NFL Draft Watch: Shedeur Sanders Headlines Shrine Bowl
The NFL Draft all-star game circuit competition is heating up with invites! Will Shedeur Sanders change the dynamic of the landscape?
Volume XXIV Edition LXXII | NFL Draft Watch: Shedeur Set To Shine At Shrine
Welcome to the November 22, 2024 edition of the All Access Football Newsletter, Presented by Sports Management Worldwide.
Level up your sports career with SMWW, now offering graduate programs in Sports Management, including a PhD, EdD, MASL, and MBA in Sports Leadership!
SAVE ON SMWW CUC WITH BLACK FRIDAY SALE (SAVE $300) CODE: CYBER
SHEDEUR LEADS RECORD-SETTING BUFFS AT SHRINE
The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl could be the most star-studded event in the game’s 100 year history. Thanks largely in part to the Colorado Buffaloes, who will send a Shrine Bowl record six players to the week long all-star event, led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The potential number one overall pick surely could have chosen to bypass the all-star circuit, like we have seen countless highly projected quarterback prospects do in years past. However, Sanders is a Dallas native, where the game will be played. By participating in the Shrine Bowl, Sanders is not only bringing renowned publicity to the event but his attendance ensures that an increased number of NFL decision-makers will be in attendance, which also increases the exposure for his teammates.
This is an against the grain move that should be applauded by Sanders.
A new rule implemented by the NFL last year, enabled various all-star games such as the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and HBCU Legacy Bowl to invite underclassmen. Some games used the rule to invite underclassmen to the event, who had no intention of ever participating in the practices, or game. Essentially, the player would show up and conduct team interviews and the game would use the player as PR for the event.
This year, the league implemented a new rule to try and avoid such scenarios. In the memo issued to event directors, the rule states:
"Barring an injury, no prospect can be invited to an all-star game with an agreed upon intention that the prospect will not participate in activities. All invited prospects are expected to fully participate in both practice and game activities."
With the new protocol in tact, that would seem to indicate that Sanders has committed to play. The Shrine Bowl is coming off it’s finest year to date with seven players chosen in the top 100 of the 2024 NFL Draft, led by first round pick Zay Flowers, who was one of the players who attended and practiced the first day, then shut it down for the week.
It makes for increased competition in the recruitment of top prospects between the Shrine Bowl and Reese’s Senior Bowl. By comparison, the Senior Bowl produced 45 players selected inside the top 100 a year ago. Could the main attraction of Sanders and the Buffs help swing the pendulum?
Only time will tell and All Access Football will be here every step of the way to bring you the names you need to know. Be sure to keep it locked!
Below is the updated list of accepted invitations for the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl (Mobile, AL), East-West Shrine Bowl (Dallas, TX) and Caribe Royal Hula Bowl (Orlando, FL).
EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL INVITE TRACKER
There have been 18 confirmed East-West Shrine Bowl commitments, as of this morning. While the aforementioned Sanders will garner plenty of hype, the Shrine Bowl has added some additional quarterbacks sure to attract NFL interest. Syracuse signal-caller Kyle McCord and Louisville gunslinger Tyler Shough have accepted their invites to Dallas.
In addition, four members of the LSU defense have also committed to the event. The complete list of accepted invites is posted below.
POSITION | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | [photo: Colorado]
QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr, 6012, 198, 4.70
QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse, Sr, 6025, 221, 4.80
QB Tyler Shough, Louisville, rSr, 6046, 231, 4.78
RB LaJohntay Wester, Colorado, Sr, 5110, 165, 4.58
RB Marcus Yarns, Delaware, 5102, 185, 4.45
WR Will Sheppard, Colorado, rSr, 6030, 199, 4.60
WR Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado, Sr, 5092, 170, 4.34
TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, rJr, 6035, 234, 4.59
TE Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn, rJr, 6044, 250, 4.72
DT Eric Gregory, Arkansas, rSr, 6031, 299, 4.95
DT Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech, Sr, 6051, 330, 5.25
ER Bradyn Swinson, LSU, rSr, 6032, 250, 4.76
ER Sai’vion Jones, LSU, Sr, 6051, 280, 4.82
LB Greg Penn III, LSU, Sr, 6010, 235, 4.58
LB Aaron Smith, South Carolina State, LB, 6010, 218, 4.70
CB Zy Alexander, LSU, Sr, 6010, 188, 4.47
S Shilo Sanders, Colorado, rSr, 6000, 195, 4.55
S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Colorado, rSr, 5096, 185, 4.50
REESE’S SENIOR BOWL INVITE TRACKER
While no quarterbacks have yet to be announced, there have been 39 confirmed Senior Bowl commitments as of this morning, including several electrifying playmakers at the skill positions. UCF running back RJ Harvey has been one of the biggest game breakers in college football this season—he has committed. Other players of note include wideouts Jalen Royals of Utah State, Tez Johnson of Oregon and Tai-Shar Felton of Maryland.
In an unfortunate bit of news, it was announced this week that Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will prevent him from participating in the Senior Bowl. The complete list of accepted invites is posted below.
