The annual East-West Shrine practices began today ahead of the all-star game on Thursday, February 3rd at 8 PM on NFL Network.
This showcase will feature several prospects that the Chargers should on their radar in the 2022 NFL draft.
In 2020, Tom Telesco selected three players – Trey Pipkins, Easton Stick, Cortez Broughton – that played in the game. The year before that, he took Justin Jackson, another alumn.
With that, here are 10 players that the Bolts could be targeting:
CB Jack Jones, Arizona State
A top recruit who started his collegiate career at USC, Jones went on to transfer and play for Herm Edwards where he finished with 92 total tackles, 26 passes defended, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles in three seasons. While he may not be the most imposing at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Jones compensates with fluid athleticism, playmaking instincts, and the scrappy temperament against the run.
OT Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland accomplished a tremendous amount with the Huskies — named the team’s offensive lineman of the year as a sophomore in 2019 and first-team All-Pac-12 the next two years. Kirkland started all 39 games he appeared in over four seasons, starting at right guard before making the transition to left tackle. He is a quick, reactive athlete that possesses footwork, lateral-movement skills, body control, and versatility to play inside or outside at the next level.
WR Charleston Rambo, Miami
Rambo began his career at Oklahoma, reeling in passes from Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts before transferring to play with the Hurricanes. He caught 79 passes for 1,172 yards and seven touchdowns. Rambo has the hands-catching ability and speed to take a short pass into a long gain or become a vertical threat by taking the top off the defense.
DT Matthew Butler, Tennessee
Playing 52 games and starting 25 of them, Butler had a career-high 47 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, and seven quarterback hurries in 2021. Butler has great proportional length and power with explosive get-off and the ability to disrupt plays through penetration, athleticism, and technique.
EDGE Jeffrey Gunter, Coastal Carolina
Gunter finished his collegiate career with 38.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. Further, he had nine career forced fumbles. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Gunter has a combination of speed, power, and length usage to create consistent pressure on the quarterback and impact the run by setting a strong edge.
OL Zachary Thomas, San Diego State
Thomas was a three-year starter for the Aztecs at left and right tackle. At his best as a run-blocker, Thomas had a 90.1 grade on that front in 2020, fourth-best among FBS tackles, and an 89.6 grade in 2021. He shows functional athleticism, quality strength/leverage, excellent balance, and a high level of intelligence as far as picking up stunts/blitzes goes.
DB Elijah Hicks, California
Hicks shared the Pac-12 lead with four forced fumbles, was the Bears’ leader with a career-best three interceptions, and was second on the team with 72 tackles in 2021. Starting 46 games, he played cornerback effectively for his first three seasons at Cal before being moved to safety for his final two seasons. Hicks plays with good reactive athleticism, ball skills, physicality in the run game, and the ability to reliably tackle in the open field.
DL Eyioma Uwazurike, Iowa State
Uwazurike, a first All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2021, ranked fourth in the conference in sacks (9) and set a career-high in tackles (42) and tackles for loss (12.5). At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Uwazurike is a long and athletic lineman with alignment versatility, pass rush skill, pocket disruption and stack-and-shed ability.
DT Thomas Booker, Stanford
During his career with the Cardinals, Booker accumulated 89 solo tackles, 70 assisted tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, and an interception. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Booker possesses the first step and short-area quickness to get into the backfield and arm length to press, leverage and maintain his gap in the run game. He is an ideal 4i-technique in Brandon Staley’s defense.
WR Tyquan Thornton, Baylor
Thornton finished the 2021 season as the Bears’ leading receiver with 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has impressive movement skills, natural hands, good vertical speed and run-after-catch ability to contribute at the next level.