With the East-West Shrine Bowl Week set to kick off today, it’s time to take a look at some prospects to watch closely on both the “East” and “West” teams.
East Team
Aidan O’Connell
Quarterback, Purdue
Purdue’s product Aidan O’Connell brings to the table a solid skillset that could easily make him a long-time NFL quality backup quarterback. O’Connell isn’t scared to push the ball downfield and he can do it while displaying adequate arm talent and ball placement.
Although he doesn’t have top-notch tools at his disposal, O’Connell is a good processor who operates well in rhythm. For NFL teams looking for a potential backup in the Draft, O’Connell could end up being a solid mid to late Day 3 selection.
Jadon Haselwood
Wide Receiver, Arkansas
A former 5-star recruit, Jadon Haselwood has the makings of a potential big slot and wide receiver three at the NFL level. At 6’2”, 213 pounds, Haselwood is tough while catching the ball in traffic, has reliable hands, he’s aggressive at the catch point. And despite not being a phenomenal athlete, he does a good job of finding soft spots in coverages. Haselwood isn’t a game-breaker, but his skillset could help him become a contributor in the NFL.
A.T. Perry
Wide Receiver, Wake Forest
A.T. Perry’s athleticism and speed at reported 6’5”, 205 pounds was stellar, but after official measurements, he came up at 6’3”, 195 pounds, making those attributes less rare. Perry is still a reliable downfield threat who’s dominant at the catch point and can stretch the field vertically with ease while displaying above-average ball skills. Although he isn’t particularly twitchy and effective in the short and intermediate areas, I see Perry as a potential number two or three receiver in the NFL able to make plays both downfield and with the ball in his hands.
Ochaun Mathis
Edge Rusher, Nebraska
Ochaun Mathis could easily end up being one of the biggest risers at the Shrine Bowl. The Nebraska product is an explosive top-notch athlete who displays a tremendous first step while also bringing to the table functional length, helpful both in pass rush and run defense. Mathis is far from a finished product but his athleticism will for sure catch some eyes. He’s a project prospect who possesses significant upside.
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West Team
Zay Flowers
Wide Receiver, Boston College
Zay Flowers, alongside A.T. Perry, was another receiver expected to come in bigger than they actually did. The senior from BC was expected to measure in at 5’10” or 5’11” but ended up at 5’9”, 182 pounds. Despite the lack of measurabes, Flowers can be considered the best prospect present at the Shrine Bowl as he’s receiving legit first-round hype.
Flowers is a weapon in the Tyler Lockett mold: he’s an advanced route runner, a threat at all three levels of the field, and possesses solid speed and ball skills. He’ll be a human highlight reel in 1v1s and has the tools to become a solid secondary receiver at the NFL level.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1576254342163988482
Ricky Stromberg
Center, Arkansas
Former Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg is a force in the run game and he has the refinement and adequate athleticism to carve out a role in the NFL. Overall, I think that Stomberg is underappreciated as a prospect, and a strong Shrine Bowl week could help him get back into the radars.
P.J. Mustipher
Defensive Tackle, Penn State
Mustipher is another prospect who doesn’t get the love he deserves in my opinion and could easily use the Shrine Bowl week to gather more attention around his name. He is a legit force as a run-stopper and he brings to the table the power and technical refinement to replicate his success also at the NFL level. Although his upside is limited, there’s a role in the NFL for him as a player able to really take control of the trenches.
