeren started his career with the University of Michigan, before transferring to the Spartans in 2021. The senior has played a major role on Michigan State’s 2022 defense, starting in 7 games and being third on the team in tackles.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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Eight Wisconsin Badgers selected to Shrine Bowl preseason watch list

Which Badgers made the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list?

The East-West Shrine Bowl will once again serve as a college football all-star game for a purpose. The game supports the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital while featuring the best players in the country participating in a postseason event.

The game released a lengthy watch list ahead of the 2022 season. The only requirement for selection is that the player is eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Eight Badgers are on the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list, including players on both sides of the line as well as one of the stars of Wisconsin’s running back room.

Here is a look at the eight Badgers to make the watch list:

Mountain West Football: 56 Players Named To Shrine Bowl 1000 List

The Shrine Bowl released a huge list of 2023 NFL Draft prospects it’ll keep an eye on, including a number of players from the Mountain West.

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Mountain West Football: 56 Players Named To Shrine Bowl 1000 List

The Shrine Bowl has released a list of 2023 NFL Draft prospects it’ll keep an eye on, including a number of players from the Mountain West.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Lots of talent everywhere in the conference.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of the country’s longest-running all-star football showcases, a platform for aspiring professional athletes to make a case as to why they belong in the National Football League, and with that in mind the team behind the game revealed a list of prospects it intends to review throughout the 2022 season as it prepares for its part in the pre-draft process.

A very lengthy list.

Among the 1,000 names on the list — you read that right, one thousand — 56 hail from 11 Mountain West football programs. The largest cohort belongs to the Boise State Broncos, who have 11 different players on the list, followed by Fresno State with nine and then Colorado State and San Diego State with six each.

It is an interesting blend of obvious candidates, like Nevada defensive tackle Dom Peterson and Boise State safety JL Skinner, but there are some interesting selections among the group, as well, like Broncos defensive end Shane Irwin, who medically retired back in June, and UNLV long snapper Rex Goossen, who is one of just five players at his position here. The conference’s group of recent transfer portal arrivals like Cade Beresford, Gurvan Hall Jr., and Jordan Murray are also well represented.

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As to who will actually be selected to next winter’s Shrine Bowl, that comes later. The 97th iteration of the game is set to kick off on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium.

Air Force
  • Kyle Patterson, TE
  • Brad Roberts, RB
Boise State
  • Hank Bachmeier, QB
  • Cade Beresford, OT
  • Stefan Cobbs, WR
  • George Holani, RB
  • Shane Irwin, DE
  • Tyreque Jones, S
  • Tyric LeBeauf, CB
  • Scott Matlock, DT
  • John Ojukwu, OT
  • JL Skinner, S
  • George Tarlas, DE
Colorado State
  • David Bailey, RB
  • Cam’ron Carter, LB
  • Dequan Jackson, LB
  • Mohamed Kamara, LB
  • Gary Williams, TE
  • Dante Wright, WR
Fresno State
  • Dontae Bull, OT
  • Jalen Cropper, WR
  • Elijah Gates, CB
  • Jake Haener, QB
  • Jordan Mims, RB
  • Leonard Payne Jr., DT
  • David Perales, DE
  • Nikko Remigio, WR
  • Evan Williams, S
Hawaii
  • Ilm Manning, OT
  • Jordan Murray, TE
Nevada
  • Aaron Frost, OT
  • Dom Peterson, DT
  • Toa Taua, RB
San Diego State
  • Braxton Burmeister, QB
  • Jordan Byrd, RB
  • Jesse Matthews, WR
  • Caden McDonald, LB
  • Patrick McMorris, S
  • Tyrell Shavers, WR
San Jose State
  • Elijah Cooks, WR
  • Viliami Fehoko, DE
  • Cade Hall, DE
  • Kyle Harmon, LB
  • Tre Jenkins, S
  • Nehemiah Shelton, CB
UNLV
  • Cobe Bryant, G
  • Rex Goossen, LS
Utah State
  • Logan Bonner, QB
  • Alfred Edwards III, OT
  • Gurvan Hall Jr., S
  • Byron Vaughns, DE
  • AJ Vongphachanh, LB
Wyoming
  • Frank Crum, OT
  • Cole Godbout, DT
  • Titus Swen, RB

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Jack Coan impressive in Shrine Bowl

Will he get drafted?

The last game Jack Coan played in a Notre Dame helmet wound up being a successful one for the former Fighting Irish starting quarterback.  Just a day after winning the Pat Tillman Award at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Coan started the game and had a very strong showing in the first two possessions of the game.

Coan, who started for the West, completed 10 of 13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.  His first drive ended as the drive stalled at the goal line while his second drive ended with a touchdown pass to Teagan Quitoriano (Oregon State).

It remains to be seen if Coan will hear his name called during the NFL draft or if he’ll end up being an undrafted free agent but it was a strong showing for a young man trying to take advantage of an opportunity.

Related:

Where the 2022 Notre Dame recruiting class ranked 

Notre Dame’s five-star football recruits since 2000