While the East-West Shrine Game may not be as well knows as the Senior Bowl and may not get the notoriety that the Senior Bowl gets, it still gets quality players that will be high draft picks to come and play. Not every player there will make it to the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that it lacks talent or there aren’t future NFL players on the rosters. I will be paying close attention to the passing game when I sit down to watch it and four of the five players I am going to talk about today will have a big part in the passing game. Let’s take a look at the top five players that I will be watching at the East-West Shrine Game.
Jimmy Garropolo, Quarterback, Eastern Illinois
Garropolo is one of the hot names at the quarterback position that people want to see more of. Garropolo has dominated this season against the FCS competition he has faced. He has now accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl and we will get to see how he fares against some of the big boys, but this will be a nice warm up for him. While some of these guys are FCS players, Garropolo will have his hands full with some extremely talented corners. If Garropolo can go out and play well in this game and the Senior Bowl, showing he can play against better competition, then his name could fly up boards more than it already has.
Jeff Matthews, Quarterback, Cornell
Matthews is another quarterback who didn’t play a ton of top competition in his time in college. Matthews is a big, strong armed quarterback who can throw the ball all over the field. Teams will love is size and throwing ability, but he has shown some things to be concerned with throughout his career. His footwork and mechanics are inconsistent and will often throw off balance or off of his back foot. Matthews will have to show teams during the Shrine Game and his pre-draft workouts that he can be consistent in his mechanics if he wants to raise his draft stock.
Keith Price, Quarterback, Washington
Price had a down year last year and most people around the country were extremely down on him. Price doesn’t have elite size, listed at 6’1” and 202 pounds, but he is very elusive in the pocket and buys himself time in the pocket well with his feet. He is a tough player who will stand in and take a hit to make the throw. He doesn’t have an exceptionally strong arm, but it is strong enough to fit the ball into tight windows. Price doesn’t have as strong an arm as Russell Wilson, but he is light on his feet and elusive just like him. Price is a late round guy or an undrafted free agent right now, but with a good game and pre-draft workouts he could me a mid-round guy.
Pierre Desir, Cornerback, Lindenwood
Desir is one of the best players you probably haven’t heard of. Desir has played at a small school and will have to show that he can shut down better competition than he has so far. That being said, he dominated at Lindenwood and at Washburn University before that. Desir has great size, standing in at 6’1” and 200 pounds. He has shown that he has elite ball skills. Desir picked off 25 passes in his career and showed an elite ability to locate the ball in the air and pick it off. Desir is a guy who is being talked about as a second or third round pick right now, but with a big week at the Shrine Game and good workouts he could push himself into the first round discussion.
Max Bullough, Linebacker, Michigan State
Bullough is a guy who hasn’t shown great ability in the passing game so far. He isn’t an explosive in his first step and at times struggles in his zones and man coverage. That being said, he brings a toughness, physicality and great leadership to your defense. Bullough is an extremely smart linebacker who is rarely out of place against the run and can counter his lack of speed in coverage with intelligence of where to be and the best way to get there. Bullough has everything you want your inside linebacker to be against the run and will at worst be an excellent two down linebacker in the NFL. However, if Bullough wants to be one of the top inside linebackers taken, he has to show he has the ability to be in coverage and not be a liability. This week at the Shrine Game would be a great place to start.