On Jan. 30, the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl will kick off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. This Shrine Bowl brings together some of the best college football players to show off their skills in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 teams.
The event has been the first step toward greatness for some of football’s biggest stars for over a century. Legends like Tom Brady, Walter Payton, and John Elway played in the Shrine Bowl, and today’s standouts include Brock Purdy, Zay Flowers, and Isiah Pacheco.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is the nation’s longest-running college all-star football game. The event gives top college players a chance to showcase their talents to a national television audience. Which quarterback will shine in this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl?
Four Quarterbacks To Watch in East-West Shrine Bowl
4) Cam Miller, North Dakota State
North Dakota State’s Cam Miller is one of the top four quarterbacks in this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. Miller started 54 straight games, leading the Bison to their second FCS championship in four years. The 6’1″, 212-pound quarterback is a two-time FCS All-American Selection (2023-24) and an MVFC Offensive Player of the Year (2024).
While at North Dakota State, Miller completed 69 percent of his passes (759-of-1094), while recording 9,721 passing yards, 81 passing touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. He also added 2,277 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns on the ground.
Miller’s game is defined by his good anticipation, functional mobility, and creativity when plays break down. He offers a quick release, allowing him to deliver the ball on time. Miller’s arm strength is average, but he generates good velocity on intermediate throws. His decision-making as a rusher is solid, and his production on the ground is a testament to his dual-threat capabilities.
3) Brady Cook, Missouri
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook is the third-ranking quarterback in this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. Cook threw 50 touchdown passes in 47 career games with the Tigers, starting in each of the last three seasons.
Officially ready to kickoff game week 🙌#ShrineBowlWHOSNEXT pic.twitter.com/o1WIByuVzG
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 23, 2025
Cook is an explosive runner with solid speed. He is a mechanically sound quarterback with a strong arm, too. The 6’2″, 205-pound quarterback has good accuracy, especially on short passes, where he offers a quick release. Cook has shown he can recognize coverage, hitting receivers in stride. Also, he possesses a solid ability to sense pressure and can quickly recognize and adjust to incoming threats.
2) Kyle McCord, Syracuse
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 an unsteady 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 touchdowns to zero interceptions in his final five games for the Orange.
1) Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Unsurprisingly, Sanders is the best quarterback at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl. He is one of the purest passers from the pocket in college football and arguably the top quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. His placement and accuracy will be appealing to potential suitors, even without elite physical tools.
He is a mobile (enough) quarterback who can throw a catchable ball on the move. Sanders has outstanding poise in the pocket. He is an incredibly precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. Sanders displays innate comfort under pressure. His track record in big games and clutch situations should also pique the league’s interest.
In 2024, Sanders recorded 353 completions for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In PFN’s latest seven-round mock draft, he went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans, while Miami quarterback Cam Ward slipped to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6. With a strong showing at the Shrine Bowl, he can help distance himself from the Heisman finalist.