POSITION | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | [photo: WVU]
RB RJ Harvey, UCF, rSr, 5082, 201, 4.48
RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech, Sr, 5090, 205, 4.50
WR Jalen Royals, Utah State, Sr, 5114, 193, 4.45
WR Tez Johnson, Oregon, Sr, 5100, 160, 4.38
WR Tai’Shar Felton, Maryland, Sr, 6010, 186, 4.42
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State, Sr, 6036, 212, 4.50
WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State, Sr, 5096, 196, 4.46
WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech, Sr, 5091, 192, 4.39
TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon, Sr, 6050, 255, 4.85
TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech, rSr, 6042, 260, 4.70
OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota, rSr, 6060, 325, 5.25
OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, Sr, 6060, 314, 5.00
OT Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr, 6035, 280, 4.85
OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut, rSr, 6070, 285, 5.10
OT Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr, 6054, 304, 5.00
OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M, Sr, 6071, 285, 5.10
C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State, Sr, 6035, 305, 5.35
DT Cam Jackson, Florida, rSr, 6060, 340, 5.35
DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, rSr, 6004, 290, 5.05
DT Darius Alexander, Toledo, rSr, 6040, 305, 5.15
ER Landon Jackson, Arkansas, Sr, 6053, 271, 4.75
ER Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M, Jr, 6050, 290
ER David Walker, Central Arkansas, 6021, 260, 4.62
LB Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State, Sr, 6020, 235, 4.64
CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech, rSr, 6000, 182, 4.37
CB Tommi Hill, Nebraska, Sr, 6002, 204, 4.46
CB Darien Porter, Iowa State, rSr, 6025, 200, 4.45
CB Jaylin Smith, USC, Sr, 5105, 183, 4.55
CB BJ Adams, UCF, Sr, 6021, 190, 4.50
CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane, Sr, 5107, 194, 4.45
CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky, Sr, 5081, 190, 4.50
S Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Sr, 6006, 210, 4.50
S Maxen Hook, Toledo, Sr, 6006, 207, 4.52
PK Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State, rSr, 6002, 190, 4.90
PK Caden Davis, Mississippi, rSr, 6022, 210, 4.85
PT James Burnip, Alabama, rSr, 6051, 236, 4.85
PT Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida, rSr, 6035, 205, 4.75
LS William Wagner, Michigan, rSr, 6021, 245, 5.00
LS Austin Brinkman, West Virginia, Sr, 6035, 241, 5.00
CARIBE ROYAL HULA BOWL INVITE TRACKER
Catered to the Day 3 and undrafted free agent market, the Caribe Royal Hula Bowl has announced 25 confirmations thus far for their all-star game. After starring at New Haven, quarterback Max Brosmer transferred up to the P4 ranks this season and has enjoyed a productive season for the Minnesota Gophers. The opportunity to compete in the Hula Bowl can certainly help elevate his draft profile.
Another intriguing name worth monitoring is Isas Waxter of Villanova. The lengthy, fast, physical cornerback looks the part of an NFL cornerback. He will attempt to follow in the footsteps of former Wildcats undrafted free agent Christian Benford, who has started 29-of-34 games played to start his NFL career.
The complete list of accepted invites is posted below.
POSITION | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | [photo: BMTN]
QB Max Brosmer, Minnesota, rSr, 6014, 220, 4.80
QB Will Rogers, Washington, Sr, 6020, 211, 5.10
QB Spencer Petras, Utah State, rSr, 6050, 231, 4.80
RB Mario Anderson, Memphis, rSr, 5077, 200, 4.54
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona, rSr, 5106, 208, 4.50
RB Rahsul Faison, Utah State, Sr, 5096, 200, 4.54
WR Gage Larvadain, South Carolina, rSr, 5092, 180, 4.44
WR Jerjuan Newton, Toledo, rSr, 5110, 192, 4.50
WR Luke Floriea, Kent State, rSr, 5095, 173, 4.52
TE Anthony Torres, Toledo, rSr, 6066, 250, 4.95
OT Reid Holskey, Miami-Ohio, rSr, 6056, 306, 5.20
OT Valentin Senn, UConn, rSr, 6065, 305, 5.27
OG Addison West, Western Michigan, rSr, 6032, 305, 5.20
OG Timothy McKay, North Carolina State, rSr, 6040, 307, 5.30
C Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan, rSr, 6026, 291, 5.30
DT Cade McDonald, Wisconsin, rSr, 6062, 285, 4.90
DT Westley Neal Jr., Rhode Island, rSr, 5116, 315, 5.15
DT Davin Vann, North Carolina State, rSr, 6015, 276, 4.71
DT Fatorma Mulbah, West Virginia, rSr, 6031, 306, 5.25
ER Danny Striggow, Minnesota, rSr, 6042, 255, 4.77
LB Jaheim Thomas, Wisconsin, rSr, 6032, 245, 4.66
CB Kelly Akharaiya, Mississippi State, rSr, 6000, 193, 4.60
CB Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green, Sr, 5110, 185, 4.60
CB Isas Waxter, Villanova, 6020, 209, 4.50
S Major Burns, LSU, rSr, 6016, 200, 4.48
ICYMI: REAL FOOTBALL TALK ON SPORTS RAGE
In case you missed it, AAF founder Ric Serritella joined Gabriel Morency on Sports Rage to discuss NFL hot seats, latest NFL Draft buzz, CFL Grey Cup on location and the latest headlines from the world of football. Tune-in every Tuesday 10p SIRIUSXM Channel 159 on the Sports Grid station.
All Access Football Founder Joins Gabriel Morency On Sports Rage — Hour II.
ALERT: HS RECRUITS || GRID CAMPS ALABAMA 12.14.24
ALERT — GRID Camps and SCHOOLS are teaming up to launch GRID Camps Powered By CLEARED, a unique program designed to elevate high school athletes’ athletic and academic performance, preparing them for college football recruitment and success. This partnership combines GRID's elite football training with SCHOOLS' proven academic readiness program, creating a pathway for student-athletes to stand out to college scouts nationwide.
The first workout is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at Al Trione Sports Complex in Daphne, AL, for football players aged 14-17. Seniors are welcome to participate and showcase their skills. Athletes must register for both the GRID workout at gridcamps.com and the CLEARED program at schoolstestprep.com. (Enrollment in both programs is required to participate)
WORLD FAMOUS AAF REPORT: WK 12 || 2025 NFL DRAFT TOP 10 BY POSITION