The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will kick off on Jan. 25 with the first set of practices starting at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. The annual all-star event has produced improved NFL Draft results recently, attracting more talent with each passing year.
Two under-the-radar prospects at the time, Isiah Pacheco and Brock Purdy, highlighted the 2022 roster. In 2023, the game produced a strong group of talent led by first-rounder Zay Flowers. The 2024 game featured two top-50 picks, 10 players taken in the first 104 selections, and 57 total draft picks, an all-time high for this event.
Here are the five prospects to watch on this year’s Shrine Bowl roster.
5 Sleeper Prospects To Watch in 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl
A week-long opportunity at the Shrine Bowl will allow 2025 prospects to raise their draft stock in front of scouts, coaches, and media members. Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams will coach the East team, and New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will coach the West team.
Practices will run from Jan. 20 to Jan. 28, followed by the 100th annual East-West Shrine Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 30. The game will air on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.
5) Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
There’s an impressive defensive line group in this year’s Shrine Bowl roster, led by Michigan’s Kenneth Grant. Grant might be one of the higher-drafted defensive players at the Shrine in recent years. The 6’3″, 339-pound defensive tackle from Merrillville, Indiana, was a force in the middle of the Wolverines’ defense.
His stats don’t jump off the page, but his size and potential do. He logged 32 tackles (18 solo and 14 assists), and three sacks this past season. Grant registered 69 tackles (36 solo and 33 assists), 6.5 sacks, and one interception in three seasons with Michigan.
4) Texas RB Jaydon Blue
Texas running back Jaydon Blue is a must-watch player in this year’s Shrine Bowl. Blue is a third-year running back who has played in 37 games with five starts and was on the 2024 preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Award.
We can’t wait for our guys to get the chance to sit down with NFL leaders in the @NFLPA!
They’ll hear from current and former NFL players that are committed to the advancement of their peers on and off the field
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— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 21, 2025
The 6′, 200-pound prospect from Houston had a solid 2024 season. Blue appeared in 15 games this season, logging 134 carries for 730 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. He also added 42 receptions 368 yards and six scores out of the backfield. Blue has excellent hands and can get attention as a pass-catching back in the draft.
3) Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans
Notre Dame Mitchell Evans is among the best tight ends in this year’s Shrine Bowl. This past season he was a weapon for Riley Lenoard. He has a high ceiling and one should believe we have only scratched the surface of his potential.
In a more high-volume passing attack, the 6’5″ tight end would likely see more targets going his way. The Irish are no stranger to producing tight ends that make an impact at the next level. Evans logged 43 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per catch this past season.
2) Louisville WR Ja’Corey Brooks
Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks is one of the most explosive offensive weapons on this year’s Shrine roster. Brooks was named first-team All-ACC, totaling five 100-yard receiving games this past season. The 6’3″, 193-pound wideout from Bradenton, Florida, became the first Louisville wide receiver since 2022 to record 1,000 yards.
He finished the year with 61 catches for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns. Brooks played in 12 games, ranking 27th nationally in yards and 20th in touchdowns. Also, he closed the year second and third in the ACC in those marks, respectively.
1) Syracuse QB Kyle McCord
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn’t the only talented passer at this year’s Shrine Bowl. Next in line might be Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, who turned in a career-best season for Syracuse after a tumultuous exit from Ohio State. The 6’3″, 220-pound quarterback from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, had a solid first season as a starter at Ohio State in 2023 but transferred to Syracuse in 2024.
He led the FBS in completions (391), pass attempts (592), and passing yards (4,779), finishing 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting with 13 scores to zero interceptions in his final five games for the Orange.
